BOSTON CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER, BOSTON FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER, BOSTON NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER » family

Family. Beach. Love. Photography.

Kristina — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:26:28 +0000

I head down to Brewster to photograph another photographer who I now consider to be a close “internet” friend and now a real life one as well. She planned a family vacation, asked if we could make a session happen and I was thrilled to oblige. Not only did I love the session, but it was by far the easiest trip to the Cape I have ever made. I left from the South End of Boston and was on the Cape easily in an hour. Return home on a Friday night was door-to-door two hours and that includes me mostly maintaining the speed limit and coming from mid-Cape to North Shore! So really, it was a win and I am so glad she and I were able to connect.

I really loved meeting her entire family. It’s funny that sometimes as photographers we “talk” all day long on our various forums and boards, and often we share so much of our lives with each other… from a business and a personal standpoint. We really watch our kids grow up together. And we watch our businesses grow. So pulled the whole family together and making a real life connection is very amazing and I am grateful we had the chance to do so.

Here’s their slideshow, thank you for allowing me to share with everyone!

Cousins from another brother.

Kristina — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:27:07 +0000

These girls are like sort of related to me, but not really. They are the cousins of my cousin’s daughters or the daughters of my cousin’s husband’s brother. My kids get really confused when I try to explain it to them, and they stare blankly at me and then say something like “OK. Now can we be twins too?” All that aside, I kind of love them like cousins and I am more loving that they have helped me out so much this summer. Seriously. I know you guys know that I operate on a very thin wire line of sanity and complete chaos, so knowing that at least Kendal or Paige will be at my door, sometimes with a twin or two, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, has breathed a tiny bit of calm into my life.

So I am hoping that Kendal’s reaction isn’t “Oh no, the entire slideshow on your blog. Really?” but more “Awesome, I looked GOOD for my senior pictures!” Because she really does, doesn’t she? I am honestly amazed at how poised, beautiful, smart, athletic and artistic the girls are in this town (well, in the all tri-towns). After every session I pick up the phone and call my mom and say “Seriously, how are they like this? they are incredible!” I make my mom check Facebook more than I ask my clients too!

Thank you for all you’ve done this summer, for inspiring me, and for helping me not age quite so quickly!

And here it is! Enjoy! Leave me blog or FB love (or at least like the post by clicking the thumb at the bottom) because it makes me REALLY happy. And if you knew what my last 10 days were like, you’d want to make me happy!

[song used pending permission request from artist]

Because.

Kristina — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:55:38 +0000

Just because.

On the “other” shore…

Kristina — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:11:54 +0000

Which I have to admit, is incredibly lovely. Incredibly. You see, in Boston there is this sort of “north shore/south shore” thing that goes on… I am from the North Shore, that’s where I spent my summers, it’s where I live, it’s my peeps. But the South Shore is pretty insane. And so needing to expand my horizons, I tripped on down there on a summer evening and happened across these two. I don’t want to call them displaced from the North Shore, because they have roots in both places… but I know them from up here. Specifically from the playground up here. Where I take my kids usually only under great duress when there has been just enough screaming at each other for one day and I realize we all need to let off some steam. Inevitably I run into these two, and their mom. And inevitably I say “I wonder why I don’t hang out with her more often!” Needless to say, I was thrilled when she booked a session, and even more so when she said we could do it on the beach!

It is that time of year. Already

Kristina — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 04:28:06 +0000

Somehow my crazy season crept up and began in July. Last year it was August, maybe September. But it starts out with me thinking that I am not that busy, and that I have life and work under control. And then I take vacation (for me it was vacation, staycation with family, staycation with friends) and I woke up in a cold sweat with orders to deliver and galleries to proof and everything else that keeps me up until all hours both worrying and working.

So with a few power hours in front of me, and nothing planned personally for quite a while, I am charging forward and catching up. Hopefully I can say that by the end of this week, everyone who has ordered from me will either have their goods, or will their goods will be ordered… and hopefully I will also be able to say that I only have my current week galleries outstanding. Dare to dream, dare to dream.

It’s also the time of year when I am HORRIBLE about blogging. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. And so look for more single images on Facebook... and sadly, look for blog posts with no words (for some, that might be a welcome relief to not have to read all my verbal diarrhea — wait, did I just put that word on my blog?).

So here’s a few from a session that goes out tomorrow, late, but still under three weeks, so in my overall timeline, not late, but for 2011 work, it’s late. My sincerest apologies. I loved this session, I loved this family, I loved this neighborhood, I loved this little boy, I loved the people that referred them to me… I loved the city that night and then going home refreshed and happy to see my own family. I love it when sessions do that for me. Get it, I loved it.

Enough said. And to just change it up, yo, and all BW post. Because every once in a while I wake up and say “I should just do this all in BW because I love it that much more.” No worries, the gallery and slideshow have both. This is just me being crazy at midnight.

Forget Me Not Blog Post.

Kristina — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 20:13:56 +0000

This session screams forget me not, because it was an awesome session, for a wonderful return family, who has already seen their gallery. My goodness, I have become a bad blogger. Every week I have a sit down with me and decide how I will be a better blogger. I think about the hilarious anecdotes that have happened throughout the week, I snap shots of my kids, and generally a lot is going on, and somehow, even for sessions, my blog is the last thing on the list. So I have yet another goal for myself… to blog, but I am worried about putting that out there because you know, public failure and all…

Anyway, I loved this session. We went to Long Hill in Beverly, which is simply gorgeous. We had a wonderful, warm, sunny day. Kids were awesome. Parents were too. All in all, it was easy, fun, and I am really happy we were able to catch up again. It really is just like catching up with old friends when clients return. It’s especially fun when they are clients that started with me, my very first year, and have enough faith in my work that they return! I am so excited to see what the end up doing with these images — it was by far my largest gallery of the year and I shot such a mix of images, locations, and perspectives!

So B fam… thanks again for coming back. It was a blast.

Goodbye but Not Farewell

Kristina — Sat, 28 May 2011 16:05:15 +0000

Last weekend (has it already been a week?), I zipped into Beacon Hill for a “goodbye” session for a family who is moving from one neighborhood to another. They are sad to leave their beautiful home with their fabulous view of the city, their park, their neighbors, but excited for what awaits them just a few blocks away (a parking spot, an elevator, a pool, and another baby!). In Boston, each neighborhood is so amazingly unique, with friends and neighbors and restaurants and routines… it seems like a move to an entirely new state when you move just one mile… but I get it. It’s a sad goodbye. But it won’t be farewell, it’s so close, and an easy little trek over the bridge. And their new neighborhood, when they finally settle, is just as amazing with a whole new slew of cool city families and amazing parks and maybe just a tiny bit more parking.

I loved meeting this family because truth be told, I really like getting away from mine sometimes… but also just because I really liked them! Adorable boys and gorgeous parents and just a really nice vibe, despite the hectic-ness that is about to hit full scale as they finish packing and make their move.

This, right here, is called holding court. If you know me, you know that I have multiple photographs of my own kids making fun of me and killing themselves laughing while doing it. And so that is pretty much happening here with these two delicious, spunky little gentleman!

See this one on the left? It is everyone smiling and looking at the camera. Yes, I love every single other spontaneous image from this session, but I really love ones like this and consider them to be the Holy Grail of my style of family photography. Everyone smiling and looking at the camera doesn’t have to look old school stiff and posed… I know so many photographers shun these because they like to say they don’t shoot posed images where someone is saying “cheese” as if it’s a bad thing… but being able to capture everyone together this way is super important to me. So W family, I hope you love that shot as well!

Third Time is a Charm

Kristina — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:40:34 +0000

Do you all notice a little trend here on my blog? It’s called happy sitting babies, between 7-8 months old, that live in the city. There is a posse of them, they are all super cute, well dressed and they all have the most excellent moms. And the very odd thing is that even though they are almost all in the same development class at ISIS Parenting, and their moms are all mostly in the same workout classes, they all came to me from completely and totally different referrals… it is just by random chance that I can connect them all. As luck would have it, I REALLY like their families, and I have really loved all their sessions!

So Saturday I was excited to meet this family because they came from my favorite red-headed superstar Lilly Pulitzer model. You know who I am talking about if you peek in my studio and see the giant canvas of her sitting with her lovely girls. And this family did not disappoint. You guys know the drill, I walk in… we chat… it’s Six Degrees of Kristina Young… I look around and determine maybe I should set up camp and move into their living room… they are all super cute… and the rest of the session is a wandering-around-town-conversation about all things Boston, work, marriage and parenting. As if I have known them forever. So I really enjoyed myself if you can’t tell. I hope they did as well!

So Laura, Jake & Johnny…. I hope you love what I captured. Your son is gorgeous and contrary to what we worried about, I captured a ton of smiles! Thank you so much for having me!

Another Gorgeous Friday.

Kristina — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 17:18:03 +0000

I think I am liking my Fridays in the city. I come home so happy and invigorated (and maybe a little tired), and I remember why I love the city, shooting natural light, babies and amazing families. Once again when I arrived at my session, I was greeting by a stunning young new mom and a wonderful husband… and another little love that can sit and not move! Oh, to freeze that age, I would if I could. I love every age (two is debatable), I love to see how personalities emerge, I love first words, then sentences, and finally real conversations. But I really love 6-10 months.

It was so nice to have great indoor light, but then be able to stroll chatting through the city and wind up in the Public Gardens. All the flowers are blooming and everything just looks happy. Our uber amazing model was a bit tired out from part one at home, and so she snoozed a little on the way… and then in the park… and then when we moved around the park… but then she woke up and turned on the charm and was a perfect little subject!

I loved yesterday. I truly have amazing client. I don’t know who to thank for it (actually, I do, because this was a referral), but again, I came home saying “I love my job.”

You’re My Best Friend.

Kristina — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:37:47 +0000

You’re the best friend
that I ever had
I’ve been with you such a long time
You’re my sunshine
And I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
You’re my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
I’ve been wandering round
But I still come back to you
In rain or shine
You’ve stood by me girl
I’m happy, happy at home
You’re my best friend.
- Queen

Homegirl here is my best friend. She has been since we were almost six. In dog years, that is like 100 years and in cat years we’ve lived out about 8 lives together. Nothing makes me happier than seeing her beautiful face with her beautiful family.

Love you Wendy.