Welcome to Swoyer Photography! I look forward to sharing my images with you and maybe even working with you in the future. Check back often for new posts and don't forget to like us on facebook.
Puerto Rico
Last week I had the pleasure of accompanying a 'Culture Links' student travel group on a trip to Vieques Island, PR. I was there to document the activities and day to day life of 8 highschool students selected to participate in the program. Designed and lead by Richard Becker, the trips focus on service, learning, local culture, and development of leadership skills.
The students ranged in age from 13 to 18. A few had travelled a little bit, but for most it was the first time on a plane and definitely a first time out of the continental US.
It was a "trains, planes, and automobiles" type of experience to get out to the island but once we were there the scene was set for an amazing week.
Throughout the week the chaperones relinquished more and more of the house responsibilities and the students picked up the slack. By the end of the week they were working as a team, making decisions, cooking meals, and cleaning up.
The service projects throughout the week included beach clean-ups, cleaning up the archives at a local historical site, and a day spent at a farm in the jungle, working alongside the 80 year old owners, their children, and their grand child. It was an amazing experience.
The group also had some beach time at one of the more amazingly gorgeous beached on the island. They met and interacted with other local teenagers, learned to kayak, hosted a BBQ lunch and later in the week Thanksgiving dinner. The students 
stepped outside of their comfort zones at Bio Bay, kayaking out to the middle of the bay in the darkness and without hesitation jumping into the inky back water to watch Nature's own incredible light show unfold in the depths beneath them.
By Friday all were exhausted (including me) but it was an amazing experience; one that will not soon be forgotten.
CarterGlass
Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the morning with the 4 incredibly talented, funny, spunky and super nice young men that make up the band CarterGLass. We spent a couple hours in the studio and then the rest of the morning shooting on location. After we wandered around town for a while and got some fun shots they set up in a nearby park and played a bit so I could get some shots of them actually doing what they do. It was a pleasant surprise for some of the local park goers and people wandered near to sit and listen for a while.
If you are looking for a band for an event of any sort these guys are a go to. They play a bit of everything and have a unique sound that melds several styles and genres into a wonderful final product. Like most bands they started out just playing for the love of music. Now they are trying to make a go of it. Look for great things to come from these 4 talented musicians!
Wedding Season!
Last weekend I traveled to Burlington, VT to shoot Molly and aDeana's fabulous wedding. It was unique and beautiful and suited them perfectly. It wasn't stuffy. It wasn't pretentious. There was no white dress or ten foot long train. Instead it was bright. It was lively. It was joyful. It was perfect. Molly and aDeana did what I think many couples don't realize they even can do. They had their wedding exactly the way they wanted. They stood amongst their families and friends, looking out over the lake, and read vows that embodied who they were.
The festivities began at the Oakledge beach park overlooking Lake Champlain and ended up at an awesome little cafe called Maglianero. If anyone lives or travels to the Burlington area, this place is well worth a stop. It is, well, awesome, for lack of a better description. You'll just have to see for yourself.
As guests began to arrive at the park, it became evident that Molly and aDeana have incredibly strong bonds with family and friends. Throughout the day I heard over and over what kind, silly, fun, wonderful people Molly and aDeana are and what they mean to the people who know them best. I was expecting a small, intimate ceremony with those closest to them in attendance. Somehow, with close to 100 people in attendance, it still seemed small and intimate. There was a song, friends told stories and read passages and then handwritten vows were exchanged. A perfect balance of laughter and tears.
The reception was one of the best I have been to in a long time. I have to give it to those guys, they know how to have fun. The dance floor was packed all night with everyone from the littlest ones, still going strong after a power nap in the stroller, to friends, family, aunts, uncles, and even grandparents. I give huge kudos to DJ Llu, who played the best mix of the best songs ever. Yeah, that's right, ever. I couldn't tear myself away and as a result I have several hundred dance party photos to edit through. Good times. Oh, and guy in the maroon polo shirt, if you are reading this, you are in almost every single one. Nice work.
Congrats to Molly and aDeana! I wish you a lifetime of love, happiness, and of course, fun!
It was a super fun day. Photos to follow!
Love at first shot!
I am in love.
The object of my affection is the Canon 50/1.8 lens. I guess "good things come in small packages" definitely applies here. Not only does my camera feel 10 pounds lighter with the 50 (as opposed to my 24-70/2.8), it also takes beautiful pictures. It seems as though most photographers either love or hate this lens, and I am definitely on the love side. It is also the least expensive lens I have ever used. I am sure this could be viewed as a good thing or a bad thing. It is definitely not as sturdy, snazzy, or hefty as the other Canon lenses, but man is it adorable.
So what is it about this lens? I have spent the past few days shooting with the 50 and I am not entirely sure. The auto focus is good but not phenominal. The MF ring is tiny and a little bit touchy. The lens, as a whole, doesn't feel as tough and sturdy as the other Canon lenses I normally use but for some reason I love it. The range (1.8 to 22) is awesome. I am loving it mostly as a portrait lens. I love the control, both physically and artistically, I have over this tiny little lens.
If you have never tried this little guy it might be a worthwhile experiment. You may try it and hate it. On the other hand, you may just find yourself in love!
Meet Reno
Now that you know a little bit about me and Mike, we thought it time for you to meet the third member of our family. Reno is a 3-4 year old rescue. He is a bit of a mystery man. No one at the shelter seemed to know what his back story was. We adopted this guy about a year and a half ago and it turned out to be one of the best decisions ever! Reno is not only handsome, he is smart, a quick learner, and a great snuggler. He loves food. I mean, LOVES FOOD. His one and only fault (as far as I know) is his penchant for counter surfing when we are out of the house.
He loves to hike, he will play fetch for hours, and last summer he discovered that his giant webbed feet are great for swimming. We are unsure of his breed, but our best guess is that he is one solid part Catahoula. If you have never heard of them, like most people, look them up. They are amazing dogs and one of the only "true American breeds". Some of them can climb trees!
Up and Running!
Welcome to Swoyer Photography! This is a very exciting weekend for us. Not only is it the first week of summer, but it is also the first week our website is officially up and running. I am a New England photographer based in the Brattleboro area. Since it is the first official blog of our new site, let me introduce myself (Laura) and the other half of Swoyer Photography, my fiance Mike.
I grew up in a very small New Hampshire town. I come from a hardworking, "salt of the earth" New England family. When I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian. When I got a little older I changed my mind and set my heart on marine biology. I went to school in RI and realized my dream of being a marine biologist when I graduated from Roger Williams University and got a job in California teaching marine science. I worked on Catalina Island with a small group of amazing people. It changed my life in the best way possible. I got to be in the water every day. I dove, snorkeled, and hiked my way around the island for four amazing years.
During that time I met Michael Max Oster. He was also a biologist, ocean-lover, and all around adventurer. Two years later the two of us left Catalina in search of adventure and found it in Hawaii. We worked as naturalists for an ecotour company and enjoyed island living in one of the most beautiful places on earth (Maui) for the next three years.
It is hard to be surrounded by wildlife, both above and below the surface of the water, and not take photographs. I purchased my first underwater camera in 2005, got my first DSLR in 2006 and haven't looked back. Photography has evolved from a hobby into a passion.
A couple years ago I had an epiphany. I wanted to be a "photographer". I wanted to refine my craft and technique. Up until that point I had photographed hundreds of fish, sharks, and dolphins, and a few people. Photographing underwater taught me how to use natural light to the best of my ability, but I felt as though I had barely scratched the surface and wanted to learn more.
Mike, the most patient, understanding person I have ever met, consented to put our lives on hold and move to Western Massachusetts so that I could attend one of the best photography schools in the country.
Mike and I have travelled the country and parts of the world together. We have lived in CA, HI, WA, MA, and are about to make the move to VT. We are excited to start a new chapter in our lives and I am thrilled to be doing something that I truly love.
Please feel to contact us with questions, comments, or just to say hi!