The Beginning of Sweetheart Willow Photography
What a year it has been so far! I proudly made the jump from academia (a career I had been training towards and fully engaging with for the last 20 years) to combine my love of mental health and creativity as a full-time photographer, writer, and licensed psychologist. My company is named Sweetheart Willow Photography for my late soul dog, Willow, who gently nudged me in the direction of creativity with her wet doggy nose and inspired me to chase down my dreams.
Spending some quality time outdoors with my soul dog, Willow, and practicing our selfies.
In August, we adopted a new Golden Retriever puppy that we named Maple. As her fur morphs from off-white to a toasty rich syrupy color, I’m convinced we chose the right name (she is from Maine, afterall!). She is equal parts sweet and goofy as she explores the world as my puppy muse. As she grows, she is starting to wedge her way into our hearts (who am I kidding, I fell in love the moment I saw her). I can’t help but think that Angel Willow sent her our way!
8-Week Old Puppy Maple loved to steal and try to eat our shoes!
Maple dancing with husband, Geoff, in the beautiful fall leaves!
Owning a business presents opportunities to learn something new every day, and I am quite enjoying the challenge. I also really love talking to people about my art and getting the chance to exhibit my photographs.
This year, I got into two juried exhibitions so far (my first ever juried exhibitions!).
The first was Photo Art Pavilion’s: Life on the Streets for my picture of an older gentleman in Bruges, Belgium, biking down the cobblestone streets. I called it “90 Years Young in Bruges.” I included my photograph below, check out the entire exhibit here: https://photoartpavilion.com/life-on-the-streets-exhibit/
The second was Photo Art Pavilion’s: Seeing Red category for my picture “Old-Timey Baseball,” of a baseball pitcher in a vintage baseball league that plays by old rules (including not using mits, which looked pretty painful- yikes!). See below photograph. The full exhibit is online too: https://photoartpavilion.com/seeing-red-photo-exhibit/
The pitcher of an old-timey baseball team in action.
My past in-person exhibitions this year:
March-April 2025: Boston Public Library: Allston-Honan Branch: “Lake Winnipesaukee”
June 2025: Newton Free Library: “Say Cheese!”
October 2025: Wedeman Gallery at Lasell University: “Say Cheese Please!”
This is me standing next to “Say Cheese Please!” at the Wedeman Gallery Exhibition Reception as part of the Boston Camera Club.
I LOVED photographing those wolves at Wolf Hollow (a really great and caring rescue organization) in Ipswich, MA.
My upcoming in-person exhibitions this year:
December 2025: The Griffin Museum of Photography Winter Solstice: “Hummingbird and Beetle”
December 2025: The Cooper Center: “Hummingbird and Beetle”
While having dinner in Vermont, I spotted this hummingbird flitting about. A photographer always brings her camera despite sitting down to dinner and having a broken elbow. I hopped up from dinner so many times that our waiter began helping me. I took a ton of photos and finally got this shot! And yes, he is peeing, and he narrowly misses the beetle below.
My other in-person events:
Coming up soon, I’ll also be presenting my work at Winchester Open Studios on Saturday November 22nd from 10am-4pm at the Griffin Museum of Photography (67 Shore Rd in Winchester, MA).
I’ll have a nice selection of matted prints in different sizes (all signed), and a huge selection of different cards, including holiday cards (great for sending thank you notes after the season). I’d love it if you stopped by and I promise I’ll have some holiday cards of Maple in a Santa costume (super cute- but she does steal and eat all the presents!).
Finally, from Sunday November 30th to December 24th, my work will be featured alongside other artists in the LexArt Holiday Marketplace (130 Waltham St in Lexington, MA). The marketplace spans two floors and will have all kinds of unique gifts and decor designed by some truly talented folks! Come by and support small local businesses and artisans! More details on both the flyer and at their link below, and hope to see you there!
https://www.lexart.org/exhibit-information/holiday-marketplace-2025
