As New Yorkers we sometimes get caught up in all the reasons to hate winter; the sidewalks are narrow and slushy, intersections become frozen dirty swamps of unknown depth, and braving the icy steps to the subway feels like the ultimate test of bravery and balance. 

That said, there’s nothing more magical than the feel of that first snowfall in the city - before the white turns to gray and when the idea of building a snowman is still a bucolic possibility in our minds. 

There's also nothing more magical than taking advantage of that early snowfall for an engagement shoot in Central Park. 

Brooklyn families who came out to Brooklyn Bridge Park for family photography mini sessions despite a rainy June forecast!

Early June is a great time for family photography mini sessions in Brooklyn Bridge Park since it's usually nice weather but not too hot yet!

Four best mocktail recipes for pregnancy, including a non-alcoholic stout beer and other ideas about what to drink during pregnancy besides water.

Long exposure + moving the lens = photographs that look like paintings!

Picture-perfect spring day with bluebird skies for these family photography mini sessions in Brooklyn Bridge Park!

How we use foldable solar panels and inflatable solar lanterns in our home for easy solar power!

Some of our favorite beaches on the Big Island in Hawaii within easy driving distance of Kona!

Today seems like a good day to think about the earth, and since writing our last post on living trash-free (well, trying really hard to live trash-free!) we've gotten lots of tips from others who are trying to do the same.  We've also come up with some more ideas for eliminating the trash we still produce.  

When Brian was deployed, I challenged myself to be trash free for a month as a means of distraction.  I was surprised at what a big difference a few small changes made, and I didn't have more than a small ziploc of trash in 30 days.

Since then we've tried to be *mostly* trash free, but we haven't been as diligent as we used to and often fall into the trap of choosing convenience over anything else.

Spring weather and the recent Earth Day seem like good reasons to make a renewed effort, so here are a few ideas that can make a big difference in how much waste you'll produce.  Maybe if we put this out there people will hold us accountable... :)

 Nothing says New York quite like the skyline, the river, and the light filtering under the bridge.

We loved spending some fall mornings and afternoons with these beautiful families, and we're already looking forward to our spring sessions!