Where to have your Boston-area photoshoots

This has been a topic I’ve meant to do a big write-up on for the longest time. I guess it took a pandemic to make time for it! With people wanting to safely social distance during photoshoots, I recommend heading a bit out of the city for some reprieve from the crowds, joggers, dogs and bikers. Here is a list of some of my favourite locations photoshoots I’ve photographed in.

This is not a definitive list. I can honestly make any location work. I photograph in people’s homes 85% of the time and I have never set foot in their homes before the session, and I always have to make it work. That training over the past several years has helped me hone into what’s important to include in my frame of an image and what to crop out. If you stay until the end of the blog post I will show examples of some small parks and parking lot photo sessions. I keep forgetting to take more behind-the-scenes images, but when I get more, I will add them to this post. Just know you don’t have to go to the Public Gardens and that’s actually my least favourite place to photograph in the Boston area. Here’s my list for locations for photoshoots.

Locations are a personal preference

I had a PDF that I used to email to everyone when they asked for location suggestions. I tell them that they have to make sure they love it because a location is very much a personal preference. I love street art, derelict buildings, muddy puddles, splashing in the lake, and hikes up mountains. I can confidently say that 99% of my sessions do not include any of those items.

The things I tend to steer away from include iconic locations where you HAVE to photograph in this one spot from a specific location or there’s no point for that spot. Given the pandemic, I do not want to be lining up for a location, or having to cluster near a feature. Even if there wasn’t a pandemic, I follow the light and I love texture. When some landscape designers install a bridge or a gazebo, they don’t have the light in mind. Just because it’s there, I won’t necessarily use a bridge or gazebo unless the light is perfect. As a photographer, we see the world with light and shadow. It’s hard to convince someone unless they’ve had the training, but that’s why you’ve hired me – because you want me to make those choices and direct you to gorgeous backdrops.

If there is a location you have to have as a backdrop, please ask me during your consultation and make that abundantly clear so I can tell you how feasible it is. I want to make you happy, but that sometimes means changing the time of the session, bringing artificial lighting, or sacrificing the posed nature of the image captured there (because children will not hold a pose for a lighting setup). It’s a very technical decision sometimes, but I can make it work if that is the key image.

Summary of suggested locations for photoshoots

I provide examples for almost all of the following locations. I have been all across Boston and the greater Boston area. New locations don’t phase me. Under each location I give more tips on parking, things to consider, etc as well as the city these spots are located in.

1. Boston Public Gardens
2. Charles River Esplanade
3. Boston Commons
4. Christopher Columbus Park
5. The Fens
6. ICA / Seaport District
7. Davis Square / Trolley Square/ Powderhouse Circle
8. Tufts Campus
9. Fresh Pond Reservation
10. Alewife Brook Reservation
11. Danehy Park
12. Christian Herter Park
13. North Point Park
14. Menetomy Rocks Park
15. Tobert MacDonald Park
16. The Fells
17. Beaver Brook Reservation
18. Rock Meadow Conservation Land
19. Minuteman National Park
20. Wellesley College
21. Lynn Woods
22. Lower Commons, Wakefield
23. Breakheart Reservation
24. Larz Anderson Park
25. Arnold Arboretum
26. Fort Sewall, Marblehead
27. Crane Beach, Ipswich
28. North Shore Beach
29. Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester
30. Backyard
31. Park near you

Downtown locations for photoshoots

I will no longer be photographing any locations downtown (this includes the Charles River, Boston Public Gardens, Boston Commons, Christopher Columbus Park, any South End park) unless the session ends by 7:30 am. The sessions last about 40 minutes, so we would need to start by 6:50am at the latest. If this is too early for you, please consider a location out of the city. Ending by 7:30am is what I consider a ‘sunrise’ session (“sunrise for safety and OK light”). True sunrise for beautiful light is when true sunrise is according to this website.

If you are willing to consider a sunrise session, these are some visual examples of those locations:

1. Boston Public Gardens Photoshoot

2. Charles River Esplanade Photo Session

3. Boston Commons for a maternity session

4. Christopher Columbus Park

5. The Fens

Near Fenway is another cute spot that has great landscaping. Please note that most of this land is made up of small patches of community gardens. I love it though!

6. ICA / Seaport District

Sunrise option available if you love the downtown landscape! If you want a city feel away from the crowds, I love the seaport district near the Childrens museum and the ICA. They recently renovated the waterfront to have some great new features.

The following images are more creative (so not available for sessions with younger children). It requires flash and posing so it would work really well for engagement and senior sessions.

Somerville / Cambridge for photo sessions

7. Davis Square Powderhouse Park / Trolley Square| Somerville, MA

Let’s say I live in Davis Square so I shoot at these locations ALL the time. I come almost weekly to these spots because of my Davis Square location discount. Many of my clients also live in the area!

This is the same family! We have been seeing each other since she was still inside her mama’s belly. We haven’t left the square yet! So many choices and you don’t have to go far.

8. Tufts Campus | Somerville MA

Lots of spots around campus. I should note that campus is reopening in the Fall so there may be some tents set up closer to the start of the Fall semester.

9. Fresh Pond Reservation| Cambridge, MA

The caveat for the above location is that part of it is a playground. I am not sure if it will be closed or how comfortable your family is in a playground setting with regards to Coronavirus. Parking in this area is also tricky if you are not a Belmont or Cambridge permit holder.

The below area is also nearby but easier to access via parking near the Trader Joe’s at Alewife Brook Parkway.

10. Alewife Brook Reservation

Just around the bend from there is another park that I love. It’s a thoroughfare that connects Belmont to Cambridge. It’s called Alewife Brook Reservation. It’s just off the T line from Alewife station. Parking here is incredibly hard to find unless you park at the T.

11. Danehy Park | Cambridge, MA

I shoot at Danehy park a lot! I love it there. There are a lot of choices in the massive city park. We can easily move from place to place when people come around. I actually convinced one family to stay close by last year for their family session and they were happy I talked them out of heading further out.

12. Christian Herter Park | Cambridge, MA

One of my favourite parks because it has easy parking! The water is steps away from the parking lot. I do have to note that this is a busier park because it’s by the Charles River. There are a lot of joggers and bikers along the water. If you are ok not being by the water, we can find a quieter patch to photograph in.

13. North Point Park | Cambridge, MA (sunrise only)

I’m not going to reinvent the wheel, so if you want to see a whole bunch of photos taken at North Point, click HERE to see the blog post. I’m calling this a sunrise only session location because it’s right in the city and sometimes quite busy. Parking is also a huge pain here.

Arlington / Medford / Belmont / Concord for photo sessions

14. Menetomy Rocks Park | Arlington, MA (sunrise only)

I love this park in Arlington. Parking is found all around the park, so make sure we agree to meet in the right area. The most ‘iconic’ spot is the pond right in the center. I love this location for photoshoots. I am willing to do sunsets if you are flexible with location choices. We just have to dance around the many walkers/bikers/dog walkers. It’s pretty popular with off-leash dog walkers, unfortunately.

15. Tobert MacDonald Park| Medford, MA

The parking lot for this park is right by the Police station. Have you noticed how much I love easy logistics? It’s from years of running between back-to-back sessions and having families rush to a location because of a throw-up, I know how important it is to find easy parking. I always tell parents I can make any location work. The main thing is if they can get there easily and not be late. Sunrise is sunrise and sunset is unforgiving. We cannot argue with Mother Nature!

I photographed this family at another nearby park across from the Costco shopping center and LOVED how that turned out as well. There are so many options.

16. The Fells | Medford, MA

I adore the fells. I was actually there hiking this morning. When it has just rained you can smell the fresh wood. I have been going there for years. It’s for the more rugged families that are used to mud and muck. You have to dress properly and expect dirt and exploration. Basically, this isn’t a place for heels and dresses. If you love nature like me, this is a great suggested Location for photoshoots.

17. Beaver Brook Reservation | Belmont, MA

The little guy below had almost his entire session at this one park. It was easy as it was just down the street from his house. They often walked their dog Hattie here so it was sentimental to them. Locations aren’t the focus for me. It’s all about the light, interaction, emotion and expression.

During his 6 month photo session, we really lucked out with the most stunning sunset in the PARKING LOT. Have I mentioned how many of my images are basically created by a parking lot?

This was the epic parking lot photo we got after sunset as we were all walking back to our cars:

18. Rock Meadow Conservation area | Belmont, MA

I’ve done a blog set on this location, so again, I’ll direct you there to take a look at the landscape (BLOG POST)! I’ve photographed there often. I do have to make a note that it has become VERY popular. It’s more of a sunset location just because of the direction of the light/sun. This would not be suitable for a weekend location.

This session took place on an overcast and almost storming day:

19. Minuteman National Park | Concord, MA

I wouldn’t expect us to get a bridge photo as it’s a main thoroughfare, but it’s a great sprawling park with a lot of scenery. Lots of things to climb on and explore! It’s massive and a place for the kids to run wild.

A bit further out / Wellesley, Lynn, Wakefield, Saugus for photo sessions

20. Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA

21. Lynn Woods | Lynn, MA

I haven’t photographed or been here yet, but I do a lot of my scouting online before a session using just Google maps. If you want to read more about it, click on TripAdvisor.

22. Lower Commons, Wakefield MA

This was chosen by a Baby 1 Year family because they lived in Wakefield. It had a great green space, water and a gazebo for some interest. The parking lot was right there as well. I wouldn’t say this park is special, it’s merely an example that I can photograph any location and I don’t need to scout it out ahead of time. I just need cooperative subjects and good light.

23. Breakheart Reservation | Saugus, MA

This is another location that looks great on Google Maps. Check out the town website for details. I would definitely put this on a list of photogenic locations to check out.

OK so I checked it out on July 5th and it’s a beautiful place. I don’t know if I would recommend it for little children, but definitely for older kids, maternity or engagement sessions. The space is beautiful and if I can control where people stand and how they pose, I’ll likely be able to create epic images. With toddlers, I likely wouldn’t think it’s ideal unless parents are OK with purely documentary/exploration style. I would need to employ flash/lighting techniques to really bring out this location and unfortunately, with little ones, there’s no way that will happen.

It was a beautiful, foggy, overcast day when I went. These are just some iphone snaps I took, so the finished ‘real photo’ effect will be very different.

24. Larz Anderson (sunrise only)

I’ve covered Larz Anderson park extensively. I was bored of the Public Gardens a few years ago and suggested this park as an alternative. It’s located in Brookline. I will direct you to some full blog posts on this suggested location for photoshoots.

Family Session at Larz Anderson Blog Post # 1

Family Session at Larz Anderson Blog Post # 2

Family Session at Larz Anderson Blog Post #3

25. Arnold Arboretum (sunrise/sunset only)

Parking is tricky here because people tend to not expect the parking is just along the side of the road. Then they are usually late and roar right past it and then it’s about 15 minutes to circle back and park. I send parking instructions with every session here, but each time it’s still a fiasco for the uninitiated. If it’s your first time, I would recommend going once beforehand or leave an extra 20 minutes for parking. The Arboretum is one of my favourite locations for photoshoots.

I love this grand park in Jamaica Plain. There are so many spots to photograph here and we can avoid crowds by going off to the side.

By the Coast / North Shore for photo sessions

26. Fort Sewall| Marblehead, MA

I’ve been here 3 times and each time it looks different! For the full engagement session, please click HERE.

27. Crane Beach | Ipswich, MA

There’s paid parking at this beach so fees do apply, but you won’t find a more beautiful beach on the North Shore. We can easily social distance from people at sunset/sunrise on the weekdays. It’s that massive. I do not recommend weekends as it’s an absolute madhouse. Please also note greenhead season in July/August. We don’t want to be eaten alive there.

I should point out that there are restrictions currently at Crane Beach and that you have to secure a spot. Please reach out to them directly for the latest information about a sunset/sunrise session. I want you to feel confident you got the info right from the source. Online info HERE.

28. North Shore Beach

Somewhere along the North Shore is another rocky beach where these elopement wedding images were taken. It was empty when we went. I forget where it was, but if you are interested, reach out to me.

29. Wingaersheek Beach | Gloucester, MA

These were photographed at 8:30am when the parking lot opened. The beach is very tricky for photography and I highly recommend sunset or sunrise because you will have a warmth to the images and it won’t make you squint in all of your photos. If you know yourself and know you wear sunglasses at the beach, please plan to have a sunset/sunrise session. If we can figure out a weekday sunset or sunrise without parking issues, this is one of the great beach locations for photoshoots. Keep in mind, greenheads are also an issue here besides at Crane from around Mid-July to Mid-August. I will point out that many beaches are closed to non-locals on weekends. Please verify.

I still remember losing my 85mm lens to the ocean during this session!

Also, consider nearby for photo sessions

30. Backyard or Apartment Common Area | Locations for photoshoots near you

I can make a simple location look beautiful just through choosing the lens, knowing the light and cropping intentionally. I just need to know what the space looks like that I will be working with so I can consult with you whether or not it will work.

More suggestions to make your backyard work in this BLOG POST.

Families are always shocked when I can make a simple space they may have overlooked into something magical. The following was taken in their apartment parking lot.

31. Nearby Park | near you

I can make a small patch of greenery or florals look lush. You don’t have to travel far. I can do an entire session within 40 feet of the parking lot. I do a lot of scouting using Google maps. The only thing I cannot tell is if there is seasonal foliage or florals or construction. Those need to be verified closer to the date.

They go walking here all the time with their baby girl, so we had our session here. These images were taken back to back (one with my camera, and the other with the phone- ha! Guess which is which?). What you see and what I see may be quite different.

If you have some place in mind

Send me a pin and send me some panoramic photos! I prefer you take the photos when you plan to have the session, but just let me know what time you took the photos and if it’s a pano, I can extrapolate the information I need. If you just take a snap, I cannot tell where the sun is in relation to the landscape. The pin on google is important so I know where to go!

Some examples of photos that I’ve taken as ‘research’ photos to give me a sense of the space:

The way I photograph a location for my own reference is different than how I would want images from you. Panoramic photos will give me context. I cannot always shoot with the lake as a background. I will have to use artificial lighting to make you pop otherwise it will be a silhouette. These flash photos will only work with adults or kids over 10.

If you can also send me the information on direction of the sunset/sunrise that would be optimal. Otherwise, tell me what time the photo was taken (taking a photo between 11-1 will not give me any information since it’s just overhead). I use an app on location to give me a sense of the lighting of a location as well. These are just the everyday little things I do for planning and why you hired a professional, so please take my advice for planning purposes. Again, I ask for photos and timing so that I can help with information and planning. Sending photos randomly without context at noon will not give me any information. I really just have to make that clear so that I don’t come back to ask additional questions. I want this to be as easy as possible!

You don’t have to take any of these photoshoot location suggestions. These are merely a jumping-off point. I hope they will help you plan your socially distanced photo session. There’s no need to stress about finding the ‘perfect’ spot.

You can always just let me choose a location, but I do want families to know themselves. If you are easy-going then any location I pick will be great. If you know you only like manicured gardens then please don’t ‘trust me’ and be disappointed when I choose someplace more natural. I always ask people to verify the location is to their expectations before a session because I don’t want them to hate it. I love abandoned buildings, alleyways with graffiti, climbs up mountains, giant mud puddles. I also love modern architecture, clean lines and harsh shadow/light play. I would say that I typically only work 99% of the time in places NOT as described above (I’m at the Public Gardens 5 times a week typically). So be honest with yourself. I can make any place work.

When I first started, parents cared so much about locations and drove 45 minutes to a spot only to have their toddler meltdown because of the distance traveled. The session isn’t up to us. If you have older children, then we can head further out of town. Just know your children.

Things to keep in mind include parking, when parking lots open, permits and fees related to shooting locations and closures due to construction, COVID-19 or pests (such as horseflies at Crane beach). Washrooms are also something to keep in mind as many places are closed and personally I am avoiding public washrooms.

For at home sessions, I ask for panoramic photos and a questionnaire to be filled out asking what your favourite aspects are of your yard (and areas to avoid). This will all be sent to you when you book your photo session.

There are a tonne of other locations I’ve photographed at, but this blog post is getting a bit lengthy. If there’s some place else you’d like me to cover in this post please reach out and I’ll dig up some examples.

I hope this list helps you find the best locations for your photoshoots

If this resource is helpful, sign up for my newsletter. I’ll be adding more tips and advice for planning sessions in the coming months. Once those blog entries are available, I’ll send you a notification right to your inbox. You can unsubscribe any time. I won’t spam you. My goal is to gather a couple of entries before I send off a newsletter maybe once every 1-3 weeks depending on the season. You can sign up below.

Mommy and Me

So often it’s mothers that are organizing these photo sessions because they are the ones taking the photos constantly of their family, but rarely in the family photos themselves. I believe that it’s my job to ensure that I focus on Motherhood during my family sessions. When people reach out to me, I always try and get a sense of their goals. Some parents I’ve seen every year for 7+ years so we are in sync now, but I still send out a questionnaire before every session to see if their minds have changed.

I know that so many mothers of course have a goal of getting incredible images of their child at this moment in their lives, but I don’t think my duty ends there. I work incredibly hard to make sure no one is forgotten in my sessions. My sessions are all about the family, the interactions between the children and their mother, as well as her partner.

Boston Family Photography

I have clients coming in from different states to have their photos taken by me and I’m always so incredibly flattered. It seriously blows my mind that people will travel for hours just to see me! Some past clients have moved away only to return periodically to have updated photos because they weren’t able to find someone to replace me in their new hometown. I am forever thankful that my work is so valued.

I put 100% of my heart into every session and I don’t leave until I know I have a breadth of work that I’m happy with. That’s also why I don’t do mini-sessions. There is so much pressure for a child to perform and behave in 10 minutes that sometimes it just triggers a meltdown. I’ve seen it too often before and I now try and communicate parents not to play up these sessions too much. It’s just about play and exploration. Don’t look at it as something they have to do. Photosessions should be fun! It’s all about setting a peaceful, relaxed mindset. It’s how I have been able to create the beautiful imagery below.

A slideshow of Imagery

I made a slideshow featuring some images taken from Spring 2019 until March 2020 before COVID-19 shut down everything. I am so incredibly proud of what we were able to create in about 3/4 of a year.

Please enjoy the slideshow of images featuring Motherhood:

Motherhood Slideshow

Motherhood in photography

Motherhood is celebrated in my work, no matter the event. From weddings, maternity, to newborns and family sessions… I’m there beside so many families to capture their precious memories.

Book a 2020 Session

To book a session, reach out to me via my contact form. Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for first access to dates. With extra precautions due to Covid19 I am only taking on limited sessions with families that are ok with my procedures on safety precautions. Thank you so much for understanding!

2020 session blog post | How they will look

For printers, many families have been asking what I recommend. I have been sending everyone to Mpix.com for several years now and everyone has been very happy. If you’re not happy, please contact them and they will make it right with a print credit/re-print.

Spotlight on dads

This ones for the dads out there. You all play an incredible role in your families. Thank you for always being there for them. Thank you for leading by example. Thank you for your compassion and love. Thank you for charting a course for the future. This post is to all of the fathers I’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the years. The images, in particular, were compiled from sessions starting last Summer until this March when the world came to a standstill. What a strange year it’s turned out to be. No matter what the world has thrown at you, you’ve stood up to the plate and became the rock your family needed. Fatherhood is one of the most important roles one will ever play.

Thank you for all that you do.

Today is a special day for some incredible people in our lives. Thank you to all of my wonderful and supportive families that continue to allow me to capture your memories… from maternity, to newborn, as the kids get older, graduations, and also weddings. Fathers will remain by our sides and in our hearts forever.

“The nature of impending fatherhood is that you are doing something that you’re unqualified to do, and then you become qualified while doing it.”

John Green

Fatherhood in Photos

Each dad has his own way of expression his love and affection for his family and children. My job has always been to capture your truth. Every love between a father and child is unique.

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken (wo)men.”

Frederick Douglas

The Father’s Day Slideshow

Fun activities in Boston

If you’re in need of something to do this week, check out this ARTICLE about fun things to do around the Boston area!

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Focus on play

I’ve always wanted to transition my photography style into a more documentary style of family photography. This is the push I guess I always needed to make this dream a reality! My sessions this year will be child-led. Since I cannot come closer than 6′, my usual directing style will take a backseat to more prompts of play and discovery. This will be the driving force behind family photography in 2020.

Personally, I would love to move to this style of photography as it is very relaxing. We may not have control over the outcome, but it will be true to who your child and family is today. I always found that in directing, some poses and suggestions didn’t work for certain families because that wasn’t how they played. I want to understand and see how YOUR family plays and loves each other.

Locations

Sessions for 2020 will not be taking place in the city, but the focus will shift to parks, conservation lands and backyards. Everyone knows how much I love a great city backdrop, but unless you are willing to do a sunrise session, I will not be doing any city-based sessions. For the definition of sunrise, please check google or click here. Unfortunately, that is earlier than most of us would like. Be realistic and honest. Please do not book a sunrise city session and then ask to change the session to 8:00am. If the timing does not work, please consider a location out of the city or in your backyard.

Locations best suited for 2020:

• Your backyard/front yard
• A field/conservation land/out in nature
• Avoid sunset in the city

Nature allows for kids to be in their element, which is exploring. Their discovery of new things and sights can bring about signature expressions that you’ll want to capture. Yes, sometimes they can stare at a rock or a stick for 15 minutes, but you only need a handful of gorgeous keepsake images to frame and remember this crazy time in our world. It’s not about quantity, but instead about quality. It’s something I am taking more to heart every day. In our materialistic world that we live in, I’m starting to really take a deeper look at what I truly need. Having my family healthy and happy is what’s important to me; not another cute dress, or another pair of shoes that I’ll stash away and never find until I clean out my closet 3 years from now.

When choosing a location, keep in mind your child’s unique temperament. Will they do well after a 2-hour car ride where you’re likely rushing because you are running late? Or is it more relaxing for you to just keep things close to home so you don’t have to worry about getting gas, getting out on time, and not forgetting anything along the way. I always like to suggest to keep things simple.

Ideas for play

If you are concerned about the pace, there are ways to engage a child and have them move on. Lots of hugs, cuddles, a piggyback ride, lifts into the air are all ways to reset their focus. I don’t know what your family typically does and I don’t know how willing you are to allow things to flow naturally, so I will take your lead on how these sessions will evolve. If you are at home, babies LOVE the following:

• bubbles
• tents
• pillow fights outdoors on a nice cream throw
• playing in the water
• FOOD

You can have a sprinkler going, set up an inflatable pool with a rainbow. Go nuts. You are only limited by your imagination. If you want to brainstorm together, I am more than happy to!

Ideas for home

Simple beige throw, some pillows and VOILA. For the top-down photo below, I would need a step ladder, but at this time, I don’t want to complicate things.

The images on the page are all taken in backyards or common areas (like BBQ areas) of apartment complexes. Things do not have to get complicated.

I also shot some video for the following family, but I haven’t had a chance to edit it together yet. I will post that when it’s ready. Basically, your backyard can be a place to have a socially distant and safe session. If something goes wrong, you are at home and have access to anything you need. You can get snacks when baby is hungry, or run inside if you’ve forgotten something. These sessions can be relaxed and beautiful. It’s also a great way to document your family… your home…right now. It’s where you raised your children and you should be proud to show it off.

Basically what I’m saying is don’t eliminate a perfectly good option right in your backyard. It doesn’t have to be the public gardens, you don’t have to clean your backyard and plant some trees. Just let go of perfection and enjoy your life and loves around you. It’s the little things in the every day that define who we are. This is your story.

Ideas for newborns and the outdoors

Outdoor spaces are a great spot for newborn photos as well. This baby girl had both her newborn and 1 year photos taken in their apartment complex BBQ area (she’s the watermelon baby!). Have I ever mentioned how much I like BBQ areas and often photograph in them without drawing attention to the fact they are simple locations steps from your front door? Some of my families choose to have all of their sessions at home and I have seen them for YEARS. To me, it’s always been about the family and the baby; not the location.

Why sunset or sunrise?

The best light is always SUNRISE and SUNSET. However, sunrise may not be when you think it is! In June, sunrise is 5:15AM: LINK.

Since these sessions are less pressure and more about play, your baby doesn’t have to be at their happiest point of the day (which is generally in the morning). But you know your child. If they are a complete mess by sunset, please schedule a sunrise session. If sunrise or sunset doesn’t work, the session has to take place on your private property to ensure we don’t run into crowds.

The reason why sunset or sunrise is best is better outlined in this blog post. Since I cannot control where your child may lead us, I need to have constant good light to work with. During midday, a bad patch of light will not give you the images I’m known for.

How sunset/sunrise will affect your backyard session

To prepare for your session, please send me a 360 video or panoramic photo of your outdoor spaces. If you want a sunrise session, please take the photos at that time on a CLOUDLESS day. This will be the worst-case scenario of light I will be dealing with and that information is important so I can tell you what direction I will be likely shooting in so that you can decide if the background is what you envisioned. You can also remove any unnecessary/unsightly objects so that the backdrop is clean. If you send me photos at a random time of day and not the whole backyard, I won’t have a full picture and the exercise will be ineffective.

If you have a specific part of your outdoor space to be the backdrop, I need to see a photo of it and know the time of day you took the photo so I can tell you when is the best time to take photos given the backdrop restriction. Basically I want to ensure there isn’t full sun in your eyes during the session. You will squint. I want the sun to your back. The background will always be where the sun is.

Steps for a successful backyard/front yard session:

• send me 360 videos/panoramic photos of your house taken during early morning and sunset.
• tell me what time those images were taken
• the direction of the sun will be your background (the sun will be to your back when I photograph you)
• decide if there’s a part of your yard you want to highlight and what parts you want to avoid
• communicate these considerations to me

Examples of directional light

Below you can see the sun in the photo. I am staying in the same position as the flower girl also passes. This is the ideal lighting situation.

Below: Sun to their back. This rims the hair with beautiful light.

Same Concept:

Again… beautiful sun behind them.

That’s not to say I always shoot with the suns to your back, but this is how I shoot 90% of the time. If it’s overcast, there is no direction to the light and I am fine with photographing ANYTIME basically. If it’s stormy and overcast, this is what that would look like (post). Another overcast day would look like this (post). Both sessions called for 40% chance of rain or more. I don’t need a sunny day to make gorgeous images. Working in New England you have to deal with the temperamental weather, otherwise, you have no business being a photographer here! I WISH we were blessed with gorgeous sunsets and light like they have constantly in California.

For more information on lighting, please see this blog post.

Unfortunately, I cannot argue with mother nature. Sunrise is sunrise and sunset is sunset. Rain may come and it may go. Again, the goal is to capture your family. I love splashes in the rain with rainboots. I love kids rolling in the mud. The story is up to you. If you want a no rain session, then we can reschedule as I’ve always had, but I am telling you it will not affect my images.

Session length

My sessions will be shorter this year to minimize exposure. That’s why I need your help to really hone in on your goals. Sessions will be about 40 minutes. For younger babies, I only need about 20 minutes to get some incredible images and the rest of the time I can give you space to allow for feeding, soothing, and whatever your baby needs. I’ve done this for a long time and it’s all about maximizing the time we have together to get some quality images. Sensing a theme? It’s all about quality over quantity. If things are going well and I can easily stay far away, I will be flexible with this timeline. That decision will be up to me, but discussed with you during our consultation.

Video Consults

Going forward for the rest of the sessions this year, I will be having video consults with all families the day of or the day before the session. This way we know we are all healthy and we can get the jitters out of the way. We can talk about your goals for the session and what the plan is / what are your prompts for play. I want to understand what you want and ensure I set your expectations about what is possible. I want to make sure we are all on the same page so that we can just start photographing when we meet in person. This is all about building trust and making everyone calmer about the session. I do not want this to be a stressful experience. Family photography should be fun and playful. These consults don’t have to be lengthy, but they have to happen.

Take away

Please only schedule a session if you’re willing to communicate with me during a video call and have a child-led session that has no direction from me. We can make small modifications based on your first inquiry, so please be as forthcoming as possible when inquiring about a session so I can tell you if it’s possible. My goal is to keep things fun, stress-free and all about communication so we can keep healthy. If I cannot guarantee a safe session, I run the risk of passing a sickness onto another family. I cannot have that happen and this is my plan for making it safe for everyone.

For information on further procedures and precautions I’m taking, please read the following posts to help ease your mind. I am taking this virus very seriously as I am sure you all are as well.

Phased Reopening Blog Post

Safety measures from March

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to ask me. I’m here for you.

I hope this post was informative. Again, my goal is to let loose and have fun during our sessions in 2020-2021. Thanks for making it through to the end!

Radcliffe + Harvard Yard

Location for me never really matters much. To me, the dynamic of the family is really what drives a session. The only thing I look for when choosing and recommending a location is good light, lack of poor background choices (when your child runs in the wrong direction) and a contained space (so they aren’t running into fields without depth or texture for me to make an interesting image). This session came together perfectly and the location was changed at the last minute due to concerns of EEE virus (mosquitoes) and the impending storm (Autumn is notoriously wet). As a family photographer I know that the priority is health and safety and when the mom expressed concerns, I immediately suggested we move things to a city park. And that’s how this Harvard yard location became the choice pick. Please check out this Harvard family photography session.

The Outfits

City chic worked so well with this backdrop. I think it works here better than our original location of the Emerald Necklace area. That’s why I always tell clients that location isn’t nearly as important as your child’s mood, the family dynamic and how well the outfits work both as a family unit and against the chosen background/location. So much goes into planning that my photos are merely the culmination of all of these elements coming together. Add weather to that mix and I have about 5% control of how these sessions go in the end.

Harvard family photography

Living in Boston, we’re surrounded by some of the best and most prestigious schools in the nation. Along with reputation comes the beautiful buildings that provide the architectural backdrop to my family photography sessions.

With kids sometimes it takes them a while to warm up. It’s all about exploring new places. I give them space and see where they take me. Most of the first part of this session was about throwing things in a floor grate and just running away from us. Ha! Toddlers. And parents are so fixated on wardrobes and location, when an entire session can evolve around a sewer grate in the end.

Harvard family photography Slideshow

And here is their Best images in a slideshow format. Please enjoy!

For pricing information and to book your family session please see my website.

For another playful family session please click HERE.

Toddlers Concerns

When parents reach out to me for bookings either they bring up their concerns about an active toddler, or I ask them in my questionnaire as pre-session prep. Kids are kids and the best sessions are when we allow them to run free and be themselves. I love prompting families but prompts do not work for kids under the age of 3. You just have to with the punches and adapt quickly to changing circumstances. I would say this guy was one of two of the fastest and most active toddlers I’ve ever photographed in my many years. He was 2 years old that day and could lap me on a track no doubt.

My other active toddler session was a private set, otherwise I’d love to show another example of a session where we still get awesome images given challenging circumstances. I’ll see if I can get a testimonial from the mom of the behind the scenes of this session and will add it here to the post. Once you’ve photographed people for a while, you know that nothing is quite as challenging as being a Boston child / toddler photographer.

Boston Public Gardens

Nothing is more classic than the gardens in Boston. It’s a great place to run free as well without worrying about cars, or bicycles. Being in the city, my main concerns are always safety as well as ugly backgrounds. The Gardens is thankfully free of any hazards and is the most beautifully landscaped place in the city. If you’re looking for manicured gardens, this is the place to have your photos taken. I’m here every week as it’s everyone’s favourite spot. Personally I’m into street art, architecture and derelict buildings, but hey.. that’s just me. I’ve tried a number of years to get people to shoot in alleyways, but I’ve only tricked five people so far – ha! I will be sharing a set from a more urban setting soon.

When parents choose a location or ask for suggestions, I always just tell them to pick someplace that’s meaningful or someplace that is their vibe. To me, location doesn’t matter as much as the dynamic of the family themselves. My photos from session-to-session are always driven by the family. It’s all about the light and the personality and even the outfits chosen. For a set that includes a more flowy, peaceful and less energetic vibe, have a look at this LINK. Same location and also at sunset, but it’s completely different. You never know what you’re going to get as a Boston Child photographer.

Boston Child Photographer

I hope you’ll love the images captured by me. I have to emphasize that this session was successful because of the parents. They kept up with their child and knew how to play and adapt. It was 100% teamwork throughout the hour. Only then could I get the images I am known for. Without their help there would have been no chance for these images. I love how it captured who they were as a family unit at this time in their lives. I have no idea how they keep up with him 24/7 but kudos to them. Please enjoy their images!

Magic Light

Favourite Family Photo

So it turns out the hero images for this set all happened in the last 15 seconds of the session when I think we FINALLY tired him out. Let’s say I slept well that night (and every night since I photograph toddlers almost every day). I never know when the moment will happen but I will be forever thankful for the trust these parents placed on me to capture their son in all his glory for his second birthday. They found me through a friend that also had an energetic toddler and knew that I was able to capture her light and energy. It’s definitely a skill to think fast on your feet with composition, camera settings and directing.

I love the make posts on sessions with a teaching angle so you can see the many variables I’m often presented. I don’t share only those peaceful, happy, posed sessions because those are maybe 5% of my sessions. It is best to share what sets me apart from the rest. So much goes into being a Boston Child photographer.

If you would like more information on booking a session with me, please check my pricing page and contact page.

Parking at the Gardens

Please note that parking is hard to come by near the gardens. The best bet is to arrive 20 minutes early and look for street parking, or underground parking. Please know sometimes the entrance is tricky (it’s on the right on a one way) so if you miss it, allow 7 minutes to circle the garden for another attempt. Once you’re underground it still takes about 10 minutes to walk out of the garage. The link to the Boston Commons Parking garage is HERE.

Belmont Family Photographer

This Belmont family lives right near this field but it was the first time they had actually set foot in it. I love exploring green spaces I find on google maps as you never know what might be just around the corner from you. I live in Davis Square, but it’s not too far a drive for me and there is a small parking lot here for a few cars. This session was HIGH ENERGY and that’s my kind of session. There was no need for prompts of play because that’s what these kids wanted to do anyway. I find the best sessions that truly capture kids and their personalities is just to let them roam free. Play makes for the best images. For kids with shorter attention spans (let’s be honest… we ALL have short attention spans) I love just having fun to get those genuine expressions. Please enjoy reading more about this Belmont Family Session.

Belmont Field

This field is great as it has so many different aspects. When I pick a location I see where the sun rises and where it falls to determine if the backdrop is nice during those times of day. I also LOVE texture. When you have a massive field like this one in Belmont, you can shoot in any direction and it’s magical. Who would have thought this was only a 15-20 min drive away from the city? There’s a great boardwalk/marshy area, gorgeous tall trees and grassy fields. I love trees and grass as it helps filter the light if it’s a super sunny day.

Stormy weather threatened to rain us out

Up until the hour before, we were waiting to see how the weather was going to finalize as. The rain was threatening to pour during our session. Checking the radar (I find radar more reliable than the forecast as you can see where the clouds are tracking) though we saw we had a window to make it happen. I have the best clients, so this mom was good to go and we got there with plenty of light and beautiful skies as our backdrop. Nothing makes a session more dramatic and moody than those stormy skies. Big risks = big rewards. When clients always ask about rescheduling 7 days before a session because of a 30% chance of rain when I first started, I would assure them the weather would surely change. New England weather is unpredictable. This session was 80% chance of rain and look what ended up happening. If the session is a wash, I am totally fine rescheduling as well. Just know that the threat/risk of rain isn’t always a bad thing.

Belmont Family Session

I hope you’ll love browsing their images as much as I loved photographing them. At the end you can see a slideshow put to music to see how I love to present my gallery. I always suggest families put on the slideshow with their entire family to watch before accessing the online gallery. You can easily scroll through 100 beautiful images in 30 seconds. As one client described it; it’s like slowly unwrapping a present on Christmas day.

The Slideshow of Images

Please enjoy their slideshow of images taken during this family photography session in Belmont.

If you would like to book a session, please visit my pricing page for investment details and my contact page.

Larz Anderson Family session

This is the second of two back to back late afternoon / sunset sessions at Larz Anderson park. I am a photographer that loves to feed off the energy of the family and let them inspire me by their play and interactions. This makes each session unique and fun. I start with the traditional poses based on the location of choice and just see what evolves from there. Often my sessions are toddler run so I don’t have a say anyway. They always run the show. I’m based in Davis Square, Somerville but I travel a lot to Brookline to photograph the lovely parks there. We don’t have much in terms of greenspace in Somerville so I’m always heading to the suburbs for colour. If you’re in need of a Brookline Family photographer, do reach out.

Fall colours peaked in November

Each year families ask when the colours will be at their height. I have no idea as each year the temperatures vary vastly. The only thing certain is that it has to drop below freezing during the night for the colours to start to change. This coincides with cold weather, runny noses and all things related (fun!). I warn parents that layers are important and to keep kids bundled and warm. If they are frozen, nothing I do will illicit a happy expression or fun moment. This year the temperatures stayed warm (2018) so we had a mild autumn season. The trees were still hanging on in November and I was happy.

The Family

I have been photographing this beautiful family since their eldest was a newborn. They’ve stayed by my side ever since. I love seeing them each time and seeing how the kids grow and change in personality. The first couple of years are always challenging, but the daughter is getting to an age now where she’s truly inspiring with the ability to channel her ideas and is just an absolute delight to photograph. Her brother is a bit younger, so it’s always chaos trying to get him still for a photo- ha!

Fall Family Photos at Larz Anderson Park

Their beautiful gem coloured outfits were in perfect contrast to the golden hues of the backdrop. I couldn’t have done it better myself. Her wardrobe selection was absolutely perfect. Rich purples, royal blues and punches of accent colours came together in a dynamic play against the signature New England fall leaves.

Brookline Family Photographer

To see another family session photographed just the hour before this session, please click HERE . You can see how a different wardrobe and family dynamic can create a whole new set of images. Here is another EXAMPLE with different outfits and weather conditions (rain!).

Apparently they host weddings at this gorgeous venue as well!

Autumn in Boston

Fall is busy season for us photographers as the temperatures start to fall and the leaves start turning to brilliant hues of rust, gold and fire red. As a result, I am often faced with back to back sessions at a single location. So how does a photographer keep things fresh and not recycle the same poses and backgrounds? I am a photographer that easily gets bored, so I am constantly pushing myself to try and also to see new things. I will post the second of two back to back session in a link at the end of this blog post so you can see what another family received as their photos on the same day for fall family photos at Larz Anderson Park.

Larz Anderson Park

This park is very popular and for good reason. It has a perfect mix of architectural elements and bold colours during the fall season. Of course it’s absolutely overrun by photographers and families during this time of year. My style is very fast and fluid. If a choice spot is occupied, I just move on. My clients trust me to find pockets of light and gorgeous backgrounds. I don’t like ‘typical’ spots and often find myself quickly moving away from the ‘go to spots’ as I feel other families descending upon us. My sessions are very high energy as a result. It’s all about play and making shapes that please my eye. For more information please see the government website.

The Family

I’ve been photographing this wonderful clan of fellow Canadians for a number of years now. Their kids are older so it’s also about getting the more mature kids to open up and laugh genuinely. They are such great kids though so they made it easy for me. And talk about the family with the greatest hair ever!

The Fall Family Photos Larz Anderson

Please enjoy these images taken in the late afternoon just prior to my sunset session that I will link to at the bottom of this post.

I will be linking the sunset fall family session I shot immediately after this session at Larz Anderson Park HERE .

The Family

Part of the joy of photographing Baby 1 Year package families is that you get to build a wonderful bond and start to know the personalities of the parents and the children to build upon each session. I first met this family when their eldest was merely a bump in her mama’s belly. She’s been the happiest and most playful child and the parents are the nicest people which truly makes my job so easy. This time, we tried the Boston Public Garden as our session backdrop. They trusted me from the start by timing their session to the recommended start time of sunset, and coordinated their outfits according to my blog post and outfit planner tools. Mom got her gorgeous dress off Amazon the day of the session and I would say it set the tone of the entire session.

Boston Public Garden

Nothing is more iconic than Boston than the Public Garden. It’s my most requested location. Everyone knows it and all the tourists flock to it. That is part of what makes it so challenging. How do you keep things fresh and not have a million tourists in your background? First off, I always suggest if you want the Public Garden you HAVE to do a weekday. I have photographed there for sure on weekends, but it’s a lot more dodging of tourists and just people milling about. I like to remove as many variables as possible when working with kids because you never know which direction they might go in, nor do you know when they may decide to cooperate.

The outfits truly set the tone of the session. The romantic vibes given off by her dress made things more whimsical and flowy instantly inspiring me to add movement to our session. Big sister also had a blast with the dress which made for some of my favourite unprompted sequences. It’s all about evolution and play during a session. I love it when kids are just being kids because that’s the personality you want to capture and remember when looking back at these keepsake images.

Sunset Boston Public Garden Family Photography

Many families have come back to town just to have their sessions with me after they move away and I’m forever grateful to loyal clients that value me and what I do. Family photography / child photography is tough and not for the feint of heart. You’ll often see me running around like a crazy person to capture fleeting moments with cameras holstered to my side. You have to be fast to capture kids and always ‘on’ to see those moments worth creating. There’s never a dull moment! It’s why families come back time and time again. It’s because I have the reputation that I do.

Public Garden Family photos

Please enjoy their select family images. Each family receives also a selection of outtakes that are my personal favourites.

I hope you loved viewing this Summer Boston public garden session. For information on how to book just head over to my website.

Boston Public Garden Family Film

For a limited time only I am offering mini family films that are made alongside your family session. These are very short films that are just snippets of play captured throughout your session if your children decide to be cooperative. These are complimentary and have no separate value as I try and gauge each family’s ability to act naturally without direction and also based on the level of cooperation from the children. My focus is always photos first, but here is a family film made during this session. Please note that I need an additional 20-30 min dedicated solely to family film to make a film I’d be proud of. Since things were moving fast and the kids were fading, this was created out of 15 minutes dedicated to the film portion. I love how it captures their little movements, turns of expression and little sounds – something photos could never do. I hope you will enjoy it!

For another Family photo session taken at the Boston Public Garden please see this LINK