Once again this year, we’ll have a white-background studio set up at Stitch House.  Annissa and her wonderful team will again provide space as well as gorgeous, fun, funky, colorful hand-crafted props.  The session fee remains $75, which covers a 45-minute session.  As you can see from last year’s “Best of” slideshow below, these sessions are ideal for individual children and sibling groups.  (Moms and dads, you’re welcome to jump in for a few shots as well–but know that you’re going have to get down on the floor to do it!)  The images make great holiday gifts–prints for grandma, custom cards to the whole list, and maybe even a piece of art for your own walls (Merry Christmas to Mommies, too!).

Our dates this year are Friday, November 11 (remember, this is a school holiday!); Saturday, November 12; and Sunday, November 13.  You can RSVP directly to me (marie@zemlerwuphotography.com/617.290.3486) or at Stitch House (617.265.8013).  Last year, we did sell out!  Can’t wait to see so many families for our annual catch up, and hope to meet many more for the first time…

Baby Billy was welcomed not just by mom and dad, but by big sister Carolyn, too.   Photographing young siblings is among my favorite things.  Behind the scenes, convincing a new big brother or sister to participate in a portrait session when their little lives are amid such big change isn’t necessarily easy (although in this specific case, Carolyn was wonderful and easy with her baby brother!).  But even when we have to work for it, capturing the new relationship between brothers and sisters is so profoundly lovely.  These photos always make me happy.  Hope that you enjoy them, too.

Welcome, Little Billy!  I’m truly charmed to meet you!

At first, this session was going to be a gift to Dad for Father’s Day–but the beans were spilled and Dad even decided to join in for a family photo!  Happy Father’s Day to you and to all of the Dads out there.  Enjoy!

Welcome to this wonderful world, little Luke.  I am so excited to hold you in my arms and to watch you grow up.  Can’t wait to take your picture a million times more!  Love you, Auntie Marie

About Land’s Sake:

Land’s Sake Farm is a lovely non-profit organization dedicated to connecting people to the land through sustainable farming, education programs for children and adults and responsible forestry.  They have a CSA, farm stand, chickens, flower garden, flourishing fields of veggies, and more.  I’ve been lucky enough to work with the farm a few times and it is a fantastic place–for families and for photography.

About the Strawberry Festival:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, with a rain date of Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19.  The festival will include pick-your-own berries (of course!),  strawberry shortcake (double of course!!), burgers and dogs, live music, hay rides and plenty of farm games and activities for children. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children.  Bonus:  Land’s Sake strawberries are grown without the use of pesticides–as moms know, strawberries are on the dirty-dozen list so organic is a real priority!

About the Portrait Sessions:

Participating families will make a $40 donation to Land’s Sake Farm and receive a 20-minute environmental portrait session.  We’ll have some adorable farm/picnic/strawberry-theme props and surroundings to work with–but the kids love being outdoors, so their happy smiles will likely be all that’s needed for some fabulous images!  Following the mini-session, proofs are posted in an online gallery and are then available for purchase.  As always, no obligation and no minimum required (but we are pretty sure you’re going to love them, so we’ll encourage you to select prints for your walls, relatives, and such–as a guideline, a budget of $200 will purchase a set of six 8×10 prints).  This kind of session is great for babies, kids, sibling groups, or whole families–although I do encourage larger families to talk with me in advance if you think we might need to book you a little extra time!

Sign up or show up?

First choice on timing will be offered to families who sign up in advance.  I also have some useful wardrobe planning and session guidance for those who get in touch ahead of time.  If we have a few spaces left on the schedule, those will go on a first-come, first-serve basis to folks attending the Strawberry Festival.  We expect the day–and especially the first morning sessions–will quickly fill.

What kind of images can I expect?

Well, I describe my style as relaxed, with a focus on emotion and expression.  At this outdoor mini-session, we’ll have selected a spot with beautiful natural light and a great summer-y background (think berries, baskets, and picnic blankets).  For the adults and older children, we will help with posing to capture you at your best.  For younger children, the approach is playful and open.  Perhaps the best way to get a sense of it is to check out these images from last fall at the farm…  Enjoy!

Although Cole was an itty-bitty peanut on the day of his photo session, he already had a giant smile that could melt any heart.  Never believe anyone who says newborns don’t smile–I am convinced that they absolutely do, especially when they dream.  Too bad we can never know the stuff their happy baby dream are made of; Cole certainly had something blissful on his mind the morning I met him.  Welcome to the world and to Dorchester, baby Cole.  It was a pleasure to meet you and your parents!

In my pre-motherhood and pre-photography business days, I worked in child welfare and once presented at this very conference.  Adoption is also a personal matter to me–I was adopted when I was just three weeks old.  The very window in which I am so often holding and photographing newborns is, in my own life, a complete unknown to me (although I rest assured I was in the care of a loving foster family).  I have two brothers who both joined our family through adoption.  In my grown-up life, I am reunited with my birth family and very close to my birth mother, her husband, and their extended family.  I am so proud of my parents and family–we are deeply fortunate and grateful to be able to share our adoption experience as one of connection and love.

This was my first endeavor at mixing my personal/photographic/previous-profession, but sure not to be the last.  What fun!  I met some wonderful families, many of whom were quick to pop out their phones and show me gorgeous pictures of their adorable kiddos.  Hopefully, some of these little folks will soon be gracing this very blog (they were super cute, so I really hope their parent hire me)!!

I also met some awesome fellow exhibitors and entrepreneurs, whose lovely handiworks are included in my blog board below.  Please, take a visit to Gina’s cards and painting at Paint 4 Ethiopia, Maureen’s artisan crafted adoption banners and onesies at Twenty Birds, and Julie’s inspiring t-shirts at Peace Tree Apparel.  Each combines motherhood, arts, and business in a way that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

And a last note…  I’m pretty darn proud of my exhibit, too!  My dad built the “wall” a couple of years ago for a wedding fair.  Sherman refinished it last week.  And it’s now covered with my favorite recent images, in frames by Wild Sorbet (which I do offer for sale here at my studio).  Thanks to all for making it come together so charmingly!