Boston Portrait Photographer | Victoria and family in the city
Victoria is another one of our Class of 2018 Senior Reps! We were so excited to shoot with her and her family, mostly because we already knew how much fun they were. We photographed her older brother Chris last year in the same location. We always encourage our high school seniors to bring siblings, friends, or Mom on their sessions. Victoria’s senior session was a little different because we also were having a family session with her family at the beginning!
She got to have Mom, Dad, and Chris cracking jokes and making her smile while she posed for her solo shots later on in the shoot. We met the Cataldo family at Boston Common and started with some group shots on the benches to get everyone relaxed. There were lots of laughter and inside jokes being thrown around between the two siblings, which of course made Mom and Dad laugh too.
As we made our way out of the park, and into Back Bay, we stopped to use some of the city's’ unique architecture as our backdrop; the mall, the brownstones, the wrought-iron fences.
As the shoot turned into Victoria’s senior shoot, we started to focus more on Victoria’s passion - dance. We are convinced that one day we will see her as the prima ballerina in one of the world’s most prestigious dance companies.
Boy does she have skill and drive! We don’t normally show our clients photos during the shoot, but for Victoria, it was important to see her form and how it photographed. And the results are stunning!
We ended the shoot on the Charles right as the sun was about to touch the water. People passing by were convinced we were shooting a movie or advertisement, and that Victoria was a celebrity. We can see how they thought so!
Boston Portrait Photographer | Brianna's Day Off (Bueller....?)
Who wouldn’t want to skip school for a photoshoot? That’s what senior Brianna got to do for her senior portraits! Brianna is friends and soccer teammates with one of our Senior Reps, Alena. At the crack of 8:30am, we met at the studio for Brianna’s mill building inspired shoot.
Right off the bat, Brianna worked it. She has the natural smize down. For those of you who don’t know the Tyra Banks coined term, smize = “smile with your eyes”. And look at all of that hair! It was a bit of a wind storm when we made it outside, but she wrangled all of her long locks effortlessly.
I even have to say, that the more windblown her hair got, the better it looked, does this girl ever have a bad hair day?? After a quick outfit change, she pulled out one of our favorite winter accessories: the blanket scarf.
Not only is it perfect for a brisk December morning, you can’t help but have some fun with it. Soon Brianna was laughing at having to sway continuously, which brought out her fun, happy personality in the photos.
We ended the shoot across the street in the mill buildings. I am beginning to love this early morning winter light in the mills. Showcasing a bright red off the shoulder shirt with the gritty, monochromatic backdrop resulted in Brianna absolutely shining.
Boston Portrait Photographer | Newborn Twins in Back Bay
In their cozy of Back Bay home, we met Shannon, her husband Daryl, and their newborn twins for a truly special photoshoot. The twins had come earlier than planned, and were just 5 lbs each. But as the saying goes, good things come in small packages. We started out the photoshoot in the twins’ nursery that was designed by Shannon.
With a palette of creams, gold, silver, and rose gold, as well as stars and furs scattered throughout the room, the nursery was the embodiment of Shannon’s vision for the photoshoot. The twins were just beginning to nod off as we swaddled the two of them in soft pink and blue wraps.
As we started the shoot, Oscar the cat slunk his way into the room. He sat patiently and watched us as we worked, keeping a watchful eye over his new roommates. Halfway though, Grandma popped in to see how her new grandchildren were doing, and found them fast asleep comfy in the fabric and fur that was their background.
After finishing in the nursery, Shannon, Daryl, the twins, and even Oscar joined us in Mom and Dad’s room. The family piled onto the bed and snuggled close, again surrounded in the pinks and creams that Shannon so thoughtfully decorated with.
The results reflect the warmth and love found in their home. Congratulations Shannon and Daryl on your growing family!
Boston Portrait Photographer | Emily's Windy Session!
A lot of our clients are dancers, including Emily. But not every client of ours gets her photoshoot wardrobe from her dance teacher! After the outfits she ordered didn’t work out and it was the night before the shoot, Emily raided her dancer teacher’s closet and found some awesome outfits. Shout out to her teacher for saving the day and having an amazing wardrobe, and to Emily for putting everything together so well. Of course with so many interesting outfit options, we couldn’t leave anything outl. We started the shoot in the studio and soon realized how great Emily’s hair blew in the wind.
With our long list of outfits and locations, we knew one of our stops had to be the Duck Bridge. Getting your hair to cooperate while on a windy bridge is not easy, and some people can find it very frustrating. But not Emily. She had a positive attitude the whole way through and did not let a sudden gust of wind catch her off guard. As you can see, her patience paid off!
After a short walk, we had our finale outfit over by the pink door that matched perfectly with her dress. Similar to Emily’s hair, this dress was meant to be carried by the wind. We had her spinning and dancing in the wind, which turned into a lot of laughs, and a LOT of great photo opps.
I think Emily’s mom Melissa, who was there snapping some behind-the-scenes photos, had just as much fun as her daughter. Emily is such a positive ball of energy, and up for anything to get the shot, we had so much fun shooting with her!
Boston Family Portrait Photographer | All the way from Japan
There is something magical for a little girl about a big tulle skirt. Mom and Dad surprised their two daughters with fluffy cream colored dresses at our shoot at the Lyman Estate in Waltham. Hana was so excited by her puffball of a dress that before we even started the photoshoot she was twirling and laughing with delight in the parking lot.
And of course, Hana outfit's was not complete without a flower crown! Kana is a bit too little for a flower crown, but one day soon, she'll rock one like her big sister. This was a special photoshoot for Mom, Dad, and their little ones, as they will be wrapping up their time in the United States and will soon be going back to Japan.
And we had the perfect day to celebrate their time here with crisp blue skies and bright fall leaves to play in. One of my favorite shots is of the whole family sitting together on the porch. Hana was being silly and was swinging around the columns, until she'd run towards Mom and Dad and give them a big bear hug. Kana was cozy with Mom watching all of this ensue until she turned to the camera right at the perfect moment!
We are so glad we could capture these fall memories for them to look back on their time in Boston. I wouldn't be opposed to heading out to Japan for their next shoot though!
Boston Portrait Photographer | The Hodgmans 3 with 1 more on the way!
We’d normally say, “say hello” to little Naomi, but she prefers saying “bye”. One year is such a great age and we love hearing the random sayings they find to be special. In this case, Naomi loves saying bye to people, even when she’s just meeting you! With their home situated near Bulloughs Pond in Newton, we met Nicole, her husband Josh, and their daughter Naomi on a breezy yet sunny November day.
Originally from Chicago, Nicole and Josh lived in the South End of Boston until recently moving out to Newton. They knew they had to move to a home with more space as they are expecting baby number 2 in March! At the beginning of the shoot, Nicole and Josh claimed that they were not photogenic which could not be further from the truth.
Piled on to the bed, the family cuddled close for some very sweet photos. We soon made our way outside to test out Naomi’s new kicks: purple air jordans. Yes. purple. Air jordans. On a one year old. Incredible.
We soon broke out the bubbles and Naomi was so intent on catching them. She wanted to chase after them so badly, and we got some truly precious photos out of it. We sang the baby shark song, threw leaves in the air, and had an overall fantastic time enjoying the last bits of fall.
Boston Portrait Photographer | Joelle's Gorgeous Beachy Sunrise Session
Rise and shine Joelle! Joelle's original senior photoshoot had been postponed due to rain, so we got up bright and early to be up at the Newburyport Plum Island beaches in time for the beautiful morning sunlight. Not only did she get up early, she was able to do so without coffee - something we cannot do on a normal day. And boy did she rock her photoshoot!
It was a little brisk and windy, the perfect weather for the slouchy sweaters she chose for some of her looks. When a gust would hit her sleek long hair just right, the results were gorgeous.
We're always interested in what our clients are passionate about. Joelle participates in dance and swimming and it was important for her to represent them in her photos. For dance, she grabbed an old pair of pointe shoes and held them while leaning against a wall.
It was simple yet elegant and the results are one of our favorite shots of the day. For swimming, this team captain wanted to show off her jacket. Her mom could not wait to see the album that she was going to order because when her daughter is away at college next year, she'll have this day to look back on.
Printed products are SO important to us, and it was clear that they were equally as important to Joelle's mom. She decided to go with the signature album in color, and because she loves black and white so much, a black and white image box. It's not common to go with black and white for this product, but I am in love with how her album AND image box came out!
Boston Portrait Photographer | Merrimack Valley Magazine
Merrimack Valley Magazine shoots are always a great creative outlet. Lysa Pelletier is an incredible stylist and we’ve never been disappointed by her vision. Having her and Stephen on set is the perfect balance of collaboration, and while we are always shooting for a specific layout, we get just enough creative freedom to play around a bit too.
We shot at Sage Market and Design, located in downtown Newburyport, and their showroom is stunning. With big windows opening up the room to the bay, the exquisite pieces are showcased with beautiful natural light overlooking the water. Focusing on the idea of including greens in your home during the winter months, we naturally gravitated to the wall of greenery.
Sage’s unique pieces popped against the lush backdrop. Moving on with our theme, we continued using natural elements in the dining room table shot. We love how Lysa styled the smooth tableware, the natural edges, and the plush fur for the tablecloth.
We always have a lot of fun on these shoots, and that is because of our team. Everyone pitches in, everyone has a voice, and no one takes it too seriously... unless they are making sure I don't fall when I am dangling from a ladder. These are some of the images that didn't make the cut, but make sure to pick up the January issue to see our favorites that did make it in the issue.
Lysa Pelletier is represented Anchor Artists
Boston Portrait Photographer | MadDi's Sister and Dance Session was one of our Favorites!
My Senior Rep Maddi chose to have her senior portraits in one of my favorite places to shoot, the Lawrence Mill buildings. I always tell my clients to bring best friends or siblings to their photoshoot because those closest to us often bring out the most genuine smiles! Maddi had her two fabulous younger sisters and Mom come along.
Between inside jokes and silly faces there were plenty of smiles and laughter going around. All three sisters dance at Nancy Chippendales and you can tell, they have perfect posture. I found it so funny that I kept on telling Maddi to relax into her pose and slouch which is the opposite of what dancers are supposed to be told.
After basking in the sun where Maddi and her sisters were literally glowing with their genuine smiles, we made the trek across the street to the Mill buildings and Maddi got into her dance shoes.
I was amazed by how giggly Maddi transformed into this regal ballet dancer, as she leapt and danced across the room. Something as simple as putting on pointe shoes, or going on elevé is completely transformed when Maddie does it and made for some of my favorite shots. I can see why she plans on studying dance after Senior year!
Boston Portrait Photographer | Pretty Newburyport Beach Session
Who doesn’t love some Lilly in their wardrobe? Jen’s senior portraits were inspired by her style! The chic beachy vibe from her Lilly Pulitzer wardrobe matched perfectly with the Newburyport beaches and marshes, so we headed up there one beautifully sunny afternoon.
With beachy waves in her hair, we explored the marshes. Her bright pinks totally popped against the warm greens and yellows of nature! The wind was a little tricky at times, but we always tell our clients that it is worth the struggle. As you can see, Jen totally worked it.
After a quick outfit change, we made it to the beach. The sun was setting, and Jen was just walking around holding her shoes in her hand. Sometimes the best poses come from clients not posing at all! We had Jen toss some sand around to get a genuine laugh from her and the results are one of our favorite shots from the shoot.
It seems like our finale shot when we’re up in Newburyport always involves the client getting their feet wet in some way. For Jen, we had her swishing away in the wet sand and playing with her hair. A perfect end to a perfect shoot!
Boston Interior Photographer | Lowell Home Goes From Neutral to turquoise
One thing I love about working with designers is how passionate they are about design; they are able to find what makes the homeowner special and unique, and reflect it into the home. This shoot was no exception. Darlene Allen had finished a complete home design for a dear client of her’s in Lowell, MA. Accenting the client’s personality and connection to dragonflies, Darlene incorporated cool blues, warm greens, and natural textures in her sleek design. Your eyes just naturally draw across the living room, into the kitchen, which perfectly highlights the open-concept space Darlene has created.
Every detail was thought about and planned, especially the artwork. Darlene often incorporates paintings created by the talented Elizabeth Poger, which are featured when you walk through the entryway. (B) (C) Of course, any home design shoot would not be complete without a pop of color and some organic texture provided by the exceptional flowers at Les Fleurs. Peonies and hydrangea, scattered throughout the house added a nice finishing touch to the images we created. (D) (E) Even Bella got in on the fun and showed us how such a sweet girl she is, and patiently sat for some photos in the office. (F) It was like the carpet was picked just to compliment Bella’s sleek coat!
Boston Interior Photographer | The Best Tablescapes You've Never Seen Before
What a busy fall for the Boston design community! Just a week after the Boston Show House opened, was the first ever Heading Home to Dinner, to raise money for a great cause, Heading Home. Of course, good friend and 3 Olives and a Twist writer, Beth Daigle and I were there for the opening night cocktail party to support friends and clients. Head over to her blog to see and read more.
Whether you weren't able to make it, or just need a little Thanksgiving tablescape inspiration, I was in awe of the creativity behind these bar carts and tables. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.
Table by Duffy Design Group
Bar cart by Linda Holt Interiors
Bar cart by Kim Macumber Interiors
Table by Renee Rucci Design
Table by Debbe Daley Designs
Table by Pamela Copeman
Boston Family Portrait Photographer | Rogers Family at Smolak Farms
Here's a big welcome to the Rogers Family! Lisa had won a gift certificate that we had donated to Temple Emmanuel's annual fundraiser. Her extended family came together at Smolak Farms in North Andover to have a photoshoot with 3 generations of family members. We settled down in the antique apple orchard.
Lisa's family went first and her three boys and husband all snuggled in together. To get a good laugh out of the boys, we started making noises which no child under the age of 8 can resist.
It was then their cousin's Emmett's turn with his Dad. He loves giving bear hugs especially to Dad. We soon rounded up all four boys for a cousin's picture. Brody, Lisa's youngest, is very serious for such a young age, but one thing that enthralls us all, including Brody, is our iPhones.
We got quite a few variations of Lisa's husband jumping out from behind an apple tree to grab the phone out of the shot so Brody would give us a smile, and the results were hilarious. The boys were excited at the prospect of picking apples and each found their favorite. (Notice the adult male legs sticking out from behind one of the apple trees.
Each chose a different one, finding big, small, green, and red apples. They showed us their finds for some pictures with their grandparents. However, it was too tempting to just hold their apples, and one by one each took a big bite out of their find.
By the end of the session, we always like to let the kids run around a burn off some steam. Giggles ensued as we chased them (or I should say they chased us!).
Boston Family Photographer | Chicago Family Visits the East Coast to Create Lasting Memories
One of our favorite places to photograph is the Boston Public Library courtyard. It is a hidden gem in Back Bay, and we had a blast photographing the Tashima Family there. They were all visiting from Chicago and Ohio, and we are so happy they picked Boston for their family photos. They were on a New England vacation together, and Boston was a stop on their way to Bar Harbor, Maine.
No one was safe from these cuties tickles and laughter!
We like to play a game called, “What’s your favorite animal?” which always entails silly animal noises. The kids’ favorite animals were zebras and penguins, leading to neighs, squawking, and chirping. The jury is still out on what a penguin sounds like.
We took a short walk down the street to some of our favorite brownstones and the fun did not stop. From Copley Square to Beacon Street the kids were giggling and smiling the whole way.
Mom and Dad got cozy under a tree and the kids snuggled in. We love capturing these special moments a family has together!
Boston Portrait Photographer | Senior Rep Victoria
Most people don't want rain on their photoshoot, but we always tell them that with afternoon rain comes the most brilliant sunsets. Senior Rep Victoria's shoot was sprinkling a few raindrops when we first started, but that did not put a damper on her fun!
With her Bestie Catherine making jokes behind the camera, Victoria was all smiles. In between shots, Victoria was tapping and dancing away as her mom called out her favorite dance moves. A quick outfit change later, we made it on to the beach.
This beach is a very special place full of fond memories for Victoria and her family. Their home at the beach was her grandparents, and the bench we shot her on has a beautiful plaque in honor of them. We love photographing clients in places that possess special meaning to them.
Victoria was not afraid of getting her feet a little wet and splashed around in the shallow waters. A surprise wave did catch her off guard, but that only made more laughs between her and Catherine. With perfect timing, as we predicted, the rain clouds parted to give way for a stellar sunset just for Victoria.
Boston Portrait Photographer | Senior Rep Caroline
Meet Caroline, another one of our Class of 2017 Senior Reps! For Caroline’s portraits, we decided to head up to downtown Newburyport and the Plum Island beaches. Caroline’s style matches perfectly with the location: chic florals, flowy blues, and pearls. Caroline is super silly and loves to dance so she worked it with her poses. Even in between shots we caught her tapping away in her heels and laughing at herself.
One of the shots that Caroline ended up loving the most was of her and her mother. So sweet. The two of them are adorable together, and could not help but laugh and make faces at each other.
The tides happened to be high when we arrived at the beaches which made for this amazing photo of Caroline. The dramatic backdrop lends perfectly for highlighting Caroline and her fierceness; work it girl!
Caroline rocked her senior photoshoot, and we know she’ll do just as awesome this coming year because she is definitely a leader, dancing to the beat of her own drum. We love you Caroline!
Boston Family Portrait Photographer | The Brooks Family
Did you know some of the best portrait sessions happen on rainy days? The Brooks Family did not let the soggy weather dampen their mood. If anything, it was the perfect excuse to act a little silly and puddle jump! When we asked them if they would be up for playing in the rain, without hesitation they said yes
If anyone has any questions about Sonic the Hedgehog, these cuties are the experts. The boys are avid Sonic fans, and their faces absolutely lit up as they taught us about all their favorite characters. They could not resist running around their home as fast as Sonic can, which of course ended on the couch in a pile of giggles.
Mom and Dad got in on the fun too. Mom stood up and sat on the table, and soon the whole family piled on. We love spontaneous shots like this, because they are often they bring the most genuine smiles.
Pets are always welcome on our photoshoots, as a pet is a family member after all! We loved that Sneakers the Dog got in on a few shots too.
Also, nothing makes me happier than when mom and dad are able to get in a little of their own snuggle time. Usually when we ask the question "When was the last photo you had together?" the response is "our wedding day!" So yes, we like to give mom and dad a few snuggly moments on their own, afterall, this is where it all started. It was particularly sweet to see the way these two make each other laugh without even directing them, so much love.
Boston Interior Photographer | Boston Designer Show House 2017
The first thing I noticed when I walked into this year's Designer Show House was the COLOR! Not in your face, over the top color; beautiful, strategically placed, just-the-right-amount of color. What I love about this is how relatable it is. A well designed space has to be functional, but the icing on the cake that really ups the WOW factor is the aesthetics. We first walked into this impressive pink foyer designed by Cutting Edge Homes. It was the perfect way to kick off the home.
My friend Beth Daigle, of 3 Olives and a Twist, and I went to "press day" together, excited to get the first look. Before the ribbon cutting, I had the opportunity to photograph my friend and client, Kim Macumber's room. I was so excited for her and boy did she go for it - her green butler's pantry made this small space POP. My favorite part was the moss-padded petal sink by Thompson Traders.
Talk about green - THIS LIVING WALL. Can I have this in my home now please? Tess and Ted Interiors and Anavera Design worked together to make this room cozy, unique, and a one of a kind conversation piece. I don't think I'm alone when I say this room made me want to snuggle up with a blanket, book, and cup of coffee.
Yes to cool blues and purples in the gorgeous kitchen by Kelly Rogers
Mally Skok's colorful table setting in the dining room perfectly complimented the darker paint and hand-screened window treatments.
Nostalgia hit home hard for me when I walked into this bathroom by Linda Lyons with wall to wall Dutch tile. I lived in Holland for 6 months and this was a great nod to traditional Delftware.
Go see more photos over at Beth's blog! 3 Olives and a Twist
The Designer Show House is a must see and put on by the Junior League of Boston. Visit from now until November 5.
For more information, visit https://www.jlboston.org/2017-designer-show-house/
Boston Family Portrait Photographer | Baby Henry
Welcome Henry! This little guy was a over a week old when we met him at his family home in Danvers. The life of a newborn is tough; lots of sleeping, eating, and posing for the camera. But thankfully, he has two big brothers to help him out.
These cuties are full of energy. Getting three little ones to look at the camera and smile can take some trial and error, but I loved capturing the spontaneous and loving moments this family has together.
From running around playing make believe to dancing along with their favorite toys, they always had time to give a gentle kiss on Henry’s forehead. I absolutely melted when Sully kept on telling me how much he loved his new brother. Mom and Dad are going to have their hands full with these lively boys, but this little family has grown bigger in both numbers and love!
Boston Portrait Photographer | Senior Rep Alena
Say hello to our Senior Rep Alena! Alena loves playing sports outdoors, so it is only fitting that we incorporated florals, nature, and exposed stone in her portraits. Alena brought her bright smile right on set and worked it throughout the whole photoshoot.
She was not afraid of being a little silly and twirling in her dress for the camera. After all, fields are the perfect place to twirl. We loved her serious looks too, the girl can rock a smize! (for those who don’t know, smize = smiling with the eyes)
We had so much fun exploring the area around the studio; the field and the mill buildings all lent fantastic textures and colors that complimented Alena’s outfits perfectly.
We have also photographed Alena's sister Clara, Class of 2017 senior, and her entire family, whom I have come to know and adore. I can see where Alena gets her big heart from, her family consists of some of the most kind people I know, nothing but love for each other and positivity to spread to the rest of the world.
Good luck Alena with Senior Year, we know you’ll have a fabulous time. Your big heart and ability to spread joy will serve you well in life :)