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Boston Family Portrait Photographer | I Love My Clients!!!

I love love love when I get to photograph families every year. Being able to see and capture kids' personalities as they grow and develop is part of why I love what I do! And giving those moments to my clients to hold on forever to is the best. THE BEST. 

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The Rainens are 3 of my favorite people. I met Kim at a coffee shop at an Andover networking event over a year ago. She said her husband David needed a headshot, so we exchanged info, and I took David's photo a few weeks later. That turned into Kim needing a headshot as well, which turned into family portraits of course! Avi was 8 months old at the time, the perfect age to document him starting to stand and take his first few steps.

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Then we photographed his milestone first birthday with a cake smash (which by the way he wanted nothing to do with the actual smashing of the cake). Kim planned his birthday using bright bold primary colors, so we kept with that theme, and I loved how they turned out.

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This year, I got to photograph Avi again for his 2nd birthday. I couldn't believe how he had grown into such a little boy. He loves tractors, trains, and BATMAN. When Kim and I were planning for his session, we knew we had to incorporate all of this into his session. When choosing a location, it only made sense to shoot at Smolak Farms, where his birthday party would be. I love Smolak for its versatility - apple orchards, tractors, open fields, and of course, animals.

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The second best thing about my job is when I show clients their images. ::All the feels:: when I get to see their face light up (or even tear up) when seeing their video of these beautiful (and sometimes silly) moments that we captured together. Nothing is better than family.

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Boston Photographer | Top 10 Mother's Day Gift Ideas, (and a big announcement at the end)

A few years ago, I started giving gifts based on experiences, and I have to say they are my favorite types of gifts to give. Something you can do together is the best! So here is the list, and most of them (not all) are experienced based. Make sure you read until the end of the post to see May's big announcement just for moms!

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Boston Photographer | Happy 2016!!!

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions per se, but I do love the New Year because it's a fresh start. Clean slate. A chance to brainstorm and plan for the year. And it's also the calm AFTER the storm for me. This fall was the busiest I have EVER been, and while I couldn't have been more excited to embrace it, I have to say I am happy for the down time. 2015 was the best year yet, and not just because I was busy, but because I was busy with YOU. I was busy with clients and businesses that I truly adore, and I have so much gratitude for each and every one of you.

I started this list as my top 10 favorite images from the year, but you beautiful people made it damn near impossible to narrow it down. So here it is, my top 20 favorite images from 2015.

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I can't wait to see what 2016 brings. Lots of love and gratitude my beautiful models!

If your photo made the top 20, please make sure to forward and share with all your friends!

 

Boston Photographer | Two Sisters and their New Brother at Prescott Park

I LOVE photographing a family the second time around. It’s always a great experience for me because I know them. I know their taste, I know what they already chose for albums or wall art, and I know their personalities. Karen and Dick Fitzpatrick have 5 grown kids and 8 beautiful grandkids. I had a blast photographing them at their house on the beach in Rye, NH.

Fitzpatrick extended family portrait from summer 2014 on Rye Beach

Fitzpatrick extended family portrait from summer 2014 on Rye Beach

Erin's two little girls at last year's family portrait on Rye Beach

Erin's two little girls at last year's family portrait on Rye Beach

Karen and Dick's five kids being silly together for our last photo of the day

Karen and Dick's five kids being silly together for our last photo of the day

When one of their daughters, Erin, asked me to photograph her family this year (with their new brand new addition, Bode), I was ecstatic. I can’t even describe in words how cute her family is. Erin chose Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH as their spot. When I arrived, there were these gorgeous white flowered draping trees (which I later found out were Japanese flowering crab apple trees). Gorgeous location, happy kids, beautiful family. Yes please.

Their oldest, Liv, is an old soul with a shy smile and a serious gaze. She listened to every word and direction I gave her, as long as I photographed her doing a cartwheel at the end.

Lia, the middle child, is far from the typical “middle child”. Her eyes light up when you talk to her and her cute laugh will make anyone’s heart smile. She found a flower when we got there and didn’t put it down once during the whole session. She also expressed her sincere regret that she didn’t pick me any lilacs from their garden… <3

Their baby boy, Bode was Mr. Smiley and at 8 months old, I couldn’t believe how easily Grandma was able to make him laugh. He was responsive and candid… and I could have brought him home with me.

Seriously, this family couldn’t be any better to have a portrait session with...

What I didn’t tell Erin at the time, was that this was the perfect opportunity to launch and announce my new product – the Video Slideshow. The slideshow is a combination of video from your session, and your finished still images. Watch the full video below:

If you are interested in video with your portrait session, contact me here

Boston Family Photography | Public Garden Portraits

I met Kelsey, Jeff, and and their beautiful baby girl Emily through Kelsey’s sister, Amanda. Amanda contacted me because as Emily’s godmother, she wanted to give Kelsey and Jeff something really special for their Emily’s christening. Amanda took some time to meet with me to go over my process and product options to make sure I’d be a great fit for a family portrait session with her sister’s family.

Kelsey and Jeff live in the South End, met at Boston College, and Jeff proposed to her at the Public Garden, so Boston is clearly a special place to them.

When I met with them, they were so excited for the photo shoot, and we decided to have it along the Charles, and of course the Public Garden, at the site of the proposal.

The bench at the Public Garden where Jeff proposed to Kelsey

The bench at the Public Garden where Jeff proposed to Kelsey

I photograph A LOT of little boys… newborns, toddlers, kids, teens, for some reason my portrait sessions are male dominated. For this reason alone, I was excited to photograph Emily before I even met her. When I met Emily… those EYES! Her gaze was just so stunning, so intense, I fell in love a little.

Kelsey and Jeff were so laid back about everything, they really made the session a lot fun and so easy. No offense to all you dads out there, but I KNOW you’re not always excited for the family portrait session, you don’t hide it well. Jeff was involved, and really easy to photograph. I love the honest moments captured in the shot of him holding Emily’s hands, and of them as a family holding her up. The sincerity of the moments when they can forget the camera are truly some of the best.