Lifestyle Family Session in Grafton: First Birthday
Grafton in-home lifestyle session + birthday celebration + cake smash all in one! That’s a lot of keywords!
I sometimes think about what it must be like to be a photographer in Florida, Arizona, or California—because here in New England, once the last leaf falls, most people retreat into the warmth of their homes. For those of us who spend our springs, summers, and falls rushing between weddings, golden-hour family sessions, and senior portraits, the sudden silence of winter can lull us into a false sense of peace as we X out of Photoshop and collapse.
And then, of course, the bills keep coming. We remember that we still have a business to run—and that people still want to document their families, just in a different way.
Heya reached out to me a little while ago to celebrate her daughter’s first birthday. This session took place in Grafton, MA, and with freezing winter temperatures outside, an indoor lifestyle family session made the most sense. While I’m based in Worcester, MA, I photograph families throughout Central Massachusetts, and winter sessions like this are some of my favorites.
If you don’t see me going on and on about lifestyle sessions on social media (or you don’t follow me there 👀), you might not know why I love these sessions so much. Before diving into photography as a business, I worked as a photojournalist, and I got a lot of joy out of documenting real stories.
I love outdoor family sessions around Worcester and always incorporate documentary elements, but lifestyle photography is a different kind of experience altogether. At its core, it is documentary photography. This session relied almost entirely on prompts that encouraged genuine interaction. I gave light direction when I wanted something specific, but for the most part, I simply documented how this family spent time together—music, books, and a whole lot of happiness.
Like all lifestyle sessions, this one took place in the space where everyone felt most comfortable: home. Their newly one-year-old had her favorite toys and books close by, and music clearly plays a big role in their lives. Instruments were scattered around, ready to be picked up, played, and enjoyed.
The session was full of great conversation and great energy—and I really think that comes through in the photos. If you’re considering a winter family photography session in Worcester, Grafton, or the surrounding area, an in-home lifestyle session is a relaxed and meaningful way to document this season of life.
Here are a few of my favorites in photo-essay form.
Interested in a lifestyle family session in Grafton, Worcester, or anywhere in the Central MA area? Great! I would love to hear from you!
Top Wedding Spot: Boston Seaport / Boston Harbor Hotel / Boston Harbor Cruises
Planning a wedding in the Boston Seaport? Discover the top waterfront venues, including the iconic Boston Harbor Hotel and scenic Boston Harbor Cruises. This guide highlights the best locations for stunning wedding photography, ensuring your big day is picture-perfect. Explore expert tips, breathtaking venues, and real wedding inspiration from a seasoned Boston wedding photographer. Start planning your dream Boston Seaport wedding today!
I might be biased, but I don’t think that there is a better place to get married than New England. Sure, four months out of the year we all sit by the heater, grow “New England male” beards, and get a little rough around the edges, but other than that you can’t lose. Fall has beautiful foliage showcased in places like the Berkshires and Vermont, Spring has lush greens and blooming flowers that make every golf-course venue pop, and summer brings us all down to Narragansett for vows near beaches and castles. Boston is a staple in every season
Boston Harbor and the Boston Seaport are perfect wedding locations. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
Planning a Boston wedding means embracing the charm of the city’s skyline, ocean breeze, and iconic venues. While downtown Boston can be busy, the energy and elegance of a Boston Seaport wedding make it one of the most sought-after locations for couples looking for a stunning urban backdrop. Take a walk around the Seaport on a weekend in the summer and there will be wedding parties galore - for good reason.
Getting Married at the Boston Harbor Hotel
As a Boston Seaport wedding photographer, I’ve captured some of my favorite weddings at the Boston Harbor Hotel. This venue is gorgeous inside and out, making it one of the best wedding venues in the Boston for couples who love a mix of classic and modern style. I don’t think anybody gets married within a mile of this place without getting their photos taken at the grand archway leading to Foster’s Pavilion and the water.
Bridal party in front of the Boston Harbor Hotel entrance. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
This place also has wedding planning down to a science. This is a big place with rooms for weddings of all sizes and during peak season they have multiple weddings going on every weekend and holiday. This sounds like a negative, but there is plenty of space for everyone and their staff makes everything flow like it should. With everything that is going on in a wedding it is nice to be at a venue that knows how to handle it.
Wedding guests dancing in the Boston Harbor Hotel. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
For more information about getting married at the Boston Harbor Hotel, visit their site.
Weddings in the Boston Seaport
You don’t need to get married at the Boston Harbor Hotel to take advantage of breathtaking Seaport wedding photography opportunities. Many couples, even those getting married in the suburbs, make a trip to the Boston Seaport for their portraits because of its stunning waterfront views and city skyline. The stretch from Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park to Rowes Wharf is most popular and makes a great walk for post-ceremony couples portraits.
A bride and groom under the arches of Boston’s Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
Another awesome venue, especially for small events is Davio’s North Italian Steakhouse. I shot a very small wedding here and while this was more of an elaborate dinner-party than a wedding, the harbor views from the floor to ceiling windows and closeness to the waterfront were incredible. I also enjoyed what had to have been the single best wedding meal I have ever had at Davio’s. Learn more about Davio’s by clicking here.
Two handsome grooms with the Boston skyline behind them. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
It is a bit further inland (by a block or two) but the North End’s Filippo Ristorante is also a place I have loved working. The two-toned checker interior, exposed bricks, and old wooden walls covered in photos of past visitors (stars and presidents alike) really remind you that you’re in the heart of Boston’s North End. The layout of the second floor puts the dance floor at one end of the space with the rest of the long room dedicated to dining. This means that there’s a spot for everyone - whether you want your hearing to go fuzzy after a few minutes near the DJ or you would rather catch up with family in a quiet(er) corner on the other side of the room. Bonus points for the North End views outside the windows. Click here to learn more about Filippo Ristorante.
Dancing at Filippo Ristorante in Boston’s North End. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
Getting Married on the Water: Boston Harbor Cruise Weddings: Always Beautiful but Remember Weather in New England
Whether you host your entire wedding aboard a Boston Harbor Cruise boat or just the reception, nothing captures the essence of a Boston waterfront wedding quite like watching the skyline fade into the distance as the festivities begin.
Wedding guests onboard Boston’s luxury yacht, the Valiant. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
I’ve spent a lot of time photographing weddings on the Odyssey (City Experiences), one of the most popular cruise venues. While it’s a spacious boat, any Boston Seaport wedding photographer will tell you that ship weddings come with trade-offs—especially when it comes to space and lighting. This applies to every Boston Harbor cruise option.
If the weather is nice, there’s no issue. Guests can enjoy fresh ocean air, scenic views, and even a little island sightseeing (nothing says romance like pointing out Shutter Island filming locations!). Once the dancing starts, nobody minds being below deck.
However, if it rains, plan B means moving the ceremony indoors. That’s why hiring a Boston Seaport wedding photographer who knows how to work with lighting in tight, dim spaces is essential (like me—hire me!).
A bride and groom’s first dance on Boston’s Valiant yacht. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
But if the weather cooperates, there’s truly nothing better than a cool summer breeze on deck as guests soak in the city skyline under the stars.
While a large ship like the Odyssey often has multiple events going on at once (think of these boats as the Boston Harbor Hotel in boat form), a more private option is the Valiant (Charles River Boat Company). This yacht can accommodate a lot of people but still feels like a more intimate experience with guests often spread out on various levels. It is small enough to know your way around by the end of the night but large enough to not feel cramped. I have never not had an awesome time as a photographer on the Valiant chiefly because couples and their guests tend to be happy on this vessel and that makes my job a lot easier.
A wedding sunset onboard the Valiant in Boston Harbor. Photo by Tom Godfrey, Boston wedding photographer.
Are you getting married in the Boston Seaport and looking for a documentary-style photographer who knows his way around? I would love to hear from you! Fill out the contact form below and I will send you my wedding photography guide with lots of photos and information (including pricing).
Cap and Gown Sessions in Worcester, MA
Cap and gown sessions are a great way to celebrate graduation. I am a graduation photographer based in Worcester, MA who offers cap and gown sessions all around Worcester county.
Cap and gown sessions are popular here in Worcester and the reason why is pretty obvious. In addition to high schools, Worcester is home to Clark University, WPI, Worcester State University, Assumption University, the College of the Holy Cross, Quinsigamond Community College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and several nearby colleges like Anna Maria. Boy, was that a keyword drop or what? Point is there are an above average number of people graduating in the Worcester area and cap and gown sessions are one way to celebrate and remember this event.
These sessions are pretty laid-back and are as simple or as collaborative as you want. Some people want to use props and be really involved in the process while others just want a few photos in their cap and gown. I can accomodate both. I also do a lot of cap and gown sessions with friend groups which are always a blast.
Another thing that the Worcester area has a lot of are beautiful parks and college campuses. From Elm Park and Institute Park to Moore State Park (I know, that’s technically Paxton) there are plenty of places to pick from no matter what vibe you are going for.
Check out some of my favorite cap and gown sessions below and reach out if you’re interested. Sessions start at $300. Email me at tomgodfreyphoto@gmail.com or use the form below. You can also find more info by visiting my dedicated cap and gown page.
Top Five Photo Spots in Worcester for Families and Seniors
Check out the five best spots in and around Worcester, MA for family sessions and senior portraits.
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 - who is extremely friendly).
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 to this place is just that it can get quite crowded during foliage season. There are no permits needed here so a session in October guarantees your photographer is going to be editing people out of the background for a while. It is also more important to be aware of where the sun is going to be here than in other places. The church is on a peninsula that gets slammed by midday sun so opt for morning or golden hour photos here.
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 different 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 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 downside 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. It is also very popular - on a nice day in the spring and summer the entire town of Shrewsbury seems to be there.
City Hall, Worcester
Worcester City Hall’s urban vibe plays 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. 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 probably won’t make the yearbook.
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 bit less comfortable for family sessions.
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!
Lavender Minis at the Farm at SummitWynds
Explore beautiful lavender mini sessions in Worcester.
On July 9th I will be hosting my second annual Lavender Mini Sessions at the Farm at SummitWynds in Holden / Jefferson, MA. Mini sessions are great because they let you get a taste of my family photography experience without the money and time investment that usually come with a full session. Mini sessions at the farm are even better because those photos are set against beds of purple lavender that really scream summer and New England.
I offered the same lavender minis last year and they were a huge success in that they were fully booked and everybody had a lot of fun. Most people who booked were families who wanted photos of the whole family, just the kids, or a little of everything. I also had a couple celebrating their engagement - an awesome idea!
Below are some of my favorite photos from last year’s Lavender Mini Sessions at the Farm at SummitWynds. If you want to learn more about this year’s lavender minis click here!
Favorites from 2023
Some of my favorite photos from a busy 2023 as a family and lifestyle photographer in Worcester.
Last year was a real hectic year here at Tom Godfrey Photography and for Tom Godfrey general life. My daughter, Eejin, was born in the last weeks of 2022 so 90 percent of 2024 was climbing the often sheer face of the first-time parents learning curve. I also entered into my last semester of graduate school which was great because they saved the most intense work for the end. In October, by far the busiest time of year for any family / lifestyle photographer in New England, I was also trying to conduct interviews, research, and write a 60 page paper on the connection and value of diaspora as seen by second generation Asian Americans. There was not much sleep involved but it’s done! My degree is currently sitting at the top of a pile of stuff in my office that I have yet to sort. Then my wife SiEun, Eejin, and I went to Seoul after the holidays.
This is all to explain why I am posting my favorite photos from 2023 in almost-March of 2024. Here are some of my favorite non-commercial photos from this past year.
Cap and Gown Photography in Worcester, MA
Cap and gown sessions are a great way to celebrate graduation. I am a graduation photographer based in Worcester, MA who offers cap and gown sessions all around Worcester county.
Cap and gown photography has always been around. It is a great way to celebrate a graduation - whether that’s a high school graduation or college graduation. It became more meaningful during the pandemic when graduation ceremonies full of family and friends stopped being a thing. The photos from these sessions became more important because they were how friends and family experienced some bit of our academic accomplishment - especially if they didn’t watch your ceremony on a grainy livestream. My first cap and gown session took place in Shrewsbury in 2020 and since then have become an in-demand service that I offer all around the Worcester area.
I approach cap and gown sessions like every other session - stress free. I keep my posing pretty natural and the mood light. Most sessions usually last 45mins to an hour or so but there is no real time limit - though I do offer a short and sweet mini-session for these. We usually do a mix of portraits in your robe and in normal clothing in a few different spots as the setting allows. You are more than welcome to invite some of your immediate family along for some group photos but I suggest you keep this group pretty tight - most people feel a little weird with a ton of people staring at them getting photos taken.
Cap and gown sessions with friends is also popular - especially to celebrate high school graduations. This makes sense, right? I mean, high school is just as much about social connections as it is about academics. These sessions are a mix of mini individual portraits and fun group shots that will 100 percent involve at least one cap throwing.
Check out some photos from recent cap and gown sessions below and head to my dedicated page for pricing and booking info- with college graduation around the corner the coming weekends will book quickly!
Learn more by visiting my cap and gown page. Sessions start at $300.
All you need to know about New England Wedding Photographer: Tom Godfrey Photography
All you need to know about New England wedding photographer Tom Godfrey Photography in 5 minutes or less.
New England Engagement and Wedding Photography
It’s mid-February and that means Valentine’s Day is over. While many people only remembered it was Valentine’s Day when the news anchors were all dressed in red, for some it was life changing. According to an American Express savings-tracker report, around 6 million couples get engaged on Valentine’s day. That’s a crazy number and finishes out the busy season for engagements which starts in November. That means things are starting to heat up as a wedding photographer in New England
As a formerly-engaged-currently married person, I know that wedding planning can be an ordeal. Here is a two-minute guide to what I offer. If what I offer appeals to you then use the form below to shoot me an email or check out my full wedding page by clicking here.
Style
Natural. Candid. Photojournalistic. Documentary. These are the buzzwords that match my style. Acknowledging the big moments while focusing on the little things that go unnoticed is how I approach weddings. I see weddings as a connected narrative over a list of standalone shots. People hire me for candids, not posed group photos. I’m like a fly-on-the wall that isn’t afraid to jump in with an idea.
Looking for engagement photography? This is included in all of my wedding packages but I also do a lot of stand-alone engagements.
Personality
Wedding industry folks tend to have big personalities. There’s this trend where wedding photographers say things like, “girl, I will be on the dancefloor with you by the end of the night.” If at any point I end up dancing at your wedding it means that something has gone seriously off the rails. I am me. I am laid back, mellow, easy-going or any number of adjectives to acknowledge that I don’t have a high-stress approach to almost anything. I probably wouldn’t make it as a lawyer but I work well as a wedding photographer. I have a dry sense of humor that borders on sarcasm and I count a number of my previous couples as actual friends. I like pretty much everybody and most people like me.
Pricing
My most popular package is six hours of wedding photography and a complimentary engagement session for $2500. There are options above and below this. All of my packages come with unlimited downloads, an engagement session, and travel within New England.
Want some more information with no pressure to commit to so much as a phone call? Fill out the form below. Seriously, I won’t call you and I won’t send you a bunch of emails - just the one with my guide.
2022: A Year in Review
2022 in Photographs
This has been a busy, busy year. In a lot of ways, my business has changed more this year than it has in any year before. This became apparent to me while grabbing photos for this post when I realized just how much of what I photograph is now commercial, real estate, or editorial. Families and family moments, like weddings, are still a huge part of what I do and I am proud of the photographs that I came away with this year. Here are some of my favorite shots. I let a few headshots and houses slide in there but for the most part there are a lot of families and a lot of genuine love. The last two are of my daughter, Eejin, who is one of the reasons why this year was so busy. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2023!
Caitlin and Tyler: Revolvers and Chucks
The 2021 wedding season was another weird year thanks to the pandemic but I was happy to see that it came alive. Once the warmer weather rolled in and people were able to get outside it all felt like a great return to some semblance of normalcy.
Caitlin and Tyler were my first wedding of the 2021 season and they were cool as hell. I get along best with laid-back people. They were certainly laid back but they were also both into really doing their own thing. Their wedding definitely fit well with their personalities. There is this really distinct memory that I have of being in their house and taking photos of Caitlin and her pink hair putting on a custom pair of Chucks. If there was one photo that really defined their wedding for me it would be that one.
2021: Another Weird Year in Review
The best of 2021. My favorite shots from every non-commercial session in 2021.
I used to really love winter because it gave me a lot of free time to unwind from a chaotic fall and focus on growing my business without crazy deadlines every day. With grad school and a growing focus on commercial work, though, winter is a bit less free. Actually, I take that back. Grad school is the main issue. So many papers.
Still, winter is an important time for reflection and I always enjoy doing these year in review posts. They remind me that I have a good job and that my business is sustainable but they also remind me that my job is fun. I remember every single one of these sessions and they all involved at least one good laugh. If I get to laugh at least once during a day at work then it’s a win.
Here are my favorite shots from every non-commercial session of 2021.
A Family Portrait on Lake Quinsigamond
Family sessions come out the best when they take place at a location familiar with the family. What better place to have a family session than your own backyard? If you happen live on the shores of the beautiful Lake Quinsigamond in Shrewsbury then that’s just a giant cherry on top! Check out some photos from the Meyer family’s family session at Lake Quinsigamond.
About ninety percent of my family sessions take place at local parks and about ninety percent of THOSE take place at Moore State Park in Paxton. This is fine with me. I have built my family sessions around the idea that they are simply a walk in the park with the occasional photo break. This allows me to capture some great group portraits in natural, comfortable environments while also being able to photograph genuine interactions. The key is comfort.
Occasionally I will have a client who want their session to happen in their backyard. I am always game for this because even if most backyards are smaller than a park, they are the place where people are generally very comfortable. Smiles come easier and some of the anxiety that is common when being photographed dissipates.
If your backyard is Lake Quinsigamond, well, score!
The Meyers live in a condo community on the shores of Lake Quinsig and their backyard - even in the sense of the greater community’s backyard, was beautiful. I enjoyed working with the Meyers and in between talking about drones with David (the dad) we managed to get some fun photos as the sun started to set.
Check out some of my favorites:
If you are looking for a family session in your backyard, a park, or a luxury yacht that you want to invite me on, check out my family session page by clicking here!
Clare and Julian: A Sunset Engagement at Holy Cross
Check out some photos from this sunset engagement session at Worcester’s College of the Holy Cross.
Wow, what a busy few weeks. I am just getting around to sharing Clare and Julian’s engagement session photos from last month. This was my first engagement session in a while and it was my first time ever setting foot on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross despite driving by it a thousand times a week.
When Clare and Julian first reached out to me about shooting their engagement session at Holy Cross they knew that they wanted to capture the sunset. It made total sense because they had spent a lot of time walking around the campus during dusk during the pandemic. It makes even more sense when you factor in the fact that the Holy Cross campus sits on a massive hill that towers over the city. The views are killer and the campus exists in its own little world.
I liked Clare and Julian from the start. We had a lot in common and a laidback attitude and sense of humor being part of that. It was a lot of fun walking around their haunts on the verge of their graduation from medical school. We even found a little time for a few cap and gown photos.
We had actually postponed their session because there was some possible rain and definite clouds coming in for their original date. I love shooting in cloudy weather - I actually prefer it - but the vibe is totally different and when you want a sunset session a cloudy day just aren’t going to cut it. It was 100 percent worth the wait!
Check out some of my faves from my session with Clare and Julian!
Evelyn Paints: A Paint Smash Session
Evelyn came into the studio dressed as a rainbow- which is exactly what the studio looked like after she left. Paint smash sessions are always adorable and are basically guarantees for great photos. Check out some of my favorite photos from Evelyn’s paint smash.
This is my second paint smash session in as many months- which is cool considering I had never heard of these before. These are a blast to shoot because they are easy (minus cleanup - which isn’t that bad). Give a little kid a paint brush, some washable paint, and a giant piece of paper and you’re guaranteed to get some winners.
This is Evelyn. She is the child of two of my friends so this session was extra casual- though paint sessions are never particularly formal. She took a little bit to warm up to me, then to the idea of getting paint all over the place but she had fun- clearly!
A Lovely Mess: Paint Smash Session
Paint smashes are adorable when they happen on seamless backdrop paper in a studio and not in your house. Check out some fun photos from my first ever paint smash session!
Every family session I do is different because every family is different. Offering family sessions in Worcester and the surrounding communities means that one day a family session might be in front of Worcester City Hall, on one of the famous Elm Park bridges, or at the mill at Moore State Park in Paxton. Sometimes, it’s at the studio in front of some white paper.
One of the fun things about being a family photographer is that there are so many different themes to use as a tool to deliver memorable moments and big smiles in the photographs that we take. Cake smashes, park sessions, Christmas tree farm sessions, lifestyle- if you can think of it there is probably some photographer offering it as a mini-session somewhere.
Recently, a longtime client asked about a paint smash session. I have been working with Bryanna since shortly after I set up shop here in Worcester. I started off photographing kids and families at the Easter Bunny Breakfasts that she organized at Texas Roadhouse and continued through cake smashes, lifestyle sessions, extended family portrait sessions and now… paint smashes.
Full disclosure, Bryanna and her mom, Elaine, bring the set design to a borderline professional level. I realized this when I saw how much care that went into the Easter Bunny photo area and this was pretty much confirmed when it came time for our first cake smash. This, combined with Bryanna’s willingness to go for something new really makes her more of a collaborator than a client so I am always pumped when I get a message from her.
Her family is super photogenic, so it’s a win / win for me when it comes the ol’ portfolio.
Paint smash sessions are definitely not for the squeamish. They are messy as heck but are a blast to photograph. It was also super endearing to see these two brothers having some fun together. Check out some photos from Bryanna’s session:
Interested in a paint smash for your little one (or you, I won’t judge)? Use the form below and I will get in touch with session and pricing info ASAP!
2020: A Year in Photographic Review
2020 was a strange year but I took a lot of photos because life goes on. Check out my favorite photo from every session that I shot last year. From family sessions to a bride and groom jumping into the pool in full dress. It’s all here.
I always try to keep things pretty optimistic and cheerful on my site so forgive me when I say that 2020 was a big pile of garbage. I think that sentiment is pretty universal. It was a struggle to just stay afloat for a lot of us who were forced to close up shop for long periods of time. Businesses that were run by people smarter than me didn’t make it through because of things that were beyond their control. Lacking a ton of overhead and being married to my second photographer, I was able to survive by curling up into a fetal position with my camera popping up as regulations allowed. The efforts to support small businesses like mine were huge.
A few days ago I started going through all of my sessions during 2020 and I was reminded of why I do this. Life goes on. There was the pandemic, yes, but there were also marriages, adoptions, trips to the park, and engagements. Silver linings in the cloud are what you live for during hard times, right?
Very often my favorite photo from a session will not be the one that gets printed and framed. It will be a moment of tenderness when nobody knows that the camera is on them or it will be some hilarious moment when a kid crosses a line and is just done with the session. Photos without a story can be pretty but that’s not what I am into. If people wanted that anymore then we would still be loading into the car and going to Sears.
Below are my favorite photos from every session from the last year that was not a studio headshot or real estate shoot. I have a lot to be thankful for even during a year that went so so wrong for everyone. Thank you to all of my 2020 clients!
Rebecca and Sean: A Granite Rose Wedding
Rebecca and Sean’s wedding at the Granite Rose in New Hampshire was full love and golden New England foliage. Check out some of my favorite photos from my last wedding of the 2020 season.
Rebecca and Sean were my last wedding of the extremely eventful 2020 wedding season. Their wedding was at the beautiful Granite Rose in Hampstead, NH and was the perfect note to end the year on.
I am always advocating that people hire wedding photographers that they can get along with. A long time ago, I would seek out any client that would hire me regardless of personality. Everyone goes through that phase in anything that they do- hungry for experience and unwilling to turn anything down out of fear that you won’t get another opportunity. As I got more experienced and became comfortable in my own shoes as a photographer, I realized that it’s just better for everybody if you work with clients that you would like even outside of the wedding environment. As a result, most of my business comes from referrals from past awesome clients or from people who see my extremely specific ads on Facebook. Rebecca and Sean were pointed in my direction by their friends Kayla and Daniel and I am so happy that they were because they are exactly the sort of people that I like working with.
The first time that I met Rebecca and Sean was during their engagement session in New Hampshire. There are ALWAYS nerves when you meet people for the first time- particularly when that entails telling them to kiss on command in front of a camera - but it became clear real early on that we all had a similar laidback vibe. We were all go-with-the-flow people and I think that kind of attitude really helped us come up with some great photos as we wandered around space we were shooting at and the lake across the street.
They took this same vibe to their wedding at the Granite Rose. There were the usual masks, space, and precautions but for the most part it was easy to forget about the outside world for a while. I spent the first part of the day bouncing between Rebecca’s prep with her friends and family and Sean’s prep with his groomsmen. Everybody was energetic and ready to go. Their ceremony was lovely and I truly had a blast spending some time with Rebecca and Sean taking photos all over the Granite Rose property. Just like their engagement session, we basically hit gold in terms of New England fall foliage. After an awesome session I headed home happy to have finished the wedding season on a really high note.
Weddings are team efforts. Check out some of the vendors that made this wedding rock! Click their names to visit their sites.
Venue: The Granite Rose by Wedgewood Weddings located in Hampstead, NH. Packages include food, ceremonies and receptions.
Dress Alterations: J Mason Design located in Windham, NH.
DJ: Justin from Main Event Entertainment in Londonderry, NH. Justin killed it and was a blast to work with from a photographer’s standpoint.
If you’re a laid-back couple looking for a laid-back wedding photographer I would love to chat! Fill out the form below and I will send you some info!
Brittany and Ben: The Old Stone Church
Fall weddings in New England are beautiful. You don’t really need more than a nice place with awesome people. Check out some photos from this wedding at the Old Stone Church in West Boylston, MA.
Brittany’s sister reached out to me a couple weeks before Brittany and Ben’s wedding to see if I would be available. Like a lot of people, Brittany and Ben’s plans had changed and they decided to get married at a small ceremony outdoors followed by a nice dinner celebration afterwards surrounded by the people they love.
Their wedding took place at the Old Stone Church in West Boylston in the middle of the fall. The colors were beautiful. I have shot here a million times but this was actually my first wedding here. We had a nice layer of clouds to kill any harsh light coming directly onto us.
Brittany and Ben, along with their families, were awesome. I enjoyed talking to everyone before Brittany arrived and this continued through their ceremony and onto their dinner at O’Connor’s Restaurant in Worcester- a place that I always love.
Everything was relaxed and simple and I think it’s really obvious that weddings in New England don’t have to be complicated to be beautiful.
If you are planning an intimate wedding celebration at the Old Stone Church, O’Connor’s, or any other place then I would love to hear from you!
Amy and Dan: A Long Road
2020 wedding couples had to deal with more than their fair share of turmoil and none more than Amy and Dan. Check out this spectacular wedding they put together in a matter of weeks after their plans fell through.
This is a long one but there’s a good pay off.
Working in the wedding industry is unique because we work with our clients for a longer period of time than, say, a family portrait photographer. Eight or nine months is probably the minimum amount of time I work with my wedding clients. During this time there is a lot of communication and back-and-forth, engagement sessions and brainstorming. For a photographer like me who is really into documentary photography this is super important. The rapport that I build with my couples lets all of us feel a bit more comfortable around each other and lets me capture an authentic story.
Amy and Dan have been my clients for a while. I was trying to remember when Amy and Dan booked me and I had to dig in my closet to find their contract because it was long enough ago that my filing system had changed. Being a responsible business owner I re-organized my old filing system by putting it in the back of my closet. 10/25/2018 was our contract signing and their wedding on 9/12/2020. They booked me with my wife, SiEun, as a second photographer because it was important for them that we captured the story in a way that’s not really possible for a solo photographer. They pretty much had all of the big parts planned with their big day happening at MAJOR MA VENUE. I’m intentionally vague there- a post-wedding blog wouldn’t be this long if there wasn’t a good story.
Fun fact- Amy and Dan met in a wedding tent at an event they were both working. They told me this at our first meeting at Starbucks. You can actually see them tell their love story as part of Worcester Wares (an awesome local business) by clicking here.
Shortly after our contract signing I photographed their extended family at the Farm at Summit Wynds, a local farm that sells all sorts of great stuff, has been raising show horses since the mid-60’s, and is extremely photographer friendly with fields of lavender, sunflowers and other beautiful things. Remember this place- it becomes important later.
I’m not going to lie- I was a little bit nervous for this family session. I’m confident in my skills but you always want to make a great impression on people that you know you will be working with again. It was all great, though. Amy’s family was awesome and it was fun to see four generations who were pumped to be together. It’s also relatively rare that I meet that many of the big players before the big day, so we all got a few bonus points in the way of comfort.
A lot of time went by and the next summer brought Amy and Dan’s engagement session at Scarborough Beach in Narragansett, RI. This is their go-to beach so it was both a beautiful place for photos as well as meaningful to their relationship. We spent an hour or so climbing over rocks, sitting in the sand, and eventually (them) going all in and letting the surf crash over them. It was fun. What’s the point, otherwise? I mean that. All jobs can be difficult but it’s important to have moments when you can smile and forget you’re on the clock.
That was late summer, 2019. Everything was all lined up and my wife and I were all ready to go!
Then 2020 hit the fan.
Man oh man. Industries all across the board took a beating. Those of us in the wedding industry took huge hits during what should have been our busiest season. Most of my clients opted to postpone. Several adapted to smaller celebrations. Every last one of my clients was open about their plans and worries and we all did our best to keep up with guidelines. We were really all in this together. Amy and Dan’s plans changed and their guest-list, like everybody else’s, shrank but they were determined to see it through.
For the most part, wedding industry folks were doing their best to help their clients, follow regulations, and go out of their way to keep others afloat. Almost everyone was looking out for everyone else except for a select few who must have missed about a thousand memos. About a month before Amy and Dan’s wedding I saw the first post.
“Did you guys here what happened at MAJOR MA VENUE?”
Soon enough it was all over the news.
“MAJOR MA VENUE hosts hundreds of guests at weekend weddings in the middle of a pandemic, violating all the guidelines.”
I remember sitting on my couch, facepalming and saying, “oh sh*t.”
The fallout was huge. Wedding industry folks who had been following health guidelines and were barely making ends meet were livid at a venue that ignored it all knowing the impact it could have. As expected, what happened at this venue was cited as one of the reasons why the governor of MA added even more restrictive rules to events and venues.
All couples getting married after this incident had extra stress to deal with. Couples like Amy and Dan who were supposed to get married AT the place got extra stress. While most (including me) would have shut down in despair, Amy and Dan said “f*&^ it, let just plan another wedding.”
So, a week or so later Amy, Dan, SiEun and I met for a drink at the Seven Saws Brewing Co. in Holden to go over the plan that was beginning to hatch. Amy and Dan had hit the ground running and by the time their big day came everything was falling into place to such a ridiculous degree that you would be forgiven for thinking the original wedding was a decoy.
We started off at Amy’s parents’ beautiful house in Holden. Now, I love doing prep photos at houses because that’s where people are comfortable. I stuck with Amy for most of the time and SiEun was hanging with the guys. One of the things issues you run into with photographing at houses is lighting is sometimes not great. Well, this is not the case when the house belongs to Marie who happens to owns Window Designs Etc. Lighting became a non-issue. Side-story: at one point I was struggling to close a blind and while my self-esteem plummeted Marie said, “Wait a minute, Tom. Watch this.” She then opened her phone and closed the blind with an app.
From there SiEun and I headed out to the first look spot. Amy and Dan wanted somewhere local and beautiful and conveniently they knew just the place. Fun fact- the Farm at Summit Wynds lets you rent areas of their farm for photoshoots. This includes their massive sunflower field. In a way it felt really appropriate that we were doing their first look photos in the place where we all first did photos together.
From here we headed back to Amy’s parent’s house for the ceremony. It was smaller than they had planned but it was beautifully arranged. Their backyard was level, green, and played the part of wedding ceremony venue exceptionally well. It was a beautiful ceremony and to finally see that after a pretty intense journey made me - their wedding photographer - very happy. I can only imagine that was the case ten times over for their families.
After this, SiEun headed over to the reception venue while I stayed and photographed the now traditional Wedding Car Parade. I actually really like this- I hope some form of it stays a a thing even after all of this is over.
Finally, we all drove to Amy’s sister’s house where there was a huge tent (I think I mentioned Amy and Dan spent a lot of time together in the event industry?) killer cheese spreads, and a traveling brick oven pizza truck that made some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. The DJ was great and those who chose to dance had a blast while others spent time hovering around a roaring fire. You can see their wedding video- made by Nicole Paquette Photography - by clicking here.
Amy and Dan’s wedding was a huge success on a lot of levels. They pulled off an A level wedding in less than a month. I mean, who does that? It had a meaningful ceremony and everyone seemed to have an awesome time right up until that last song. It hit all the benchmarks of a professionally planned wedding but more than that it was definitely an effort of love. Throughout the entire process I saw Amy and Dan’s family and friends all around them giving love, lending backyards, and just doing their best to make this day happen. Amy and Dan and everybody else really rolled with the punches and I was really proud to be a part of this- thus the 10 page blog post.
Check out some of my favorites from this one:
Amy and Dan had awesome vendors and I loved working with them. Amy’s parents probably won’t be renting out their house for bridal prep but check out Window Designs Etc. by Marie Mouradian if you’re looking to update your window fixtures. Click the links to learn more about the other vendors at Amy and Dan’s wedding.
First Look Venue: The Farm at Summit Wynds in Jefferson, MA
Hair: Vanessa Freitas Hair & Beauty in Worcester, MA
Make-Up Artist: Beauty by Carson Elaine
Videography: Nicole Paquette Photography (Note- Nicole isn’t offering wedding videography anymore but she is still offering photography)
Day-of Coordinator: Feathered Events in Barre, MA
Amy’s Dress: Designed by Justin Alexander, from Elizabeth Ann’s Bridal Boutique in North Auburn, MA
Alterations: Holden Tailors and Alterations in Holden, MA
Dan’s Suit: Rocco’s Gentlemen’s Clothing in Worcester, MA
Floral: Berg Florist in Worcester, MA
Music: Tc’s Disc Jockey svc. in West Springfield, MA
Tent and Rentals: Michael’s Party Rentals in Palmer, MA
Pizza: Anzio’s Brick Oven Pizza in Northborough, MA (holy $*@& this was good)
Cheese Spread: Pecorino Cheese Shop in Grafton, MA
Cakes and Pies: The Bean Counter Bakery Café in Worcester + Shrewsbury, MA
If you’re getting married and love roller coasters of emotion I’d love to hear from you! Fill out the form below and I will send you some info.
Holly and Joshua: A Country Wedding
One of the great things about getting married in New England is the sheer diversity when it comes to venues and vibes. Holly and Joshua got married on a working farm in MA and the wedding was distinctively them… and awesome! Check out some photos from their wedding at historic Elm Hill Farm in Brookfield, MA.
Holly and Joshua might be two of the most easy-going and cooperative couples that I have worked with. They were always game to do something a little bit different and most of the time it was their idea to do so. On the day of their engagement session, there was this really intense fog and I was worried that it might be a little less rustic-country and a bit more horror movie than they wanted but they were game. I think by embracing the weather we were able to capture some awesome colors and set a vibe that really fit them well.
So, they’re adaptable. That was key because their wedding fell right, smackdab in the middle of the pandemic. They had to improvise quite a bit but in the end their wedding day was a huge success. It also seemed to be very much THEM.
The prep / ceremony took place at Elm Hill Farm in Brookfield, MA. This is a place that means something to them and that they spend a lot of time at. It is rustic and photogenic but also a working farm. One of the highlights of my walkthrough a couple days before the wedding was talking to the owner when somebody brought up the farm’s Facebook page.
“We have a Facebook page?!”
I love rustic stuff and historical places. I shoot at a lot of barns-turned-venues but you really can’t beat the real thing. Holly and Joshua got ready in an old farmhouse on the property that didn’t really look like it had been changed much over the last 100 or so years. It was really awesome to have this place as a backdrop. I also didn’t see any ghosts, which is always a plus.
Their wedding ceremony took place in front of a huge barn and we got to wander around taking photos afterwards. Their reception took place at their house underneath tents with a ton of food and space to dance with a roaring fire to keep everybody warm and happy after dinner.
Check out some of my favorites!
If you’re a horse person, check out Elm Hill Farm on Facebook by clicking here.
Getting married somewhere unique? I’d LOVE to hear from you!
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