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Boston Interior Photography | Spring Color with Flowers!

merrimack-valley-spring-flowers-cover-interior-design.jpg

Flowers and spring, yes please! When Beth, editor of Merrimack Valley Home Magazine, came to me and said we were planning a colorful floral spread for the spring home issue, we immediately started brainstorming interesting locations and vintage furniture we could incorporate. Beth came up with a color scheme using lots of vibrant pinks, and a pop of turquoise.

When our stylist, Lysa, introduced us to Melissa’s Perfect Piece Furniture, we fell in love! She refinishes furniture using a distressing technique and it seemed to be exactly what we needed to compliment the floral arrangements we had in mind. We went through the antique pieces she already had in stock and settled on a kids’ rolltop desk, which Melissa custom created for us using our theme.

The day of the shoot, we started by dissecting some of the arrangements to create the look we wanted. Melissa’s home is basically her showroom, so it was easy to create a well lit neutral dining room setup for our still life florals… and that clock. LOVE that clock.

As the shoot was winding down, we had the idea to create these deconstructed arrangements. We ended up loving the look and how it complimented the other images for the publication. Below you can see what went into creating this look.

And of course we had to improvise on a harness, since Melissa didn't happen to have one hanging from her ceiling. Is a scarf around the waist safe enough? Sure! Teamwork folks.

And a few more behind the scenes snapshots because those are always fun...

I honestly can’t emphasize enough how important the team is to the actual creative process. I have so much fun with these ladies, and each one of them brings something unique and essential to the table, including their personalities :)

Read editor Beth Daigle's blog here

See more of Melissa's work here

Merrimack Valley Magazine

Boston Fashion Photography | Valentine's Day "Red" Photo Shooting

January. Slow season. Time to update my website, create the yearly marketing plan… and most importantly, tap back into my creativity by planning beautiful, conceptual photo shoots with other creative people. The incredibly talented team for this one:

Fashion designer: Jack Robichaud, Jack Attackk Clothing

Hair and Makeup: Heather LoFaro

Model: Clara Duff

I’ve shot many of Jacki’s beautiful designs in the past, you can see some of them here. We came up with a “RED” concept for this shoot, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day. Not just red, but that beautiful wintery, deep wine color. Of course Jacki’s dress color was the exact match for the background that I had been dying to use since I got it a year ago, and it just moves and photographs so beautiful.

For hair and makeup, we wanted to create a lot of contrast and volume. We wanted the lips to match, and go for very dark accents with the rest of the makeup look. I was so torn for the hair, we knew we wanted volume, but up or down?! After going back and forth with Heather, she obviously nailed it.

I wanted to add even more depth and overall volume to the look by adding a headpiece. I stopped at AC Moore on my way to the studio, and created this deep red foral headpiece while Heather worked her magic, and she was able to incorporate it into the hair seamlessly.

It was our first time working with Clara, and her ability to go from sweet and silly to pro model in a snap was impressive. Those eyes! She was an absolute doll to work with, and I think (I hope) we will all be working together again soon.

Jacki is always great at doing the behind the scenes shots. There's us in action below!! We're so glamorous aren't we? :P

Of course, we had to play a little at the end, so we took the hair down, switched up the dress and lighting, and just played for the last few shots. We thought about smearing all her makeup just to get weird, but she was going out to dinner, so we left her face alone :)

Want this, or a similar look? Contact me to plan your own concept shoot.

Jack Attackk Clothing

Hair and Makeup by Heather

Clara Duff Model

Boston Interior Photography | Les Fleurs Winter Wonderland Loft

I am a little late on this blog post, but better late than never! I think it is fitting for a pretty snow day anyway...

Merrimack Valley Home Magazine sent interior designer Linda Holt and I to this gorgeous Lawrence loft to photograph our Winter 2015 cover. The loft belonged to Les Fleurs' Event Director, Kerianne, and I literally gasped when we walked in. It was a winter wonderland… and not an in your face red and green Christmas overload… a beautiful wintery, editorial spread waiting to happen. It was everything I could have asked for in winter home décor.

She had greens and winter-whites with subtle flashes of gold and silver everywhere. Every last detail was considered, especially the small finishing touches that made it personal and inviting, such as the books on the table, and the reindeer name tags at every place setting.

Linda and I had a blast photographing the mill building converted into a loft, with the high ceilings and industrial windows (perfect window lighting). Kerianne’s details made it feel special and welcoming too, which is why I think the French press coffee setup that she put out made the cover.

The table setup was out of this world, and we really didn’t need to touch a thing to photograph it. I want these florals in my home all winter long!

You can see the full story in the Winter issue of Merrimack Valley Home Magazine, and you can find more information on Les Fleurs here.

Thanks for reading!

Questions or comments? Leave a comment below, or Contact me, I love emails

Boston Photographer | Fashion Editoral Senior Portraits

What a great senior season! For those of you who don’t know, this is just my second year of launching my high school senior portrait sessions. This is not your traditional senior portrait, no, this is a full on modeling experience. They are fashion magazine inspired, styled to fit each individual, and as much about the experience as it is about the end result.

My senior ladies totally ROCKED it this year, and I couldn’t have asked for better models. They stepped it up with fashion, style, and PERSONALITY. Thanks to Robert Jason Salon for their commitment to creating some of these beautiful, natural looks. I’ll let the video below speak for itself, but a huge THANK YOU to you beauties for making my job so much fun. So much love to you all Class of 2016

Thanks for watching! If you like the video, please share with family and friends through email or social media.

Click here for more information on this style of senior portrait sessions

Click here to see the full senior gallery

Click here to send me a question or just to say hello!!

I'm really looking forward to meeting the Class of 2017, make sure you stay connected to receive all the updates and information!

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 Portrait Photographer Promo Video by Daniel Byers

Many of you have seen my fashion editorial style senior portraits. This market is so new to me, but the feedback from seniors so far has been so incredible, I knew I needed to get the word out about these sessions quickly. That led me to starting my first Senior Rep program for the Class of 2016. Aside from that, I needed to step it up and really show the EXPERIENCE these girls have when they shoot with me. I need a promo video, a legit, professional, bad-a$$ promo video, done by a professional video artist. Enter Daniel Byers, video artist extraordinaire. When you are done watching our video, go to his website immediately, www.skyshipfilms.com and be amazed by some of the work that he’s done. I actually almost couldn’t believe that he agreed to work on my video, after seeing the rest of his work.

We met, and talked about my process, and how to convey what shooting with me was like from a client perspective. I told him how hair and makeup was a big factor to not only the end result, but also to the whole experience. I also needed to express how important styling and accessorizing is to planning a session, showing how everything comes together is huge! Finally, creating a relationship and interacting with my subject is going to make or break the whole experience. Communication and allowing my subject to be vulnerable with me is the only way we’re going to get what we need from our session.

I knew I wanted Hayley to be our model for this video. She is easy to work with, has the sweetest personality, and takes direction very well.

We were all lucky to work with Heather Lofaro, hair and makeup artist with incredible talent

Watch the video below for yourself!

When it came to shooting, Daniel was a pro. He had a clear vision of what we were going for and planned out the shots he wanted. I’m always intrigued by the creative process, so I enjoyed every minute of it. Hayley was also a champ… it was one of those icy April days that still feels like winter.

All in all, I am beyond happy that we made this video… now I can’t wait to do another!!!

See some of the final shots made while creating the video below.

See more images from past shoots with Hayley here

See more of Daniel's work here

Contact Daniel about creating your own promo video

Hair and makeup by Heather Lofaro

Boston Portrait Photographer | Merrimack Valley Senior Rep Team, Class of 2016

Introducing the Class of 2016 Senior Rep Team, Emily O’Brien Photography’s first ever high school senior model program. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter group of girls. They are A BLAST to have in front of my camera, and they pull off “fashion editorial” quite well. These girls will be representing my studio in each of their high schools.

Watch the video below to see how much fun we had on our glamorous group photo shoot:

Hannah of Andover High, Marissa of North Andover High, Kaila of Beverly High, Emily B of Lynn Classical,  and Emily M and Francesca from Central Catholic in Lawrence — Hannah of Andover High, Marissa of North Andover High, Kaila of Beverly High, Emily B of Lynn Classical, and Emily M and Francesca from Central Catholic in Lawrence

What is a senior rep program? It’s extremely important for me to have a voice and a presence in local high schools, and the best way to do that is through the students themselves! So in exchange for spreading the good word around their school, these wonderful ladies receive the VIP red carpet treatment. Our major perk is the group photo shoot. This shoot is styled, and hair and makeup is provided by Robert Jason Salon. I have a fabulous partnership with Robert, and his talented team provides hair and makeup for most of my senior girl portrait sessions. Other bonuses of being a senior rep include digital images, contests, bonuses, EOP tanks, and lots of fun little events and shoots throughout the year.

The Robert Jason Salon team did an amazing job with hair and makeup, and making the girls feel comfortable in their own skin.

We warmed up by photographing each girl individually in the studio.

Then we moved outside for fun group photos and more individuals. It was WINDY. My assistant was holding one light as the other blew over, so we quickly squashed the whole idea of a lighting setup. The girls were such good sports trekking around in their heels, and looking relaxed while practically being blown away.

All in all it was a great day and I can't wait for our next shoot together. Look out for photos from our South End/Bay Bay, Boston shoot.

Fore more info about senior portrait sessions click here

Contact me to book your senior session

Robert Jason Salon in Andover for your hair and makeup experience

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

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

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 Photographer | Personal Trainer and Fitness Expert

Haley is a personal trainer, beach body coach, mom to two beautiful little girls, and co-owner (with her husband) of PACE Fitness in Plainville, MA. And soon she will be a nurse on top of all that! To say she knows a thing or two about living a healthy life is quite the understatement. This girl lives THE healthy lifestyle. What I love about Haley is that her philosophy for achieving a healthy body doesn’t involve two-a-days or hours everyday at the gym. She believes in the 30 minute a day workout that everyone can make time for… and CLEAN EATING. She is actually living proof that this works.

For Haley, this photo shoot has to encompass a lot of things – she is well rounded in health and fitness and that’s important for her loyal clients and fans to know. Beauty, strength, versatility, and FUN are a few key words we were going for.

Haley doing yoga with her oldest daughter

We started warming up with some yoga, and incorporated her daughter, Lilly into a few shots. Haley is a strong believer that just because you have the kids and can’t get to the gym, doesn’t mean you can’t get a good workout… include your kids!

You’d think someone with a body like this would walk around in their bikini all day everyday (I would anyway), but Haley’s humility and modesty is so sweet. She was a little shy, and I was lucky enough to capture some genuine giggles between shots.

We had to get some shots in PACE fitness, the gym where her and her husband do personal and small group training. I LOVED the purple wall, and Haley looked pretty bad a$$ posing against it. Time kind of got away from me on this photo shoot, but Haley was so fun to work with, and I really wanted to make sure we captured her many fitness personalities. (scroll to the bottom for video)

I love Haley’s fitness philosophies, she makes it sound so simple. Clean eating 80% of the time, and 30 minutes a day. She truly believes that this tone and muscle definition is possible for any average person.

Haley on healthy eating:

“If your diet consists mostly of unhealthy, processed foods, you won’t see results. The 80/20 rule applies here again. At least 80% of your diet must consist of healthy, whole foods if you want to see your abs.”

Haley on our photo shoot:

"I wanted my photos to be more than photos. I wanted someone who could capture my personality and the idiosyncrasies of my expressions and body language. My goal was to come across as approachable and non intimidating and she did just that. The moment she walked in I felt at ease, I felt comfortable and able to be myself."

Check out Haley's video short below. If you like it, please subscribe to my You Tube channel and share!

For more info about Haley:

Fortier Fit Nurse Website

Visit Haley’s FB page

Visit her BeachBody website

PACE Fitness

For more info about having a shoot like this:

Contact me

On to more photo galleries!!!

Boston Portrait Photographer | Fashion Inspired Senior Session with Jackie

Jackie contacted me for her senior portraits because she saw her friend Hayley's photos, and wanted a similar experience. She wanted the fashion inspired model shoot that I had recently started offering to high school seniors. What 17 year old girl doesn’t want to be a model for a day? She didn’t necessarily want these photos for the yearbook (I think the deadline had already passed), she wanted this experience to have it and keep it forever, she wanted to feel beautiful.

She brought in really great outfits for her consultation, she loves fashion and shoes, so she did a wonderful putting together a complete outfit for each look. She brought bright colors, pink, and turquoise, mixed with simple whites and blacks. She brought mini skirts and oversized sweaters with leggings. She also loved the idea of shooting in the old mill buildings (am I sensing a signature location style since opening in Lawrence or what?)

We were expecting a snowstorm the day of the shoot, which is no big surprise looking back at the winter we've had, but it was the first snowfall of the season. We changed our timing a bit, but I said “maybe we could get some snowy portraits, if you’re up for it!” She loved that and mom was a good sport... especially when we were actually in the trenches and we were getting hit with the heavy, wet, miserable snow.

I couldn't wait to show Jackie and her mom the photos at our Viewing appointment. Dad was joining us as well and I can't lie, I always get a little more nervous when dad comes too (I think it's often harder for them to see their little girl as an almost-grown, beautiful woman), but he loved them and encouraged Jackie throughout the ordering process. They went with a 10x10 album, which was perfect for Jackie's session, since we were able to incorporate so many different looks.

I love Jackie's look so much, I had to order a big print of her for the studio sample wall as well.

Merrimack Valley Home Magazine | French Decor and Les Fleurs

Our most recent photo shoot for Merrimack Valley Home Magazine featured the home of Sandra Sigman, owner of Les Fleurs in downtown Andover. I guess it’s to be expected that the greenery and flowers in her home would be outstanding, but the interior design work throughout her home was truly awe-worthy. Right on Lake Cochichewick in North Andover, her home feels like you are walking into an editorial spread, which of course is WHY we were shooting there for the spring issue.

Our focus was her Paris-inspired dining room when shooting there, but her whole home had beautiful rustic French accents. The big light colored chairs and delicate accessories were the perfect compliment to the rich wood and darker tones of the room. Read more about her home in Linda Holt’s article in the Merrimack Valley Home issue, on newsstands in the Merrimack Valley now.

Oh, and those incredible floral arrangements you see? Sandra's “flower shop”, Les Fleurs, isn’t your typical little florist. You walk into the store, and feel like you are walking into an Anthropologie catalogue. The first time I walked in, I immediately wanted to redecorate my home with earth tones, burlap, barn wood, and of course, interesting plants. They have a consultation room that I wish was my dining room (can I take that farm table home with me please??)

Les Fleurs specializes in creating floral arrangements for weddings, events, and homes. They always have the best seasonal arrangements and rare finds for the home and garden.

Check out their blog too!

Boston Architectural Photographer | Kim Macumber Interior Designer (Part 2)

My second shoot with Kim (see our first shoot here), was an entryway that she had designed for a client in Hopkington, MA. The first word that comes to mind when describing this entryway is “Grand”. It was certainly a grand, elegant, striking entryway. VERY different from our first project together, the red room. The doorway was an enormous dark wood door that led into a foyer area that clearly needed a beautiful design to compliment the door itself. Kim designed a round table in the middle, decorated with green, beige, and silver accent pieces of all different heights to compliment the immense height of the entryway itself.

Alternate view of entryway from the dining room. Kim also designed the bathroom in the background

This simple, muted tones are very different from most of Kim's projects, but she did manage to throw in some beautiful pattern to the bathroom, which is so true to her style. This project makes it so clearly evident that Kim is so in tune with what each space needs and how to style it to allow the space to shine.

See more of Kim Macumber's beautiful work

Boston Interior Photographer | Southern Charm with a Colorful Twist

Kim is an interior designer who wanted to work with me. (woohoo!) She designed a high-gloss super-shine red room and wanted me to photograph it ::runs away screaming::

Joking aside, I am really glad I did answer the phone because Kim is so full of life and southern personality, I instantly couldn’t wait to meet her! OF COURSE she had to design a shiny red room with more texture and pattern than I had ever seen in one space. I had to stand there and take it in for a solid couple of minutes. It was so stunning, I was at first unsure how to capture it without just throwing on the widest angle lens I could find. The details and textures were SO important, and having so many of them certainly was a challenge, but with Kim’s expert styling, we slowly dissected the important features and captured the heart of the room.

Kim maximized color, texture, and pattern without making it look cluttered

In the end, we realized we were missing a solid, yet simple detail shot. What detail could we possible photograph in this room that was as exciting as the rest of the room, but easy enough on the eye to fit nicely into the room’s portfolio? Problem solvers that we are, we grabbed the most dominant patterns and textures, and layered them on top of each other to create something of a “mood board” for the rest of the room.

We did some portraits of Kim too for her new website, and I love how this one really shows off her fun personality

A Mutual friend, and interior designer, Linda Holt, referred me to Kim, and I am over the moon that she did, because Kim’s work is so unique and versatile, it really kept me on my toes as a photographer! The next shoot with Kim coming up!

You can see more of Kim's stunning work here

Boston Family Photographer | Maddie's Six Month Portraits

Tina and Ben contacted me over the summer for 6 month portraits of their beautiful baby, Maddie. They really wanted to find a photographer they could stick with for the long haul, and who could artistically document all of Maddie’s milestones as a growing child. They were up front with me that they were shopping around for family portrait photographers (nothing like a good challenge), so I said we could meet for a pre-consultation, no strings attached. Come to find out, we were neighbors in the South End, in Boston, so of course that made me want to court them even more, not to mention that when we met, I discovered that they were an incredibly good looking family. Tina and Ben have a great eye for art and design, so creating custom wall art was a top priority. Location was also important, as they wanted to choose somewhere we could possibly return to during different seasons and still capture beautiful images. (Are they my perfect clients so far, or what?)

We chose to shoot at Lyman Estate in Waltham, a historic and public piece of land with greenhouses that are open year round. They took my styling advice and showed up wearing well coordinated outfits for our location.

They were so relaxed and easygoing throughout the whole session, which always yields the best results from a family portrait session. Their stress-free attitude also kept Maddie happy and playful during our session.

We had our viewing session at their home and carefully chose images that would look amazing on their walls, and would allow them to add artwork from other portrait sessions for years to come.

Update: We had Maddie's one year session in the snow just a few weeks ago, so check back for those!

Boston Photographer | Modeling Portfolio for Hayley

Hello! After a long winter hibernation, blogging is back :) and I'm starting with one of my favorite girls from the fall....

Hayley came to me because she was interested in modeling. She contacted me, asked all the right questions, and booked an appointment for a consultation. For a 15 year old, I couldn’t have been more impressed with her professionalism right off the bat. (I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she grows up to be an incredibly successful business woman). When I met Hayley and her mom, I saw how excited and serious Hayley was to dive into this new adventure and see if she had what it takes to model. We went through styling and location options (more on styling here), and planned everything out for her first shoot. She loved the idea of shooting in the mill buildings around my studio, so that’s where our main focus was going to be.

boston-fashion-photography-model-portfolio

The day of the shoot, Haley and her mom showed up at the studio, after stopping at Robert Jason Salon for hair and makeup, well prepared and with positive energy. We started shooting and Haley was a dream to work with. She had never modeled professionally before, but she took my direction with such ease and confidence, I would have guessed she had been doing it for years.

The shoot went so well, we lost track of time, and were really racing against the light to fit our last few shots in. For the end of the shoot, we really wanted to get a few sunset shots on a pretty farm road in Andover, 15 minutes from the studio. It was already dark out, but Haley and her mom were up for giving it a try, so we headed over there as the darkness was dropping in quickly, and got our last shots in.

When Haley and her mom came back to the studio for our viewing session, they were blown away with the results. I was so happy to show her how truly BEAUTIFUL she is.

North Andover | Business Portraits with Personality for Monx Design House

Monique answers the phone with a smile. She is always ready to charm and she seems to have mastered the perfect combination of professionalism and personality.

Monx Design House team members, Julissa, Monique, and Katherine

She is a wonderfully creative event designer, and owner of Monx Design House. Her events range from the most extravagant weddings, to smaller intimate gatherings with friends. Whatever the project is, she is working on it wholeheartedly, creating custom props, centerpieces, and experiences.

They always get together and brainstorm ideas for an event

They truly customize your event with unique props

I was thrilled when she asked me to do a photo shoot with her and her team for their new website, and I knew immediately that we needed to really create something personal for their brand, something far from the average business portrait. Monique, Katherine, and Julissa, are the epitome of girl power as a team, and I really wanted to let their sophistication and personality shine, while also showing that the are offering a high end luxury service.

Monx Design House team at North Andover Country Club

We talked a lot about styling and location and how we could really compliment her brand best. Creating a subtle feeling of luxury was our main focus, giving it an editorial look with the styling and posing.

The three of them with their dazzling personalities couldn’t have been better to work with, and while it was a long day for all of us perfectionists, I think we were all happy with the outcome. Look at those powerful beauties!

Thanks to Chelsea Stearns for the GORGEOUS new Monx Design House website

Thanks to North Andover Country Club for the amazing location, and letting us rearrange your function room

Thanks to Robert Jason Salon for the hair and makeup that held all day long!

Merrimack Valley Home Issue | What Went Into Capturing the Beautiful Interiors, Plus 3 Bonus Photos

I love photographing beautiful interior design. “This issue may be the cover, so keep that in mind when shooting.” This was exciting to hear going into my second home photo shoot for Merrimack Valley Magazine. I was already thrilled to be working on this shoot with Beth Daigle and Linda Holt, so when I arrived and saw the interior of the home we had the privilege of photographing, I died a little inside [in a good way]. There was something very traditional about the decor, but simplified with use of color and modern elements.

Not many people know that Linda used to be a photographer, but it was a real treat to have her eye for design AND photography on this one. You may be thinking there is a chance that two photographers working behind one camera could be a competitive disaster… and in some instances I’m sure that would be the case. Linda and I were on the same page from the beginning and it was immediately a strong partnership working toward the same goal, noticing similar details, and playing off each other’s suggestions. It especially doesn’t hurt to have an extra set of eyes looking out for and understanding how the natural light will photograph.

We spent most of the day dancing around our “cover” shot because the light wasn’t just right, but when it was… ohhh it was.

I think we were also lucky that Sandy, the homeowner was such a gracious host to us. Now because Linda, Beth and I were on a tear, scrutinizing every detail, this meant lots of tweaking and furniture rearranging. Sandy’s furniture is beautiful… and heavy, very heavy. She didn’t mind us moving it around to get a good shot, so of course we decided to move the heaviest piece of furniture in the house {the solid wood coffee table}. Sandy’s husband came home toward the end, and being the gentleman that he is, moved the furniture back into place for us after… lucky us.

Here are some shots that didn't make the issue. If you haven't already, pick up a copy of the issue to read the full article by Alyson Aiello.

The white cabinetry against the dark wood gave an old country feel with an updated twist

Marble back splash to match the marble floor, against dark wood made quite an impact next to the pristine white whirlpool tub.

Color details add to the soothing environment

Subscribe to Merrimack Valley Magazine here

Fall Fashion | Cheers to Style!

For this blog post, I've teamed up with my favorite clothing stylist Susan Kanoff. "Fall is my favorite season for clothes" says Susan.... and EVERY woman who loves sweaters, boots, and rich colors.

I am constantly offering advice to my clients on what to wear for their portrait session, it is hard to find the perfect look, but following some simple style guidelines can make a BIG difference. We wanted to create a visual style guide for fall fashion that every woman could follow and relate to, regardless of age.

We started out with a simple, everyday look at Peter's Farm in Salem, NH.

What Susan has to say about the look:

Plaid and oxfords: For those casual days apple picking or running errands, pair a plaid button down shirt with rolled-up jeans and oxfords. If there’s a chill in the air, top with a jacket or cardigan. This look is very on-trend for fall and oh so comfortable!

I loved the next look we chose, mixing a striped pattern with textured fur. I always tell my portrait clients to stay away from too much pattern, so this is the perfect layering option for breaking up pattern.

What Susan has to say about the look:

Faux fur and stripes: I love to play with patterns and textures and this striped long sleeve tee looks fabulous topped with a faux fur vest. This outfit is perfect for so many occasions including out to lunch with the girls or even to the office on casual Fridays!

My style is simple, so this next one is my favorite by a long shot. No matter how many times it is done, I am obsessed with the cozy sweater and riding boots look. The poncho she chose fit perfectly, without looking a bit bulky. This look is always classic for photos, looks great against any fall outdoor backdrop, and is THE alternative to everyone wearing matching outfits for your family photo session.

What Susan has to say about the look:

The poncho: Yes the poncho is hot this fall, but did it ever go out of style? I love this piece because it’s timeless yet always looks chic and polished. Shown here layered with a black sweater and paired with jeans, tall boots and a burgundy bag for a punch of color. You can wear this fabulous outfit anywhere while staying warm and cozy!

The next two looks are shown below, but you'll have to head over to Susan's blog to find out what she says about them, and why the little blue dress is the new little black dress! (You can also find where to purchase all of these looks and similar ones for great deals there)

Susan is a wardrobe stylist in Merrimack Valley, you can find her at www.agreatnewlook.com or on her Facebook page

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

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.

Boston Architectural Photography | Mary Michael O'Hare, Architect and Interior Designer for Beautiful Wenham Home

The first time I met Mary, we had a conversation about her being an architect and the “little” projects she worked on, like the one she was working on at the moment, “just a small bathroom and closet project”. Why all the quotation marks? Because after photographing this project with Mary, I realized how ridiculously humble she is. The bathroom is straight out of a design editorial, and the closet is bigger than most New York apartments… and beautiful, it’s all so beautiful.

Modern white bathroom with custom monogrammed chair

I knew it was going to be a good day when I walked in and was greeted by two beautiful Welsh Corgis and Betsy, the home owner, who me offered tea right away. Then I walked into the space and didn’t want to leave.

Betsy really got it right hiring an architect with such a keen sense of interior design. Mary created a luxurious feel, but also kept it structured enough to create a sense of ease that you may not normally feel in smaller spaces such as a bathroom or closet.

I think I love her work most because of her attention to detail. A woman after my own heart, she and I must have spent an hour just rearranging the knick-knacks on a shelf.

The bedroom. Can we just talk about the color and texture of this bedroom for a second? I mean, I had to touch absolutely everything, but that color… if you weren’t calm after soaking in the glorious bathtub, you certainly are now that you walked into your bedroom.

It was clear that the detail shots would be equally as important to this portfolio as the rooms themselves, like the intricate iron work on the closet door and the CHAIR. She found an old chair and personalized it by reupholstering with monogrammed fabric. This chair, with its intricate dark wood, really tied bathroom together.