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.
Hopkinton State Park: A Family Session
Hopkinton State Park is a great place to hang out during the summer- it’s beach is accessible and there are plenty of picnic spots. It’s also a great spot for fall family portrait sessions. Add in one of my favorite families to photograph and it’s an easy day at the office.
Roop, Vikram, and their family have really been a constant in my photography business since it started a few years ago. Seeing the same family year after year makes me happy because it means that I am doing something right. I always feel fortunate with this family because they’re enthusiastic and a ton of fun to be around. This was our third session and to a certain extent I’ve seen these kids grow a bit in general and they’ve certainly gotten a more comfortable around me. The first session we ever had was at Moore State Park, like, two days after my wedding and a day before my wife and I were headed to Korea to see family and friends. I tend to like all of my photos but two of the photos that came from this session are probably my all-time favorite photos. I used them so much on social media because I was so proud that I had to pump the brakes a little and diversify a bit. If you are reading this I guarantee you have seen those photos. All of our past sessions have been at Moore State Park in Paxton- this time they were looking for something a bit different so we headed to Hopkinton State Park.
If you ask any family photographer, they are going to say that they like shooting in shade, under clouds, or at the hour before sunset. This is because the light is easy to work with and adds a soft touch. Hopkinton State Park had little shade and it was super sunny when this session happened. We really had to find the little bits of shade we could in some spots and then really embrace the sun. I am happy with these photos in part because they are really the total opposite of our sessions before- surrounded by trees and in moody fall light.
One bit of trivia- for some reason our sessions almost always happen immediately before I fly to Korea. I actually really like this because as someone with some pretty bad flying fears it gives me an hour or so to think about something else. This also means that almost all of this family’s photos over the years have been edited from the home office in my in-laws apartment just outside of Seoul.
Anyway, check out a few faves!
Usually at this point in the blog post I make some clever pun and suggest you reach out to me to talk about your session. Today is a little different. I am offering family session gift certificates. This is still a little bit salesy as I really do think that a family session would make an awesome Mother’s Day gift but there’s another point to this. In light of what is going on, I have been donating 25 percent of all gift certificate sales to the Worcester Together Fund by the United Way of Central MA. This fund was created to help out communities that have been hit hard by this pandemic- both with immediate needs and what is needed in the long term to get out of this mess. It’s a worthy cause to say the least giving this money is something that we can both feel great about. Check out my gift certificates by clicking here.
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!
Tom’s Blog:
Pictures are worth a thousand words but check out what goes on behind the scenes during my sessions.