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!

There may have been the slightest bit of disappointment when she at last appeared.  Noah and the class had a different name picked out for Emily Claire.  But I do believe her parents made the right choice.  As you’ll see from Noah’s face, any hint of dissatisfaction couldn’t have lasted for long.  This is the smile of one proud, gentle, helpful, and loving big brother!

And as for Emily, isn’t she just so pretty?  Emily Claire, I am so happy to welcome you to the Dorchester neighborhood and look forward to watching you grow!

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!

Mommy tells me that Marlowe is already a daddy’s girl.  Check out the final image in the series, and I think it’s pretty clearly true.  Although she’s just learning how to focus, she certainly has eyes for him!  Big brother Finn (don’t these kiddos have the greatest names?!) is eighteen months old, so just a little guy himself.  Already, he is so good at being gentle and kind to his new baby sister.  Welcome to Boston, Baby Marlowe.  I hope you and your family will be feeling right at home soon.  We’re glad to have you!

Friends and family of Eli, click here to see the full set of images from the session.

Ashley and Eric share an awesome, playful spirit.  I love their sense of humor, which definitely carried over into their photos.  Check out Eric surrounded by bridesmaids, Ashley ‘pouting,’ and the newlyweds sharing their first taste of cake.   As the photos reveal, they laughed their way through the day.

Ashley’s attention to detail (with the help of her lovely mother Laura, who looked amazing in her off-the-shoulder gown) brought a true beauty to the wedding.  Ashley’s bouquet included exquisite pink orchids.  Their cake had tiny waves in the frosting, completing a sea-side theme.  The chocolate fountain was a huge hit and made the ballroom smell delicious.   My personal favorite was the basket of flip flops beside the dance floor, making sure no one would be slowed down by uncomfortable footwear!

With such a happy couple, it was (of course) a very happy party.  The perfect ending to this perfect day?  A sparkler-lit exit, and off to honeymoon in Greece…

Congratulations, Ashley and Eric!  What a wonderful wedding.  Can’t wait to show you the rest at the viewing…

P.S.  As always, a special thanks to the rest of my photographic team.  Sherman assisted with skill and style.  Brenda Cooney was again by my side.  She is the creative vision behind the great shot of the bridesmaids helping Ashley with her dress, the moment when Laura sees Ashley, the singer in the church balcony, the super-modern handholding shot with just a tiny sliver of the bride and groom, and the touching black and white of Ashley and Eric’s last dance.  I am so grateful to Brenda for sharing her talents!