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!
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!
The Armstrongs: A Family Portrait Session
Families and fields belong together in family portraits. Check out some rustic family photos of my annoying little sister and her pretty cool family from the Rauscher Farm in Clinton, MA.
I try to keep my family sessions relaxed and light-hearted. I find that the best way to have a stress-free session is to not introduce a ton of it in the first place. Having your family portraits taken is not something that people do too often and there can be a mix of feelings going into it and depending on the bribing capabilities of the parent kids are sometimes really hesitant to do what you want them to do. You have to find balance between casualness and the need to provide great photos and a fun client experience. Unless those clients are your sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece.
“Just go stand over there in the grass.”
“Where, here?”
“Yeah sure. Look less… weird”
My sister and her family wanted to update their family photos and they wanted to head somewhere new. My sister found Rauscher Farm in Clinton- a place that I had never heard of - and it worked out perfectly. We managed to get a couple of fun locations in before the inevitable meltdown that comes form a tired nephew and niece.
Check out some of my favorites!
Front Porch Sessions: Photos for a Cause
For the past few months, a lot of the family sessions that I have photographed in Central MA have been charity driven. Through these front porch sessions, I was able to donate directly to the community of Worcester to support those hit hardest by the pandemic. I am currently shooting these same home-based mini sessions to support Color of Change, a charity dedicated to raising awareness and holding those with influence responsible for racial injustice. Your session fee is donated directly and you will come away with some fun photos. Check it out!
A lot of things have come out of the Pandemic. A lot of them have been sub-par to say the least but that isn’t a universal truth because there have been some silver linings in this hurricane cluster of black clouds. A lot of families have spent more quality time together than they have been able to before. People have found alternative ways to stay happy, stay fulfilled, and in some cases lend a hand to the cause.
Front porch sessions, the Front Steps Projects, and others have become a popular way for photographers to try to give back to the community. While some have done these mini-sessions for fun or as a way for photographers to try to stay afloat, many have done these for charitable causes. I jumped at the chance to take offer these sessions because I was feeling particularly useless while I watched people in my community rise up to the cause. I charged $50 per 15ish minute session and donated all of that to the Worcester Together Fund- a charity run by the United Way of Central MA to help those hit hardest by the pandemic. Altogether I was able to donate just under $400.
I am currently raising money to support Color of Change- a charity dedicated to holding people and corporations accountable for racial injustice. If you would like to book a front porch session the cost is $50. The session lasts about 15 minutes and includes three digital image files with more available for purchase.
Here are some of my faves from the past few months!
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!
A Lifestyle Family Session in Shrewsbury
I love shooting lifestyle family sessions. These sessions allow a family to be photographed in the environment that makes them feel the most comfortable- their home. Lifestyle sessions bring out natural smiles and real laughs over heavy posing and that awkward “I’m being photographed” feeling shrinks. Check out this lifestyle family session that I shot in Shrewsbury, MA.
A couple months ago I photographed a family lifestyle session in Shrewsbury, MA. It was one of those sessions that just flowed naturally because we were in an environment that encouraged that.
One of the things that I enjoy about photographing lifestyle sessions in my clients homes is that there is a higher level of involvement. Communication is really important in any type of photo session (and really in any job- not just photography) but lifestyle sessions work best when there is some idea about what your client wants to get out of their experience. This goes double for when I get to photograph at their house. I have a good sense of what light works best but ultimately the family knows their own house like the back of their hand. And, anyway, great light is important but photographing in rooms that have meaning is more important.
“We really spend a lot of time in the livingroom.”
“Sorry, this laundry room has this great window…”
Jeff was really involved. He had a really good sense of the type of photos that he wanted because he knew what he didn’t want. He and his wife did not want posed photos. We came away with these really fun slice-of-life photos that I think really captured who they are as a family. Now, it didn’t hurt that their mid-century modern house was studio-level gorgeous but this could have also happened in a small apartment. Lifestyle sessions are all about capturing genuine interactions and love, and that happens more readily in a place that’s comfortable- especially when there is a child involved. Ok, enough reading.
Check out some of my favorites from this lifestyle family session in Shrewsbury, MA!
Drew: A Pie-shaped Cake Smash for Pi Day
Cake smash sessions are great. They’re even better when that cake is dressed up as a pie for Pi Day. Check out some photos from this cake smash session in Worcester, MA.
A few weeks ago I was asked by Bryanna to photograph a cake smash in Worcester for her youngest son, Drew. Drew’s birthday was 3/14- otherwise known as Pi Day. I was definitely game. I have known Bryanna for a while. A bunch of years ago she reached out to ask if I could photograph an Easter event that she organizes at Texas Roadhouse in Worcerster. Since then I have photographed that event every year and have eaten an truly horrifying number of ribs. I say this because Bryanna and her family have been less like typical clients and more like collaborators as I have gotten to know them a little bit over the years. Thus I was able to use them as guinea pigs to test out Be Studios in downtown Worcester. Photographing a cake smash is always a little tricky because you need a decent amount of space and good lighting because the whole thing is usually over pretty quickly.
I absolutely love how everything turned out and I can definitely say that I will be offering more cake smashes and other sessions at Be Studios in the future. Most of the credit goes to this killer setup and this awesome cake. I mean, look at that- I was basically just a dude laying on the floor with a camera for this session. And look at this little guy’s eyes!
Wanna smash some cakes? Me too!
Tom’s Blog:
Pictures are worth a thousand words but check out what goes on behind the scenes during my sessions.