Families That Book Every Year, With the DuBuc Family | Boston Family Photographer

What makes families keep choosing me, your trusted Boston family photographer, to capture those precious moments year after year? I think it has a lot to do with the pictures, but it’s also about the relationships. You want someone who knows your family, who knows how to talk to your kids and deal with your grumpy husband (just kidding dads, we love you!) It’s like a mini reunion every year and I love already knowing the kids going into a session.

If there is one thing I love about family photography, it’s watching families grow and evolve year after year. It's like having a backstage pass to the most heartwarming show on Earth. Seeing your little ones go from crawling to conquering the world, capturing the subtle changes in your dynamics, and freezing those moments that make your family uniquely yours - I live for it.

I also love seeing moms and dads go from rookies with newborn babies to experienced veteran parents of confident, well loved kiddos.

As a mom of a 2 and 4 year old, I feel like they are different people everyday. This time while they are little is fleeting, and I want to capture everything (which is maybe why we all have 1,587,000 videos of them on our phones), but having these yearly sessions to put in an album and look back on, is one tradition I look forward to and will always prioritize.

So, cheers to our yearly tradition of freezing time and creating a visual diary of your family's incredible journey. Whether it’s for spring blooms, summer on the beach, fall foliage, or braving a snowy winter session, I hope to see you again this year.

Unexpected Moments: Embracing Imperfection in Family Photography | Boston Family Photographer

If there is one thing I love about photographing young kids, it’s capturing their genuine, candid personalities, with all of their sweet little expressions. Who doesn’t want to freeze a moment of their kids’ real laughter, and happiest smiling face? But we all know that is not them 100% of the time. Our kids have emotions (LOTS of them). They have focus, energy, passion, deep thought, needs, desires, and opinions. And a lot of those feelings aren’t displayed with a smile on their face, and that’s okay!

I am the biggest cheerleader for letting kids be kids, just because they are unpredictable does NOT mean your family session will be a bust. I promise you’re going to want ALL the genuine silly, quirky expressions to compliment the laughing, smiling ones.

When we ARE going for the smiley photos, don’t say cheese. I know, I know, “cheese” has been a go to since before we can remember. But usually saying cheese is a temporary fix that gets old quickly, and only really results in stiff smiles instead of those natural grins you were hoping for. Family photos are the best time to let go and get silly, and no one knows how to make your child laugh better than you do!

After years of working with families and having kids of my own, I’ve learned the best way to photograph children is to be flexible and observe. Sometimes what you plan for isn’t what you’re going to get, but your kids are awesome! Whatever comes to them naturally during our session is often infinitely better than anything we could’ve posed, especially with littles. Giving them the space to do their own thing works wonders.

Embrace their true expressions. The silly face, the mad face, the curious face, the shy-burys-her-head-in-your-shoulder face. There are so many faces that create picture perfect moments, and they’re even better because they’re authentic. If we set our goal to capturing your kid in their true authentic self, you’re going to walk away with a beautiful collection of fun, candid, lifestyle photos that you will love and cherish forever.

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In home sessions and why I love them | Boston family photographer

Your home is special to you. This is number one. It’s where you create a great majority of your family memories, and it’s where you all feel comfortable. I didn’t actually realize how true this was until we did our own family photos in our home last winter. There’s something about the photos in our bed that just hits 

1. It’s easy. This sounds like a simple answer, but if you have young kids, and you take away the whole element of getting them out the door and into the car or stroller once they’re ready, it’s a game changer. Just getting them dressed and letting them be make all the difference between a stressful session, and a peaceful session.

2. Weather is not an issue. No checking the weather app every hour leading up to our session.

3. We have more flexibility in scheduling a time. This is a big one. We schedule outdoor sessions 2 hours before sunset or just after sunrise. The longer the days are, the harder it can be for families to schedule an outdoor session. An outdoor session at 6PM may have beautiful light, but also may be harder on your kids’ dinner and bedtime routine. Indoor sessions are usually scheduled around 10AM, so no sunrise wake-and-go, and no witching hour meltdowns.

4. Go with a casual wardrobe. Socks and shoes off, get comfy. I usually recommend lighter, solid colors, and very low pressure coordination. And the best part? If someone gets a stain, just change because you’re at home!

How I Take a Month Off Every Summer and Why Its Great for Me and My Business | Boston Family Photographer

As cliche as it sounds, (like many other parents) I’ve realized my kids are only little once. They are little, needy, interesting, and fun, and I’ll never get this time back. My core values in my family portrait business are based around spending, documenting, and ENJOYING time with your family. My first maternity leave went from July-Sept and I was FREAKING OUT about the thought of taking a September (IYKYK) off from the photography business. But then I did, and my clients understood, and everything was ok. Once I knew it was possible, it wasn’t scary.

In fact, the timing of taking a month off to reset and spend with family before jumping into my busy season of weekend sessions and post-bedtime editing was the best thing that I could have done for my family and for business. Not having to grind right into the busy season without a break had me feeling refreshed, energized, and excited about photoshoots. And I didn’t have to go in with the guilt of less time with my kids because I just spent a whole month with them.

Here’s How I Did It:

1. Made sure I had an OOO with a clear message - I would be checking in on email once a week (say every Thursday for example), and therefore slower to respond.

2. Made sure my booking calendar was set up, automated, and easy for clients to book and receive confirmation emails without my help.

3. Planned content ahead of time. Blogs, social media, and Newsletters were scheduled not just for the month I was away, but through the busy season so I could focus on sessions when I returned.

4. Had a team member I could rely on. My assistant does not typically respond to emails for me, but I made sure I was able to loop her in on anything that needed attention while I was gone.

5. Didn’t stress about it. Did I miss out on scheduling a few photoshoots that were time sensitive? Yes. That would have majorly stressed me out in the past. I am more on the “I can’t serve everyone” train these days. And that’s ok with me.

Confession: Since the pandemic, I’ve been taking a winter month off too. Winter is the slow season for me, so I spend about 2-3 weeks on back-end things like updating my website, content planning, and general maintenance. Then I take one month where I work one day a week. Me from 5 years ago would have died over this.

Taking on Toddlers During Your Newborn Shoot | Boston Photographer

Just days into embarking on their journey with three kids, the Gillespies were ready to capture some precious moments with their brand new baby and his older siblings. With mom and dad having two toddlers in tow, I was more than happy to be welcomed into their South Boston home for a cozy indoor session. Having two young kids of my own has made newborn shoots even more special to me, give me all the baby snuggles!  Also, Charlie was a total natural, and went along with whatever we wanted.

Annie and Jack were so excited to show us all around their home to help scope out their favorite spots to play. As I received the formal stuffed animal introduction, I had dad giving the performance of a lifetime just behind my head while I snapped some playful, candid photos. Between the giggling and jumping on the bed we lost count of how many times we lost Annie’s bow in the silliness, but somehow she had it on for every photo.

The bow itself was the cherry on top of the family’s coordinating wardrobe. The Gillespies pulled a page right from our style guide and accented their neutral-toned outfits with pops of blue. All of which looked great against the backdrop of their home. It's easy to overlook your own bedroom as a photo location, but I find they tend to make a great spot to get comfortable in front of the camera.

After exhausting the photo opportunities in the bedrooms we relocated to the kitchen to break out everyone’s favorite: snacks. When discussing prep for the session I always recommend bringing along your kid’s favorite (non-messy) treat to break out when their patience starts running low. Once we had Goldfish coupled with the rare opportunity to sit on the counter, the kids got the second wind.

The shoot ended with the whole family (including the dog) piled onto the couch to snuggle and love on baby Charlie. What made this such a successful family session was everyone’s attitude. Mom and dad were easygoing, we gave the toddlers some freedom so they had fun the whole time, and this allowed us to capture these genuine, authentic family moments.

Baby Portraits: six months old, cheeks, and smiles-oh my! | Boston Photographer

The first year of baby’s life goes by so fast! Each month brings a new milestone, whether it’s sitting up, holding objects or crawling. While I absolutely love newborn shoots, it’s always exciting to work with babies within their first year. Just like each month brings a new milestone in development, a 3 month old and a 9 month old react differently in front of the camera. This past spring I had the lovely opportunity to work with Theo, a six month old, at their stunning condo in downtown Boston, and oh man, did he have the best expressions. Wait till you see those cheeks!

Theo was a natural, like ready to be on the cover of magazine-worthy. As a six month old he was sitting up by himself, and loved grabbing his feet or was completely fascinated by the drawstrings on his pants. While he went through the range of emotions like most babies, Theo was quick to offer back up a smile, thanks to his cheerleaders and support team, his mom, dad, and aunt! All of whom were running around behind me chanting, singing, playing peek-a-boo, and redirecting his attention with Sophie the giraffe. 

As you can see from the photos, Theo had multiple outfits which are especially helpful to have on hand on any infant shoot, (because babies can be messy). He went through his changes like a champ, and his wardrobe went great with the overall vibe of the space. Enjoy some of Theo’s moments below!

6 months is a big milestone! But no matter the age, if you interrupt nap time, there will be some tears.

How to get natural expressions from kids | Boston Photographer

Nothing compares to a genuine, heartfelt smile from your kids. Throughout the years I have discovered some of the best ways to get authentic emotions out of kids, and I’ll let you in on my secrets. It’s not as difficult as you think, just get ready to be a little goofy!

I absolutely love working with kids. They typically don’t fake how they feel, especially the younger ones, and kids tend to wear their expressions very honestly; creating a light-hearted atmosphere can give you the genuine look you want. When I’m on a shoot, I am always ready for those candid shots to capture them in their natural setting. 

Try kissing them. Babies and toddlers can be the most unpredictable, as one moment they may be laughing then the next it's like a little rain cloud is over them. But one of my favorite ways to bring joy to their faces is having mom, dad, brother, sister, you fill in the blank here, kiss different body parts. Their eyes, nose, fingers-try it all! 

Another safe option to melt those serious expressions is Peek-a-boo. You’ve got to love a classic. This one works best on kids under the age of 2.

Here comes the tickle monster! If you know your child is ticklish this can be a great secret weapon to turn any frowns or discomfort into a toothy grin. 

Toss your child up in the air! (safely)

Who doesn’t love a good dance party and sing along? Dancing can help a child relax and get out any jitters. Young ones love songs, so bonus if you sing in a silly voice. For upset babies, try putting on their favorite song to see if that can crack a smile or at least change the mood.

Make everything a game. See who can jump the highest, or if they can pop out from behind a nearby prop on the count of 3. Play Simon Says-but add an accent! Or tell them to hold a serious face and keep it as long as they can.

Break out the jokes! (Yes, even dad jokes) This one can work on both younger and older children. Maybe it’s a knock-knock joke, or a family inside joke. Perhaps you might even use some bathroom humor for the younger ones-whatever gets them cheesing!

Connection is key for older kids. Teenagers will whip out their phones if they have the chance. Ask them if they have any photo requests so they feel more invested. Find out their interests by taking some time to chat.

Make a funny sound. I tend to use this one for babies and younger children to grab their attention, but you can also make an older kid laugh this way as well.

Take. Breaks. Period. An hour can be a long time for any kid (and parents too if we’re being real here). If anyone needs a break, we take it. Taking 5 quiet mins in exchange for a happy 10 mins is always ok with me. .

Next time try one of these tactics to get a real smile, sometimes it just takes a little trial and error.

How to Do Winter Photos the Right Way | Boston Photographer

I absolutely love the seasons. Each season brings you something to look forward to and enjoy. Apple picking and leaf peeping in the fall, blooming flowers in the spring, sunshine in the summer, and hot cocoa and snow in the winter! Living in Boston we get the full force of the seasons, and winter can bring us a beautiful snowy wonderland but also some frigid temperatures. Don’t let those temperatures discourage you from creating some cozy, magical photos with your fam!!

Don’t underestimate home photoshoots. Home is where the heart is, creating some wonderfully fun and cuddly images in a space that means something to you. Before every session I take some time to scout the best spots around your house with the best lighting. (Spoiler, I can ALWAYS find at least a few spots). Indoor sessions are perfect for young kids and babies.

In the mood for some outdoor shots as well? Maybe it snowed the night before or the lighting is stunning. Combo sessions are a perfect way to get both outdoor and (warm) indoor photos! Just remember to bring plenty of layers. Older kids can have fun layering up, and young kids will get excited to run outside-though their mood can change pretty quickly (hello cold hands and runny nose) All we need is a few minutes outside, before running back home to warm up! Pro tip: A change in environment is also great for resetting not-so-great moods.

Boston Portrait Photographer | Newborn Twins in Back Bay

In their cozy of Back Bay home, we met Shannon, her husband Daryl, and their newborn twins for a truly special photoshoot. The twins had come earlier than planned, and were just 5 lbs each. But as the saying goes, good things come in small packages. We started out the photoshoot in the twins’ nursery that was designed by Shannon.

With a palette of creams, gold, silver, and rose gold, as well as stars and furs scattered throughout the room, the nursery was the embodiment of Shannon’s vision for the photoshoot. The twins were just beginning to nod off as we swaddled the two of them in soft pink and blue wraps.

As we started the shoot, Oscar the cat slunk his way into the room. He sat patiently and watched us as we worked, keeping a watchful eye over his new roommates. Halfway though, Grandma popped in to see how her new grandchildren were doing, and found them fast asleep comfy in the fabric and fur that was their background.

After finishing in the nursery, Shannon, Daryl, the twins, and even Oscar joined us in Mom and Dad’s room. The family piled onto the bed and snuggled close, again surrounded in the pinks and creams that Shannon so thoughtfully decorated with.

The results reflect the warmth and love found in their home. Congratulations Shannon and Daryl on your growing family!

Boston Family Portrait Photographer | Baby Henry

Welcome Henry! This little guy was a over a week old when we met him at his family home in Danvers. The life of a newborn is tough; lots of sleeping, eating, and posing for the camera. But thankfully, he has two big brothers to help him out.

These cuties are full of energy. Getting three little ones to look at the camera and smile can take some trial and error, but I loved capturing the spontaneous and loving moments this family has together.

From running around playing make believe to dancing along with their favorite toys, they always had time to give a gentle kiss on Henry’s forehead. I absolutely melted when Sully kept on telling me how much he loved his new brother. Mom and Dad are going to have their hands full with these lively boys, but this little family has grown bigger in both numbers and love!