It's 2025, Your Family Photos Can Be Fun! (with Emily O'Brien Photography) | Boston Family Photographer
Hellooo 2025! Maybe we are friends, maybe we see each other once a year at your session, and maybe you have been waiting and waiting to hit that “book your session” button (could this be your year?). Whatever the case may be, I’m refreshed after some time off and so ready for this year, so let’s start with a re-intro:
I’m Emily, Boston family photographer, mom of two (and dog-mom to our OG baby). I love running my own small business in Emily O’Brien Photography, and I especially love helping families create and capture those special memories that they can look back on for years.
With two young kids of my own I am hyper-aware of how fast time flies and being able to look back on our own memories is everything (let’s be real moms, we don’t even remember who our kid was a year ago, it is so fleeting).
This is my assistant Mikayla, she is here to be my extra set of hands in whatever we need from lighting and props, to pulling out an arsenal of silly faces to get smiles out of even the most “spirited” little ones. As peekaboo professionals, we always leave each session with some awesome expressions from your kids.
We want to start off the new year by answering some of our most frequently asked questions when it comes to family portrait sessions.
1. What can we expect
To have fun! Our family sessions are for the family who LOVES being around each other. Do you love to snuggle and play with your kids? If yes, then we are going to have a great time together. Each session starts with a questionnaire to help me get to know you and your kids better, what makes them laugh, what do they respond to, etc...
2. What do we wear?
I love this question! There are so many ways to coordinate your family’s outfits for photos. I put together my favorite tips in my style guide to help my clients get inspired but still feel like themselves.
3. What if my kid doesn’t cooperate?
They won’t. Just kidding! BUT, big feelings and shyness happen, and that’s okay. Our job is to make it as fun for them as possible, and their job is to be a kid :) I’ve been a family photographer in Boston for a long time and even my kids don’t always (read never) readily smile for my camera.
I am so excited for 2025 and all the families I get to continue making memories with, and the ones we will get to meet!
Furry Friends Welcome: Including Pets in Your Family Photo Session | Boston Family Photographer
Are you ready to capture some magic of family memories? Here’s something I’ve learned as a family portrait photographer (and dog mama) here in Boston... Bring. Your. Pets. I'm all about capturing the authentic love and fun you have with your family – and that includes your furry, four-legged members too! So, if you’re second-guessing why your dog should be a part of your next family photo session, let me tell you.
You know those candid, natural expressions that make your heart melt? Well, your dog is practically a pro at delivering those on cue! Having their silliness for your photos brings an extra layer of joy and spontaneity to your family portraits, especially with your kids. Your fur babies can be a familiar distraction that keeps your kids from a mid-photoshoot tantrum and also provide the sweetest candids.
Including your dog is especially fun with an outdoor session. Picture this: your family, some classic New England fall vibes, and gorgeous weather. Sounds incredible, right? I have some tips to make it as smooth as possible.
1. Bring a dog wrangler! If you’re able to, have a friend or family member tag along and be there to hold leashes and keep your pet entertained when they’re not in front of the camera so your focus can be on enjoying the moment.
2. Check-in with me ahead of time. Is the location you want to go to dog-friendly? What are the busiest times of day? If your dog is very easily distracted, then an in-home session might be the perfect way to keep them included.
3. Is your dog good with other people and other dogs/wildlife? A great pet-friendly option means that your dog will likely not be the only pup around, or even the only animal around. If your dog is a hunter like mine, the geese along the Charles River might pull a lot of focus, but a chill dog (like Cooper here) wasn’t even phased.
4. Easy on the treats. Like kids, treats can be a great way to motivate your dog, but don’t break them out too early and risk the crazed-treat-obsessed-dog look. You know your dog best, and if they don’t stay calm with treats involved, we may want to hold off on showing them.
As a mom and a photographer, I get it – getting the perfect shot with kids and pets can sometimes feel like herding cats (or dogs!), but trust me, they’re so worth it. Including your dog isn't just about capturing adorable memories – it's about celebrating the bond that ties your family together. Your dog isn't just a pet (ours will always be our first baby!), they're a cherished member of the family, and they’re pretty darn cute.
So, whether your dog is a seasoned poser or a playful puppy with a mind of their own, it’s worth considering if it makes sense to bring them. Your dog is always welcome in our family photo sessions, and we can’t wait to meet them!
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.
Behind the Scenes of A BOSTON Summer Family Session | Boston Photographer
For those who have done a family portrait session with me, you know I only shoot early in the morning or just before sunset to avoid harsh lighting from the sun. In the middle of the summer in particular, we are not only at the mercy of the sun’s unforgiving light, but also the brutal heat! And long summer days mean EARLY mornings and LATE evenings for kiddos. For this mid-July shoot, these two were champs, getting up and out the door early, with the promise of doughnuts waiting for them on the other side of the shoot… I mean I would get up at sunrise for doughnuts, wouldn’t you?
Siblings often feed off of each other’s energy and spirit which was 100% the case for Saj and Ani. For 7am, all I can say is I wish I had Saj’s energy! Sitting still can be tough at any age, but especially for 5 year olds. This shoot had lots of interaction such as running, tickling, secret telling, hiding, and hugging…which ended up as tackling in some (most) instances. We try to follow along with whatever makes our toddlers happiest, and if that means lots of sweating and running around, we are totally cool with it.
Overall the lighting worked in our favor and we got some awesome action and family shots!
How to prepare for your session: The ultimate guide | Boston Photographer
Wondering how to get the most out of our time together? Do you have any specific shots in mind already? Have some questions about the shoot? Here is a comprehensive session guide to best prepare you for your Family Photos!
Step 1: Check the style guide for wardrobe.
Step 2: Feel free to send inspiration photos if you have them. If you have a pinterest board-share it!
Step 3: Answer the questionnaire I sent. It makes all the difference when I know a little about your kids and how to approach them. This is also a great opportunity to let me know if there are any specific shots you really want going into our session.
Step 4: Let the kids be kids and don’t stress if they aren’t “behaving”. Your 3 year old runs from the camera, your 5 year old has no idea how to smile naturally, and your moody 7 year old is done with us before we start. Sound familiar? We are here to make this fun and capture your kids’ true personalities, quirks, silly faces and all. If you are having fun, they will have fun.
3 of my must have shots:
Hugs and kisses
Tickles (or something similar that gets them giggling)
Active playing. Chasing our kids gets sweaty and dirty, and it’s not always glamorous. This is where the real stuff is. The stuff your kids enjoy and more importantly, open up to. All kids are different and if you know what kind of play brings out the best in yours, it is a huge help in capturing their genuine happiness.
Step 5: Go through this checklist to make sure you’re prepared:
Make sure everyone is fed and hydrated ahead of time (adults too). Everyone is just more happy when they’re not hangry. Tip: stay away from foods that stain clothes or faces
Bring easy snacks and water with you. Snack ideas: cheerios, white cheese, raisins…
Have outfits ready ahead of time - like wayyy ahead of time. Pack an extra if you have a young baby, messy blowouts and spit up are definite possibilities.
Leave yourself plenty of time. When you need to be somewhere on time, someone will have a meltdown or poop at the very moment you need to leave. Keep your sanity and leave yourself extra time, you don’t want to cut into your session time because your toddler hid his shoes.
Bring something your kids love. This is totally optional, but if your kid has a toy or lovey that brings them more happiness than anything else in this world, it would be a great idea to have it with you, and even get it in a few photos - it can make a really sweet memory to look back on. One of my favorite photos of my son is him holding onto his “Lovey” at the end of our family session.
Now you’re ready for your session! Just show up and have fun with your kiddos.
Gina’s Family Photos in Arnold Arboretum | Boston Photographer
As an early mother’s day gift, Gina spent a windy afternoon at the Arnold Arboretum with her husband Jay and two daughters. Years ago, I had the opportunity to shoot both Gina’s maternity and newborn photos for her second child. It’s always special to work with clients over the years and see their child(ren) grow, as her daughters now are in elementary school and very much their own person.
That morning we were debating whether or not to reschedule the shoot due to the wind advisory, (which if you have long hair, you KNOW the wind can be a friend and an enemy) but ended up going with it. Thank goodness for that as we captured some great moments!
Emma and Isla had such fun energy and even as the temperature dropped, kept the fun and laughter going. The true sister spirit came through as they made each other giggle, and had reminders to be gentle with each other. My approach to this shoot, and all of my shoots, is lifestyle based, so I love capturing them in their element, letting their personalities shine through.
We ended the shoot in the rose garden, carrying that energy with us, as our last shots were of the family jumping and running around.
