I walked onto the stage through a cloud of fog as the opening measures were strum by the guitarist who stood stage left. The crowd was screaming at a decibel that was so high, I could barely hear even myself. Nerves were running high, but I was so stoked that the excitement took over. With microphone in hand I sang those opening lines calmly, waiting for the chorus so I could bust out with a vocal energy that would get the crowd roaring even louder.

I was in heaven. Well, heaven on earth. Because I was on stage, in front of thousands of screaming fans, singing with more umph and energy than little Miss Taylor Swift herself…

“It’s a love story baby just say yeah…”

A dream come true for me because from the time I was a young girl, I always wanted to be a stage performer. I love the stage. The lights. The costumes. The bass drum echoing off the walls of the arena. The fans. The energy.

And that, well that was my moment. A moment to let the world know that Alicia Candelora had arrived on the music scene.

I sang with all my heart, knowing that surely there would be videos uploaded to youtube later on that evening. And then it happened…..

I looked to my left only to realize that the guy sitting next to me at the red light had watched my entire “performance.” As I sheepishly slipped down into my seat, I reasoned that at least I had no clue who he was and that I would never see him again. Until I took a second glanced and noticed he was a guy I worked with back in the day. O.M.G. I totally knew him, AND was friends with him on facbeook (mental note –delete him NOW). I was mortified.

I had been discovered. No, not the kind of discovered I had been fantasizing about as I sang along to Taylor Swift playing on Country 92.5. The kind of discovered that makes you wish you were a hermit crab who could immediately retreat back to it’s shell.

That microphone I had stepped up to was actually just a half empty bottle of Aquafina. The fog? Oh, that was the condensation coming out of my AC vent. And the screaming fans? Ok, so they were totally really made up.

As that light turned green and I stepped on the gas harder than I ever have before, I reached down to my right and opened up a piece of dark chocolate. You know, because chocolate makes everything better.

And as God is my witness this is what was inside that wrapper:

As sure as the sun rises and sets every morning, I turned that radio up and took the stage once again. This time singing my current favorite song “Little White Church,” knee slappin’ and all!

And, world, just know that whether or not I can belt out a number like some of my fav’s, I will always be a wanna-be performer. If you are lucky enough, maybe you will be sitting next to me at a red light some time to witness one of my a-may-zing performances.

BOO YA!

Until the next performance…

Yes, folks, it’s true. This is my second post of the day. I am on a rollllll!

But the truth is this: I just couldn’t wait. I am not sure I have ever posted a teaser so quickly on my blog, but Maria & Jim’s wedding at Le Chateau in South Salem, NY yesterday was just too beautiful to not post a teaser. So for those of you who are night owls, enjoy the beauty that is Maria and Jim!

Leave a comment!! Oh, and “like” us on facbeook!

It lit up in flame faster than you can say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” But I guess you can’t really say those words that fast anyway. Before I could utter the words “don’t wave it in the air,” that is precisely what happened. A marshmallow on fire, waving through the air is destined to have a bad ending. But he knew what he was doing – or so he told me. He claimed that he likes his marshmallows “crispy and black.” But really, I knew that this 5 year old just didn’t have the patience to roast it until it was that perfect golden brown, and creamy on the inside.

As the fire continued to crackle into the night, the flames eventually becoming red hot coals, we made our way to tent. We cozied on up into our sleeping bags as the night air became colder and colder with each passing moment. It was a night of celebration. Celebrating the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Celebrating the end of a chapter – one in which they learned to ride bicycles, learned to [kinda] swim, and learned that not all kids make good friends – and the beginning of a new one.

I may be two decades older than them but on that last summers’ night, we connected. Over smores and sleeping bags, and stories both scary and silly, we said goodbye to one season and hello to another. With both appreciation of what has been accomplished and excitement about what is to come, we laid our heads on our pillows and looked up at the star-filled sky as we slowly drifted off to sleep. Because, for all 3 of us, we are excited about where our lives are taking us in this next season and can’t wait for this new chapter to start…

A little treat for the late night crowd. Meet Andrea and Dan – a super sweet, super cute, super fun couple who I had the privilege of photographing in downtown New Haven. Andrea and Dan are not actually engaged [yet], but I asked them if they would model for me while I was teaching someone some photography skills. And even though they are not engaged [yet], I am pretty sure both Andrea and I agree that they should get engaged [soon]…because they are just too cute to NOT be engaged or married.

…and maybe she’ll let me be lucky enough to photograph her wedding. Because they are just that super sweet, super cute, super fun….and super naturals in front of the camera!

We did the entire session in downtown New Haven on the campus of Yale University – which you all know I absolutely ADORE!

Rawr!

So Andrea is a makeup artist, which is quite obviously the reason that her makeup looks perfecto.

Like I said….super cute!

Um yeah, you can add “super hot” to their list of supers.

Andrea putting on her game face!

Pretty sure Dan was about done with having hot pink lipstick all over his face by this point! haha

Whoever said that guys don’t like being in front of the camera quite obviously never met Dan. He brought his own bit of “rawr” to this session!

At one point in the session, i asked Andrea to give me a little attitude in her face. Dan looked at me and laughed while saying “Oh, she has no problem with giving attitude.” Pretty sure I’m on his side with this one. She brought the ‘tude when she needed to!

Favorites!

So, scratch what I said before. This one is my favorite!

There’s something about the way she laughs. As though the joy within her just can’t be contained. As though she truly has found her one and only, the Prince Charming who has swept her off her feet. As though the world stops when her eyes catch his.

There’s something about the way he looks at her. Steadily and surely, as though there is no other woman in the world. As though she is the most beautiful thing he has ever laid eyes on. As though he can see his future in her eyes alone.

And there is something about them. Together. In each others arms. Holding one another. Gazing into each others eyes. As though Romeo & Juliet didn’t even know the start of what love is. As though there is not a single other care in the world. So in love. So happy. So radiant.

Maria and Jim booked me for their wedding just 6 weeks before their date. *gasp* Note, that I don’t recommend that!!! Lucky for me (and for them!), it was a Sunday and I generally try not to book weddings on Sundays. Upon meeting them I could tell that their love was real. They laughed at each others jokes. They looked deeply into each others eyes. And they genuinely enjoy being in the presence of one another. We did their engagement session in the southern part of Connecticut, at a little park that is a photographers dream.

Meet Maria & Jim.

So Maria just wrote me today and said she was so nervous the entire time we did their engagement session. I laughed. You’ll see why as these pictures go on – she is a total natural!

Nervous? I think not. Her and Jim both are totally working it!

Oooh-la-la!

Just look at the way they look at each other! Be still, my heart!

I told Maria and Jim to bring some fun props that are “them” for their engagement session. I looove what they brought! A game of pick up stick, some photo albums of their travels, a journal, and a cute box with some special hand-written notes inside.

This field in Trumbull, Connecticut was perfect for doing their engagement photos! So pretty!

So early on in their relationship, Jim gave Maria this box and began writing her little notes on these foam hearts. As their relationship progressed, he slowly started adding more and more heart notes to her collection. How sweet is THAT!

Favorite from the day!! *gasp*

You can just call them Mr. and Mrs. Hot. Pretty sure that sums it all up!

Maria and Jim, I cant wait for your wedding next week!!!