Connecticut Wedding Photographer : Alissa Dinneen Photography

On This Night: Caren & Frank's Wedding

Caren and Frank were married on Saturday, December 19, 2009 in Hamden, Connecticut. The ceremony took place at Saint Rita's Church and the celebration was held at The Waterview  in Monroe. 

Click here to view Caren and Frank's slideshow.

Here are a few of my favorite images, Enjoy! 

 


 


 

www.alissadinneen.com

This Night, We Pray, Our Lives, Will Show: Wendy and Rick's Wedding

Wendy and Rick were married on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Avon Congregational Church. Rick's children, Meaghan and Matthew, were also involved in the ceremony. I have to say, it was a beautiful ceremony (one of my favorites, if I'm allowed to say so).

Click here to view Wendy and Rick's slideshow--I chose to set to holiday music (lyrics), Merry Christmas to the new family!

Here are a few of my favorite image, enjoy.

        

I love this little detail, on both sides of the alter the sign reads "12th Day."

 





 
       

Santa made a very special appearance for all of the children at this wedding (I'm guessing around 20). It couldn't have been a better idea, the kids just loved it!!

    
       
www.alissadinneen.com

Thank you John for assisting me, for the very first time--he did a fabulous job.

My Holiday Card Design

This year I really wanted to do a personal holiday card. I've been doing business-y cards for several years. Now that Roxy is around, I feel the need to have her send my holiday wishes to all!

I just took these pics today--not thinking that I was even going to take portraits of the pup. I went outside to take pics of the house (I've moved in 2009), and Roxy was being such a good girl that I was able to get her sitting still in front of the tree .

Front of card: 

This shall be the inside spread...I wasn't going to do a pic in the background because I know it's a bit overboard. However, that's me with this dog, overboard. LOVE HER!!

 

This would be the back, but on my version I've put our new address and phone number--since some people might not have it.

 Happy Holidays!!

 

Holiday Cards: I hope you got yours!

Here is my holiday card from 2008. It's 5"x5" in size and printed on pearl paper. 

Front SideInside SpreadBack Side

Images for the 2008 holiday card are from Emily and Dave's wedding, Sara and Joe's wedding, and Cara and Dan's wedding.

Last year I didn't share the 2007 holiday card with the blog readers, so I thought I'd include last year's card too. This card was 5"x7" in size, was a flat card, and was printed on pearl paper.

Front

Back

2007 Card images from Erin and Scott's wedding and Diane and Dave's Wedding.

www.alissadinneen.com

Katie and Steven's Wedding is Tomorrow!

I haven't written in a while, a long while, I am due for some blogging. 

It's the day before Katie and Steven's wedding, and I am getting all of my stuff together - camera gear in check and charged up, lists of pictures ready to go, nails polished, I set up time tomorrow for my hair appointment for 9:30 in the morning, dresses ready (I've got two dresses--one I think I can photograph in and one to look cute in which I wore at my friend Shannon's wedding), and my bags are packed.

Now that the snow is almost gone, I thought I would share a couple pictures with you that I took when it was fresh and pretty. Here are two of my favorites. Enjoy!

www.alissadinneen.com

Santa in August

When one of my recent bride's father asked me to take Santa portraits, I was a little unsure. It's not that I can't take Santa portraits--of course I can take Santa portraits, I've just never have before. BUT...as a Hallmark alum there are two things that play in my mind over and over;

1. Never say no, you never know what it may lead to

2. Trust your education - meaning that I've been formally/properly trained to take photos of anything that may come may way

So, after I got over the original...huh, Santa portraits? I was like OF COURSE! I love Santa! Who doesn't love Santa?! What was that slight hesitation?  

Let me tell you, Santa rocks! The day before the shoot, he told me that he had everything already set up for me. Here I am thinking that I'm just taking some close-ups of Santa. Now, he's telling me that he's got his sleigh up on some scaffolding!!! Game on--this is going to be so awesome (and it was)!

You're probably wondering why Santa needs portraits. Well, Santa visited some schools in Connecticut this past holiday season, and it warmed his heart. He wants the portraits for cards to hand out to the kids, and that's where I come in.

If anyone is looking for a warm, kind, friendly Santa, feel free to contact me and I will pass the information along.

Check out some of my favorite Santa portraits. Enjoy!

     

      

Happy 4th of July: Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Happy 4th everyone! Today I baked my (well they're Paula Deen's, click on the words to get recipe) red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. For an added all American touch I placed a blueberry on top--they're red, white, and blue! I have to admit they came out wonderfully! I've made them several times, so I've got it down by now. The cupcakes are a HIT! They're really easy to make, just a little time consuming since they don't come from a box.

Here are a few of my pointers in baking these cupcakes--because I am a novice baker, these tips are for starters like myself;

1. Don't pre-sift the flour. I did this the first time I made the cupcakes. Sift once.
2. Be sure to only fill the 2/3's of the way, otherwise you'll have muffin tops.
3. At the twenty minute mark in the oven, stick a toothpick in there, if it comes out clean, they're done. I take them out of the muffin pans so they don't bake anymore and place them on a wire rack.
4. Frost when they're cool! The cream cheese will melt otherwise.
5. Today I put the frosting in the fridge while they were cooling, and when the cupcakes were cool enough to frost I took the frosting out. The frosting gets really soft, and I think it's easiest to start cool, by the time  you've frosted 24 cupcakes it is softened up.  
6. The cupcake papers with the foil work best because there is a lot of oil in the batter, keeps hands cleaner in the end.   
7. Flat spatula that has an angle works best to frost the cupcakes, I found one at Walmart. If you don't have one the back of a spoon works well to--thanks to my friend Jennie I know this now. 
8. Don't be shy with the cream cheese frosting, I always have left over frosting. You maybe able to get away with making two batches of cupcakes to every batch of frosting OR you can cut the recipe in half. 
9. A smallish ice cream scooper works really well in getting the batter into the cupcake papers. 

Here's a video that I watched before I made them, DIFFERENT RECIPE, good tips though.

 The pics below are from a couple months ago--I don't have any pics of the blueberries on top--trust me it's super cute.

Happy First Birthday Emersyn Grace!

My Goddaughter Emersyn Grace is one today! Happy Birthday Emersyn!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the past year. Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!!

I hope all of the mommies out there had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. I am not a mother--but a daughter and a Godmother--had a wonderful weekend with several wonderful mothers.

On Saturday I went to Nordstrom's Cosmetic Trend Show with my mom, my best friend Sarah, her daughter Emersyn Grace, and Sarah's mother Pat, my mom's friend from high school Connie and her daughter Jennie. After the show we all had our make-up done at the Trish McEvoy counter, followed by lunch at Grant's in West Hartford Center. My mom and I wrapped up the afternoon with a little more shopping at Westfarms Mall. My new favorite store at the mall is Martin and Osa--I love it!!

Sunday I spent time with my boyfriend John and his parents. We went up to Litchfield county to Haight Brown Vineyards for a wine tasting. It was perfect, good people, good wine, good times. Can you ask for more?

All in all, very busy, fun filled weekend.

Happy Easter!

This weekend was a great time to spend time with friends and family. I so often get wrapped up into what I'm doing with my work, that I sometimes forget to slow down and enjoy my life with friends and family.

Easter dinner was at my parents house. It was just my parents, sister and her boyfriend Marcos, Lobo (my dog), and myself. My mom made a good turkey meal that Lobo got to enjoy too.

It was great to catch up with my sister Alison (Ali for short). She's moving to New York City this coming June to get her certification in teaching special education. It's a program where she interns in the school systems during the day, and then goes to school in the evening. I'm proud of her, to finally go for it!!

Below are some pictures that I took of Lobo and Easter flowers.