BOSTON CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER, BOSTON FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER, BOSTON NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER » Marblehead Children Photographer

Family.

Kristina — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:06:13 +0000

What are the chances that within 24 hours I would photograph two families with adorable boys and both of the moms are from Texas? Houston I think! And both moms are awesome, and both dads are cool? I am lucky. Very lucky.

I am even more lucky because I have known Josh since before he was born. Really. No joke. Our families are BFFs. Really BFFs. It doesn’t matter if we don’t see each other for months on end, we are still BFFs. I can’t actually even put it into words the connection we have with this family. When I was like 6 or 7 I was looking out the window at the neighbors getting ready to go to Prom and I apparently said “Josh Chaffin can take me to the prom.” When I was reminded about that in later years (as I am actually reminded whenever I see Josh or my mother wants to embarrass me), it’s really really funny!!

I found a prom date other than Josh… and a few years later, Josh found Maisie who is a dream. She is so kind, open, and brings an amazing spark to not only Josh’s life, but also to Peggy & Nate’s (after 39 years, I apparently have the green light to call Mrs Chaffin “Peggy”). She is beautiful and has a lovely spirit. Josh grew into a handsome, articulate and caring guy. Together, they have Issac. And he is beyond yummy. I spent about 30 minutes with just Issac and I was IN. LOVE. Everything about this boy is the bomb. It was so fun to see this family together, and to watch how careful and loving they are with their boy, and to see how much they love each other.

Thank you for an amazing morning. You guys really are like my second family. Can’t wait until you are living state-side again!

Perfection.

Kristina — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:29:24 +0000

There is one image from this session that I think is Perfect. I’ve asked some other photographer friends their thoughts and this is what they came up with “Love the swinging hair,” “I love that she is both thin and strong at the same time,” “That one of her walking toward them is somehow both sexy & sweet. It’s like, it shows she’s still a gorgeous woman, but a mom, too, and that you can be both.” “I want to be her.” That pretty much summed up what I was thinking when I shot the image of her skipping down the beach [in a way more eloquent than I could have].

As for the rest of the session, it was lovely. I met Holly at a workshop and I think we totally clicked so I was super psyched to shoot her session! I was equally psyched to meet her husband because he works at Adobe and you know how I love my Brands. I figured two cool people would make an awesome kid, and I was right! Their son is a gorgeous little boy filled with a lot of expression, determination and a little bit of spunk!

I had a great time! I am so glad everyone hung in there through the sun and the heat and we got it DONE!

It’s a Nursery Contest!

Kristina — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:21:09 +0000

Is your baby between 6-12 months old (ideally sitting!)?
Do you have a super cool nursery?
Would you be interested in winning a free session and mini-print package?

[contest information will be pinned to the sidebar until the contest is complete! check there for details and updates!]

If you answered yes to all three of these questions, we would love to see pictures. What’s in it for you? A chance to win a free photography session featuring your baby and your nursery! We would like to see between 1-4 photographs of your space. At least one photograph must include your baby in the nursery itself. We are looking for creative use of light, color and design elements. Images must be taken by you or someone in your family (as in “please don’t submit images taken by another professional photographer.”)

All submissions must be received by midnight, March 5, 2010.

Entries will be judged by a panel of photographers who will narrow down the selection to 5 nurseries. The finalists will be posted on the Kristina Young Photography Blog and the winner will be chosen via a public voting poll. Voting will occur between March 10 – March 17, 2010. There are specific rules around voting that will be clarified during the voting round of the contest.

Winners will be announced on March 19, 2010. There will be 2nd & 3rd place prizes also awarded — gift certificates to Kenzie Kids (Wellesley & Dedham) & The Flat of the Hill (Beacon Hill)!. Winner must schedule session so it takes place between March 27 – May 8, 2010. Winners must sign a release to allow participating photographers to display images on blog, website, Facebook Business Page and any other print or web materials as deemed appropriate.

To enter, complete the following submission form: http://kristinayoungphotography.com/blog/nursery-contest-submission

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Don’t live in Boston? Have friends across the country? Check out these photographers who have nursery contests running in other cities! Their contest, terms and conditions may vary, so please make sure you read the details with care.

Birmingham, AL: Stephanie Fisher Photography
Northwest Alabama: Jennifer Weddington Photography
Denver, CO: Laura Werner of Vibrant Life Photography
Connecticut: Crista Acosta Photography
Central Indiana: Kristi Hibbetts Photography
Metro New Orleans, LA: Amy Drouet Photography
Frederick, MD & Washington DC/Baltimore metro: Shey Marin Photography
Northern VA & Washington DC: Amber Scruggs of Little Moon Photography
Mississippi Gulf Coast and Pearl River County: Emotional Imagery by Brandi Head Photography
Central New Jersey: Kim Schmidt Photography
Northern New Jersey: Christie Adams Photography
Cincinnati, OH and Northern Kentucky Area: Jessica Wright of Memories That R Precious
Columbus, OH: Andrea Roberts Photography
Philadelphia and Main Line, PA: Bernadette Uzcategui Photography
Pittsburgh, PA: Seedlings Photography
Rhode Island and South Shore of Boston: Amy Ro Photography
Houston, TX: Kerri Mathis Photography
Seattle/Bellevue/Tacoma, WA (and surrounding areas): Susan Berman of Whimsical Photo Design
Spokane, WA: Jaidean Baker Photography

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The Fine Print.

This is our contest, we make the rules. We have researched many different ways of voting and there are pros and cons and hanging chads in just about every method out there. This is how we have decided to run our contest, if it’s not a fit for you, we respectfully accept your decision to decline participation. We also know there are ways to work around the system, so we will actively monitor IP addresses and research anything that appears to be fishy. We reserve the right to disqualify any entry that appears to be suspicious.

All participants must agree to sign a model release allowing images to be displayed on participating blogs. Winning participants must sign a release allowing images taken by participating photographers to be displayed on web site, blog, Facebook and print advertising sources. Participants must also agree to standard Terms & Conditions of participating photographers.

Winning participants will receive a complimentary session focusing on nursery, baby and/or family as outlined by participating photographer. Additional items may also be included. Regular session terms and conditions apply.

We require an electronically marked consent that you are entering this contest voluntarily and that participating photographer is not promising any winnings or other compensation for participation.

Gift and re-gift

Kristina — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:04:45 +0000

Jennifer and I are “imaginary” friends (Owen’s term). We met on a rather large photography forum only to find that we live right in eachother’s back yard (that’s not totally true because if I lived in her backyard I’d be swimming in the ocean). We decided it would be great to do a session swap, but really, images of your family (esp for a photographer who is never in them), are priceless. So instead of calling it a swap, it’s more like a gift and a regift!

I met up with Jen and her awesome family and they took me to their favorite beach. And what a beach it is! Although I love Devereux Beach for it’s location, this beach has WAY better sand! And it has this fabulous grassy area with neat little paths and hideaways, so completely perfect for catching late afternoon light (and containing little boys that like to run!). Jen’s family is really gorgeous. You know how I get all excited over long haired boys, their boy is just beautiful. And her husband is really great. He’s a very talented fine art photographer. And if you can believe it, we totally failed to make the Greek connection. I am fairly certain had we done that, I would have suggested finding some ouzo somewhere and quite possibly would not have made it home to my family until very late!

Jen, thank you SO much! I am really looking forward to my session with you. I am really happy I made a new friend in the area and that you are no longer imaginary! I’ll get the rest of the files to you at some point soon!

(extra big sneak peak, just because!)

What to Wear Wednesdays [Boden & J. Crew]

Kristina — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:23:43 +0000

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!

She’s been waiting so patiently!

Kristina — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:56:43 +0000

I need to extend a big thank you to this lovely family who has been waiting so patiently to see their sneak peak up on the blog. I was so excited to meet them. Jeanna and I just clicked! We were introduced by Erica and we are like minded in just so many ways. I knew instantly over email that we would have a really fun session. I met up with them at Devereux Beach just after my disastrous afternoon and it was a welcome relief to just get out and run around. Talk about juicy light, you seriously could not have ordered up better temperature or sunshine if you called God himself. I am so fired up for this family to see the rest of their images… it’s too bad I am still trying to finish up things for everyone else! Soon, I promise, soon!

A lovely [hot] Saturday morning.

Kristina — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:01:48 +0000

I was so excited to meet Amanda… she found me through my ad in Northshore Magazine which is really great because it reassures me that my marketing is getting to the right people! And of course she lives in my favorite town, and has two beautiful children that are two years apart… in fact her youngest is just one day younger than Janey! I always feel right at home with kids these ages… I love the curiosity and spirit of smart little toddler boys… and thirteen months, well, I could go on about how it’s one of my favorite ages. Walking, running, still a little unsure, but also social enough to venture out and check things out, warm to strange ladies that point big lenses in their face, and give great eye contact!

Amanda and Noah, your family is beautiful. I truly enjoyed our morning together… hope you were able to cool down with a swim and some ice cream after I left! That is just what I did! Thank you!

I love this [first shot out of the camera] because I said “are you going to be the awesome almost-3-year-old and show me how it’s done?” And this is what I got!

And I love this because if we had a family portrait, I know Janey would want “The Soph” in it as well.

This is Harry. He accompanies me to all my sessions and usually makes little boys very happy. Sometimes scared, but usually happy.

Just beautiful.

Total Overload.

Kristina — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:22:05 +0000

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?

Hey… I know this street!

Kristina — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:15:33 +0000

My thoughts when driving to meet gorgeous Heather and her beautiful family. Turns out they live on the street I walked down while trying to put myself into labor over the 4th of July! I figured if the walk didn’t do it, the fireworks would. It sort of worked. Either way, they live in one of my favorite neighborhoods in a great house and are just a really neat little family! It was a fun morning and I am excited to see what I captured!

This little girlie just LOVES her dad (I think he was worried he was going to be in every picture… no worries, not all of them!)

I love this first one so much because she just looks like she’s giving herself such a big hug!

Love this front door!

Love her face even more… total trooper, still giving smiles to the very end!

Thanks for a fun morning!