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!
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!
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!
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.
Liz and Brett: The Ultimate Backyard Wedding
Summer weddings can get hot. Some couples opt for fans while others have totally different ideas. Check out this awesome wedding that really embraced the crazy times and the crazy heat.
Liz and Brett’s wedding was dynamic. When Liz first contacted me a couple months ago- she was really looking to just have some bridal party photos done because, like most couples, their original plans were tossed around by the pandemic. As time went on their portrait session evolved into something that was really cool and unique.
The plan was to have a small wedding ceremony at the venue that more or less connected to their backyard. After a short ceremony, a couple dances, cake cuttings, and group photos, the celebration would move back to their house- complete with an in-ground pool, giant inflatable water slide, bouncy house, and food vendors.
It was fun to spend time with a group of people who seemed to totally be at home with each other. Everyone was joking around and having a blast. Shortly after I moved back to the states from Korea, I landed a freelance reporting gig covering local government. The Maid of Honor had a very familiar voice and I recognized her as the former school committee chair from one of the towns I covered. I had heard her speak a million times but usually about budgets or bus companies- it was fun to see her outside of an official meeting. That’s one of the things I like about weddings- people come back from whatever role they play in society and are back to being just family or friends.
It was a great way to spend a few hours and I love covering these smaller, less formal wedding celebrations. It was all fun but there was something that really put it on another level. Liz and Brett, under their own freewill, jumped into their pool in full wedding clothing. I mean, as a photographer you really can’t ask for anything better than something like that. It also speaks to them as people. Anybody who is willing to do that is cool as hell in my book.
Congrats Liz and Brett!
Class of 2020: Talk about a Rip-off
The Class of 2020 learned a rough lesson about how fast things can change. They were robbed of important moments that most of us take for granted. A few weeks ago I had the privilege of tagging along as this group of friends celebrated their graduation in their own way at the Foundation Field in Shrewsbury, MA.
I really feel for the class of 2020. They got royally ripped off. Missing out on graduation and other events they’ve been looking forward to for years is a brutal lesson in having to go with the flow. My heart goes out to all of the seniors that I took portraits of over the last year or so who had to take a hit due to the pandemic.
A few weeks ago I was asked about taking some photos of a group of friends at the Foundation in Shrewsbury, MA. They were planning on doing the photos themselves but one of the moms thought it would be fun for me to hop in. It was. It was a lot of fun to see these graduating (now graduated) seniors interact and have a little fun. They were totally ready to collaborate and willing to play along.
They were also patient. The wind that day was intense and really came out of nowhere. The caps were in frame during the “toss your cap in the air” shots for about .5 seconds. I think this session is a good reminder of how strong young people can be. Here they are- robbed of a formal graduation, prom, everything else (senior skip day being a huge exception) but they were still super optimistic and excited.
Congrats to all seniors- especially these girls.
If you’re a member of the Class of 2020 and want to have some fun with your friends and throw your cap into the air a bunch of times then shoot me a message!
A Family Portrait for a Cause
Every year I donate sessions to help charities and non-profits raise money. Last year I donated a family session to The Pittie Stop Rescue, a volunteer-run group dedicated to finding homes and raising awareness for a breed of dogs that often gets a bad rap. Check out this fall family session and learn more about an awesome group!
Family portraits are always a lot of fun. Because I try to keep things pretty relaxed and focus on genuine moments, my sessions are light and there are plenty of opportunities for people to, gasp, actually enjoy themselves while getting their photos taken. It is really rewarding for me when I get to show a mom or dad the photos from their session and then to see how pumped they are that we captured those memories. It is extra rewarding when those photos are for a good cause.
At some point last year I came into contact with The Pittie Stop Rescue. The Pittie Stop is a non-profit volunteer run, foster-based organization dedicated to correcting misconceptions and finding homes for the Pitt Bulls. As a general dog lover, I was happy to donate a family session towards a raffle to benefit the organization. Pitt Bulls get a bad rap and that’s not fair. Because of this, Pitt Bulls often struggle to be adopted. Organizations like The Pittie Stop are vital because without them championing the cause- a lot of Pitt Bulls would not have happy endings. Important links can be found below.
I was pumped when the session went to Liz, who is heavily involved in the group. Liz’ family and I spent a GORGEOUS fall afternoon at Moore State Park in Paxton. We had some fun, threw some leaves, and came away with some awesome photos that raised some money for a good cause.
You can learn more about The Pittie Stop Rescue by heading towards their main page or liking them on Facebook.
Non-profits and charities are important to the causes they support and the community in general. Each year I donate a number of sessions to non-profits. I also provide event photography with reduced or no fees to a variety of organizations and causes. If you think photography would benefit your cause, feel free to reach out!
Class of 2020 Senior Sessions: Zack from Shrewsbury High School
The vast majority of my portraits take place in parks. For the most part these spaces feature great trees, forest-lined paths, waterfalls, old barns, and other quintessentially New England things. When Zack was open to moving somewhere a bit more urban for his senior portrait I knew exactly where I wanted to go: Worcester City Hall.
The vast majority of my portraits take place in parks. For the most part these spaces feature great trees, forest-lined paths, waterfalls, old barns, and other quintessentially New England things. When Zack was open to moving somewhere a bit more urban for his senior portrait I knew exactly where I wanted to go: Worcester City Hall.
I met Zack a little bit before the sun dipped down beneath the horizon. The Common at Worcester City hall was still full of life- people were walking around, sitting on benches, skateboarding and riding BMX. I knew that I wanted to take full advantage the backdrops of Worcester City Hall and all other buildings of Downtown Worcester but I also wanted to include some greenery. The balance here is awesome and in no time at all Zack and I came away with some great portraits that really took advantage of the setting- including that great golden hour! Check out some of my favorites from my senior session with Zack at the Worcester City Hall Common. Click here to learn more about my senior session packages!
Tom’s Blog:
Pictures are worth a thousand words but check out what goes on behind the scenes during my sessions.