Life as a Worcester family and senior photographer
Being a family and senior photographer in Worcester - or anywhere in New England, really - is interesting. From mid-April until the weekend after Thanksgiving it is always something “season." Flowers and trees bloom in April, beaches warm up for sessions in Hampton or the Cape in June, lavender season is in July and it all peaks in the mad dash for foliage-filled senior and family sessions in October. There is a brief surge when everyone is home for Thanksgiving and then crickets. During the warm months of the year, the New England photographer enjoys what it feels like to be wanted and in demand. For many of us, it is the closest we have ever come to being cool. Then, after Christmas (earlier for those of us who don’t get into the Christmas tree farm minis or know a large man with a white beard) people wonder if we ever existed at all. “Tom… Tom? Tom who?” Photographers like me then go into hibernation, leave the country, make resolutions to be better bloggers, and look into Ubering when March rolls around and our inboxes are still empty. Then, on the first real day of spring in April, the cycle starts again.
I can’t imagine being a photographer in a place with nice weather all year round. The lack seasonal stress would… stress me out.
So, in months when photographers are at the top of the seasonal boutique business food chain here in Worcester, we get to know photo locations very well. We all have our favorites and the hot spots are crowded for good reason. Just look at Moore State Park in Paxton - all it took was one spectacular weekend at the end of peak season to amass such a crowd of family and senior photographers that not only are the park rangers now enforcing longstanding-but-always-ignored permit requirements, but professional photography is flat out banned during the weekends.
Top Five Family and Senior Photography Spots in Worcester
Moore State Park, Paxton
This is my favorite place for family and senior photography in the Worcester area. It has several different photography spots that are great for families or seniors and they are varied enough that we always come away with a range of looks. I really, really like this place because it is basically a walk in the park with enough great scenery to not have to rely on pose after pose which means that photos come out more authentic with a lot of space for candids.
The only negatives to a photo session at Moore State Park is that there is a decent amount of walking and it can get crowded. Professional photo sessions can only happen during weekdays and make sure your photographer has a permit or your session might be happening in the parking lot.
Old Stone Church, West Boylston
The Old Stone Church in West Boylston is where most of my clients who have a preference want to shoot. This make sense because when the conditions are right it is a beautiful spot with a heavy nostalgia factor for anybody who grew up in this part of Worcester County. Bob and his hot dogs might be gone but one can still have a salubrious day (and buy hot dogs from the new guy). The main draw to the Old Stone Church is, well, the Old Stone Church. There is nothing inside but a photo with it in the background is quintessential New England. I haven’t checked the town laws but I assume a senior portrait at the Old Stone Church that doesn’t include the senior sitting in the empty windows is probably illegal. There are some great opportunities for water-focused photos with Wachusett Reservoir in the background and it is all tied in by great foliage in the fall.
The downside to the Old Stone Church is that the space is consolidated. While this is great for efficiency it means that on a crowded day (no permits needed here so it does get crowded on fall weekends) it is hard to avoid having to photoshop people out of backgrounds. The church itself is also on a peninsula of sorts that gets absolutely slammed by the sun so this is not a place you want to have a family or senior session at in the midday.
Elm Park, Worcester
Elm Park is Worcester’s Central Park. If you are from Worcester then you probably already know that it was designed by the same firm that designed New York’s Central Park. Most people in and around Worcester have memories of feeding and chasing geese around the park and climbing on one of the two famously steep bridges. It is also a great spot for senior and family portrait sessions in Worcester. There is a variety of scenery - trees, fields, reeds, and the bridges that let us get a variety of photos without a ton of walking. During senior and family sessions at Elm Park I tend to walk around the pond and stop at the spots that call to us.
The downside to this park is that it is always active. The playground is always full of kids and people are playing, running, picnicking and generally doing park stuff all over. For families and seniors this is fine, but if you happen to be a bride in a full wedding gown you will probably attract some well-intentioned attention.
Dean Park, Shrewsbury
Dean Park is my home park. I grew up in Shrewsbury and while little parks are spread out here and there, Dean Park is where all the big stuff happens. I know every square inch of this park and while I am not going to be bringing families into the stream tunnels under the road that every Shrewsbury kid went into, I do know where to stop for family and senior photos. Dean Park is a great choice for senior and family portraits because it is a big park with everything from forest to baseball fields. My favorite thing to do when I am capturing a family or senior session is to walk around the pond - this way the shoot starts in the woods and ends on a field next to the water.
The only real downsides to a senior or family portrait session at Dean Park are that the sun can be harsh on one side of the lake while the other is in shadow and that it is popular. On a nice day in the spring and summer the entire town of Shrewsbury seems to be there.
City Hall, Worcester
Worcester’s City Hall’s downtown nature makes the urban environment play a central role in family and senior sessions here. I like that. Sessions here hit different. It is a small space but again, there is more than enough to provide some variety. Good things come in small packages. I usually start family and senior sessions at City Hall right up against the building. The architecture is fantastic. Just beyond that, if the weather is nice, we have the fountain and an army of umbrellas that photograph really well! While there is the greenery of the common behind City Hall, I absolutely love taking seniors into the surrounding buildings and alleys. Its a great way to incorporate a little bit of urban life into senior portraits. This spot is becoming more and more popular - especially with seniors. Photos with Turtle Boy are allowed but I sure won’t be suggesting it.
The downside of senior and family sessions at Worcester’s City Hall is that the reality of city life is apparent. Very often, sections of City Hall are occupied by the homeless population. I have NEVER had an issue with anybody during a shoot at City Hall but there is often attention or areas that are too crowded to shoot in. That, along with an often-present cloud of marijuana smoke make City Hall a better spot for young adults than young families.
I shoot more often in the places above than anywhere else in Worcester County. That being said, there are almost an infinite number of public spaces that would make fantastic locations for a family or senior session in Worcester. If you would like to book a family session with me at one of the locations above - or at your own local park or secret spot - click the links or use the form below to reach out and receive more info about my family or senior sessions!