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

This morning I had the absolutely joyous [yes, joyous, I really used that word] experience of photographing my best friend from college [settle down K&A, I know, there were 3 of you].  And her excellent husband [also from college... but we didn't know him].  And their yummy baby. It was such a really awesome few hours.  We got to shoot at Nina’s house, which has really great light [and it's just very cool and very Boston].  And I like Nina a lot [and yes, her husband is from college too, but we didn't know him either.  we must not have known any boys.].  I was accompanied by a dear friend who has recently found her way back into my life and that is a bonus [and yes, there is another college connection there too].  It was a lot of 6 degrees going on, leading me to believe that all roads really do lead back to Hobart College.  You know I get so giddy, and chatty, when people come back into my life, and so I was just in my element.  Not only that, it means so much to me that I can photograph people and hopefully give them the gift of stopping time, just for one small moment.  And I hope that Remy & John, and someday Taylor, will look at these and say “we were just so happy that morning!” and I hope that happiness stays.

Remy & John, I know that parenting is the hardest job you’ll ever love.  It can reduce you to tears, of frustration and joy, all in an instant.  And you wonder where your sleep went.  And your life.  And sometimes your marriage.  But you also know that the sum of those parts can’t even begin to equal what you’ve gained with Taylor.  You guys look so peaceful together, like really good parents.  And it goes so fast.  And these are the little things.  And they are so important.  And now I just getting cheesy.  But really, Remy, you are a beautiful mom and I am so happy I got to spend some time with you guys.   And John [why do I call you Jake in my head?], thank you for taking off your clothes.

Love. 

Before you all start singing my praises… I did NOT come up with this idea.  Although I have always given guidelines on what to wear, and I have a What to Wear section in my client information packet, the idea of blogging What to Wear is not mine.  Many photographers do this.  But I did hijack the idea because we are upon the Holiday Card time of year and I’d like to offer up some ideas.  These are just ideas, I am not suggesting you spend the $612 or so that I just pulled together on Mom’s outfit at Boden.  But… if you are going to Boden, check out their Outfit Maker!  It’s fabulous!  {it also drew attention to the fact I dress like a dud, another story entirely.}

It took me at least an hour to come up with this, so I do know it’s not an easy task.  Things I kept in mind… I started with mom… because if mom looks good, everyone will have a much better day.  I also believe that if a mom is not comfortable in her outfit, she will generally feel bad about herself and not like the pictures.  I am telling you this because (1) I know it’s true and (2) I am that mom.   So moms… start with you and work out.  Once I had her outfit pulled together (and again, can’t sing enough praises about the Outfit Maker), I started on the boy… there was a Boden sweater I just loved that was the same aqua but with an argyle.  But after dressing boy & girl in aqua, mom in aqua, it didn’t leave me with much for Dad.  If everyone is dressed identical, it’s just plain boring.  I also decided to play it a bit more safe because aqua is a big color, so doing an aqua argyle was a bit too bold of a statement for me.  I loved the aqua and brown because it screams fall with a tiny little nod to the ocean!  I added in the cream pants for the dad (ok, light brown, sorry Owen, I won’t put you in cream) because I thought Mom & Dad would look great together and it would tie in nicely if you did cream tights for mom or the girl.  I also have some cream accents in the mom’s necklace.  Finally, I imagined the pairings you’d do in a session… Mom & Dad, Mom & Son, etc. and everyone seemed to really compliment each other.

Next week I’ll focus on a Gap or Old Navy option, then a more formal one with perhaps Olive Juice dresses for the girls!  Please leave me some love and let me know if you found this to be at all helpful!

Of kids. Random snapshots from the weekend. I don’t even know that I caught all the kids we saw… for instance, Saturday night kids are missing… some Friday kids… suffice to say, there were A LOT of kiddos. Not my technically best photographs, but they make me smile none-the-less.

How ’bout this for a lot of kids. Some are missing. Like my buddy C who was stuck in the car with his dad. But that’s my girl at the top with the paci jammed in her mouth on her Auntie’s hip.

Happy Birthday Alden! May you rock out in style in your Terrible Twos!

If I tried with all of my might to set up a portrait shot with this kind of rim lighting on Alden’s face, it just never would have worked. Instead, I caught it with random settings, Janey on my side and shooting from my hip.

Look at these two, seriously.  Hot Moms + Cute Dads = Gorgeous Boys.  I am trying to figure out which one would make me less nervous should he date Janey.  I think there is no lesser of two evils… well, not evil… crazies maybe?

I am not kidding.  Seriously.  Look at him.

And him.  To die for, right?

So right after this shot, Janey turned around and pushed Michael so hard he fell over.  And she just sort of stared at him.  It’s probably fine she date him, what am I worried about?  She’ll keep him in line.  She also stole his paci.  That’s my girl.  Are you guys seeing the hair clip?  Holding back all three strands of hair?  Took about 3 seconds before it ended up in her mouth.

This was the “I need my space” shot.  Seriously, that’s what he told us.

And for all you parents that tell me my kids always behave.  This is typical of what I get when I ask for a nice little shot.  Feel better?

Especially when it comes to this delicious little girl. I was so incredibly happy that Jessica could meet up with Shey and I on Friday. It was one of those stars aligning things when I actually had my phone battery charged to call Stephanie, who actually picked up her phone, who was able to call Jessica who had no plans for the afternoon, who channeled Mother Nature and asked for it to stop raining, and had the perfect daughter in the perfect mood… and I found parking.

I am so excited for Jessica to see these… and to surprise her husband! What a lucky guy.

{And what a dress… check out Kenzie Kids for more like it!}

Let’s just state the obvious once again. I have beautiful clients. And nice clients. It’s a lovefest over here on my iMac as I drool over the images from yesterday. This was actually our second session of the day, I am blogging backwards because I only uploaded the cards from this one. {Second one will happen once we get through hour two of day one of potty training.} It was such a great day, rained…. rain stopped for session… rained…. rain stopped for second session. I shot with my good friend Shey Marin, and I have to say, I love shooting in pairs and I can’t wait to see what she captured. Shey is getting ready to take the DC/Maryland market by storm, so if you are in that area, keep your eye open for her in the late summer! Finally… the best thing about yesterday… meeting Heather and her gorgeous girls. Thanks to my cousin Susan for the hookup, I was thrilled it all worked out! {Seeing J&C was also another “best” but I’ll get to that in their sneak peak}.

Side note to moms: this is an fabulous example of What to Wear. Coordinating, not identical outfits, with just peak of the pink on mom… If I didn’t love timeless B&W so much, this entire session would be color.