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

This moment has come and gone. The twins have arrived. They are almost ready for Kindergarten and I am just posting this session.

This is the woman that gave her heart and soul [and sanity] to my children the year I had Janey. She is fondly known to our family as “Janey’sothamutha” or “RomarsmomJen” or “JenfromMissTerraleesmarket.” She’s known as a savior. She’s known as a mother before her time. She’s known as half of an amazing duo. She’s known as being the chick who got uber thin and fabulous and gained 4.6 lbs while pregnant with twins.

This isn’t to short change Billy. Because he is the bomb. He always has a smile. He works harder than almost anyone I know. He lights up when he looks at Jen. He’s a dad before his time. He has given 110% to ensure that his family is cared for and safe, regardless of how many early mornings, how many hours in the car, and how many quiet battles he has to fight.

And Romar. The kid who can light the world up with his smile. Who loves Jen & Billy and his entire family with all his heart. Who is wise beyond his years but is such a kid in his heart.

And so we spent this night together in the state of “almost” — before the girls arrived. When they were still safely baking. When they were just three.

I love this family and all that they stand for with all my might. I am honored to know them. I am thrilled I will be there to document their milestones.

Thank you for allowing me to do so.

As a family of two [well, a family of 5 if you count the dogs].  It’s their last December, their last holiday season, their last New Years Eve.  Next month, the first month of the year, will begin a series of firsts when they welcome their baby boy.  And I get to photograph him, and I can’t wait!  I met these guys through my sister, they are recent transplants to the area.  And even though they root for the wrong, I mean, a different football team, I really like them!  Sometimes sessions without children sort of throw me because where I can talk non-stop to a child, often it makes me look a little “off” when I do so to adults.  I start a lot of thoughts that I never finish, I am out on tangents — usually I just need to land the plane and let the people off, but I don’t.  But these guys seemed totally fine with that. So that made me like them even more.

They are going to be really awesome parents.  They just really like each other.  They are very funny and relaxed.  They’ve made a great home.  The nursery will be done soon.  They are READY!

So here are just a few for now… you’ll see more when their little boy arrives!

We are all so excited to meet this baby.  I can’t even put into words how much we love these guys and how happy we are that they will be parents in just a few short [and they will be short!] weeks!  I’ve been thinking about this maternity session for a while, knowing how beautiful Lisa is, and what a great area they live in, with easy access to the beach.  I was a little nervous since everywhere I looked on the weather map, it said rain… but Mother Nature really got it together for Sunday and pulled out a winner.

I have so much more to say about this, but I can’t because I have a 20 month cyclone destroying my office… too sick for school, too well for home and into Sharpies & Post-its.  And I have to pack us up for our trip tomorrow.  And do about 10,000 things.  Like post nursery contest updates, and all that jazz.

So these can pretty much speak for themselves.  Love.

For right now.  Because soon there will be FOUR!  I should write this entire post in CAPS because I am screaming it in my head.  I AM SO EXCITED FOR THESE GUYS AND TO MEET THEIR NEW BABY.  Seriously.  And it’s not because I have been thinking about how I am going to shoot their newborn session on a daily basis (which I have).  It’s because they are SO READY for this kid!  And I think Cat is going to rock the house as a big sister.  She’s so good with my little Baby J (who is so not a baby anymore)… and she was always so good with Christofer (and now they are BFFs)… she’s going to be the best big sister EVER.  (Like I am quite sure she won’t put a galvanized tin bucket on Baby’s head and bang it with a spoon… I don’t know any kid that would do that, I’m just sayin’).

Anyway, I grabbed some shots yesterday and am sad to say that my camera is definitely needing to go back to Canon.  Though they promise me I will be at the front of the repair line and I’ll have it back (or a rental) for Thursday.  I was able to get a bunch of great shots (more than what I am posting), but I am breathing I sigh of relief that I rescheduled all my sessions because I’d be in tears if this happened with a client (like every shot I would say “I don’t know Erica, I just do not know.”).  But I love these… and hope I can get the rest to her without making her wait 6-12 months (because that is the poor treatment I give my friends and family and myself!).

Quick update… added this one and it could be my fav maternity shot EVER.  If you are curious how I shot this, read on, otherwise just skip to the pictures!  I shot this at ISO 500, 1/200, f/3.2 on my {broken} 5DMK2 with my 24-70 L.  Probably metered about +2/3 of a stop over 0 (where I typically shot, rarely do I meter to 0).  I put Erica up on  a chair (which is sort of mean to do to a woman who is 35 weeks pregnant) since the only way I could get the light right was to shoot up to it (and avoid the white railing behind her)… the light was pretty high and only come through a few branches.  Then I got below her and moved around until the light was partially behind her, partially giving her edge light.  I focused right on the edge.  With a Canon, the only focus point that will allow you to do this is the center one.  The other focus points will search and not lock.  This shot is remarkably similar to how it was SOOC.  I adjusted white balance (added red, reduced magenta), slightly recovered a little Bokeh (+15), and jacked up the blacks to 25 for her tank top.  In PS I tweaked curves a tiny bit, added color balance layer and added a vignette.