Small Weddings and Why They Rock
Weddings have been trending towards smaller, more intimate celebrations for a while. The pandemic has made this necessary. If you’re on the fence about a small wedding then check out some of the benefits from a New England wedding photographer’s point of view.
Planning a wedding can be stressful. This is particularly true here in New England where most people get married during the summer and fall. Add in the need to adhere to pandemic regulations and the phrase “stressful AF,” might be an understatement. This is one of the reasons why the popularity of smaller weddings like elopements, backyard weddings, intimate weddings, and micro-weddings have become immensely popular. If you are reading this, then there’s a good chance that you are thinking about celebrating your love with a smaller wedding. Now, this might be something that you have always known you wanted but it could also be something that the pandemic has forced on you. Either way, there are some huge benefits to having a smaller wedding celebration - pandemic or no pandemic.
Less planning means significantly less stress
Weddings are heavy in logistics that take a lot of time to figure out. You could definitely (and probably should) hire a wedding planner to help you out but regardless, there is a lot to plan. And you know what? There is still a lot to plan with a small wedding - it just won’t have quite as many moving parts that have to be balanced against other moving parts. It is a lot easier to have the people who mean the most to you in your backyard under the stars, in a park pavilion, or at your favorite restaurant after a city hall wedding ceremony than it is to try to factor in the driving time between a ceremony location and the reception. Planning on a smaller scale helps keep that overwhelming wave that comes with big weddings at bay. It makes everything from space concerns to seating charts a little more doable which makes the whole wedding process a lot more fun for you.
Less of a financial gut punch
Weddings are not cheap. Like, at all. If you think of them from a logical financial point of view they are actually terrible investments- and this is coming from somebody in the industry. It just doesn’t make a ton of sense to spend such a large amount of money on something that is over in a few hours- especially for a young couple just starting out in life. Of course we don’t look at weddings from the eyes of an investor, we look at them through the eyes of the in-love, their families and friends. They are the splurges of our lives and we all deserve to splurge sometimes. Smaller weddings are also a splurge but they will give you less of a spending hangover (possibly more of a real hangover-depending on your friends and the bonfire situation). Take a backyard wedding. With sites like Pinterest and DIY being huge now, it is absolutely possible to pull off a dream wedding with a little bit of space and a lot of motivation. Some of the coolest weddings I have been to involve a brick oven pizza food truck, string lights, and a big tent full of friends in the back of somebody’s house.
You will be more present
This one is huge. In fact, if money isn’t an issue and even if you love the idea of planning a huge event, this might still be enough to bring you around to the idea of a smaller wedding. I shoot weddings all over New England. Each season I have weddings of all sizes- from small elopements at Worcester City Hall to huge events at the resorts in Vermont. I love them all but there is a huge difference between them that is super apparent in the time between the wedding ceremony and the reception. After the ceremony is typically the time where the couple stands in one spot for a while and family and friends gather around them for formal group portraits. These are important but in all of my years I have never heard anybody say “Wow, Tom. This is just great. Definitely the highlight of the day.” It’s something that is necessary but rarely anybody’s favorite part of a wedding. This almost always takes place at the same time as cocktail hour and is usually followed by formal couple portraits. This usually culminates with missing the entirety of cocktail hour and then arriving just in time to be announced into the room and into first dances, parent dances, toasts and everything else. Before and after dinner is when most couples make their rounds to all of the tables to say hellos and thank their guests for coming - possible with a photo at each table. I’ve seen people pass out before they even got to dinner.
This isn’t really a thing at intimate weddings because you all are really just together for most of - if not all of - the time. There are formal group photos but there are fewer of them and they tend to be more casual because you are more comfortable with them and there are fewer people looking at you. There are still couple photos but there is usually less of a rush because the timeline is more relaxed. Table photos - which are my least favorite part of a wedding- are usually not necessary because you will be up close with everyone while you dance, party and celebrate. You will be able to spend real, authentic time with the people present. I mean, isn’t that ideal?
This brings me to photography
Photographers come in a lot of flavors. Some have their personalities cranked to 11 and say things like “I’ll be busting moves with you on the dancefloor by the end of the night,” while others (like me) are a cool 7 and barely busted a move at their own wedding. At our core, though, we are all just storytellers. Photographing weddings brings me satisfaction because each one is a story I get to see and bring out into one very long photo-essay. The thing about smaller weddings is that the stories are closer to the surface. There is less formality to cut through and more genuine interaction. Being with a tighter knit group of people brings the belly laughs and tears of joy out a lot easier. Having a smaller cast allows me to capture a much more authentic experience and for couples who gravitate towards documentary photography styles that is really important.
If you are planning on eloping or having a backyard wedding, intimate wedding, micro-wedding in New England and are looking for candid-heavy documentary wedding photography then I would love to hear from you. I am based in Worcester, MA but provide wedding photography all over New England. Click here to see photography from smaller / DIY weddings. If you want to receive more info, including pricing, then fill out the form below and I will send you my FREE PDF GUIDE to intimate wedding celebrations.
Catherine and Tim: A Wedding at the Farmstead at Appleton Farms in Ipswich
Check out some of the photos from this laidback, intimate wedding ceremony and reception in Ipswich, MA. The Farmstead at Ipswich Farms is a fantastic option for a secluded wedding with sunny fields for days.
One of the cool things about being a wedding photographer is having couples that are friends with your other couples. It’s almost like tracing lineage. This is extra cool because people tend to hang out with likeminded people. By the time Catherine and Tim’s wedding finally rolled around I had already spent some time with them at Brianna and Zach’s wedding and Jane and Aline’s wedding in addition to their engagement session.
Fun fact: I always offer couples the option of a sunrise engagement session and nobody ever goes for it. It’s almost a bluff at this point but Catherine, Tim, and I were definitely at Moore State Park in Paxton before the crack of dawn. If I remember correctly we basically had to wait a bit before there was even enough light to shoot.
Anyway, like a lot of couples their original plans were hit pretty hard by Corona and they were forced to adapt. They were actually my first couple that had to drastically change their plans and essentially plan another wedding. They did well though. They ended up getting married in a quiet space at the Farmstead at Appleton Farms in Ipswich, MA.
Appleton Farms was a cool place. We basically followed an access road to a secluded corner next to a field. It was scenic to say the least. The ceremony in the clearing was awesome and we were free to explore a bit for our couple photos.
Here’s a behind the scenes story. While we were shooting at a really pretty part of the forest we put the bouquet down, immediately forgot about it and moved on to the next spot. We were close to the exit so I told Catherine and Tim to head out to the reception house while I got the bouquet. Well, I got all turned around on the dirt access roads and stuck behind a tractor at one point. Once I realized my mistake and headed to the right part of the farm I was driving about as fast as I was willing to and hit a dip and nearly went airborne. Imagine a very lame episode of the Dukes of Hazard but with an old Pt Cruiser.
The reception was at Tim’s parents’ house. They did a fantastic job setting it up for a small wedding reception- complete with space for a first dance. They also had the single most professional table setting that I have ever seen outside of a restaurant. Serious props. Their dinner table was set up on the back deck and was surrounded by string lights and lowers- a definite oasis in a crazy world.
Check out Appleton Farms by clicking here.
Brianna and Zach: A wedding at the Allrose Farm
Life might have gotten all wonky over the past several months but love carries on. Relive the warmth of summer with some fun photos from Brianna and Zach’s rustic wedding at the Allrose Farm in Greenfield, NH.
It’s mid-November. The busy season is over and it’s time to reflect on what happened this past wedding season. The 2020 wedding season was, frankly, a s*#^ show. If nothing else, it is comforting to know that 2020 was pretty much the same for everyone. There’s comfort in numbers, right?
It did have it’s moments, though. For every wedding of mine that got canceled there was another wedding that adapted and overcame. Having to pare down guest lists and build events around health guidelines was a challenge for everyone in the industry, particularly brides and grooms. Brianna and Zach, chose to embrace the changes that had to happen and carry on. They were one of this year’s highlights.
I met Brianna and Zach through one of my first couples, Jane and Aline. It’s always a lot less stressful when you know a couple hires you based on liking your style and actually seeing you work previously. Their engagement session was at Hampton Beach.
Their wedding was at the Allrose Farm in Greenfield, NH. The Allrose is one of those rustic, quintessentially New England venues that I love photographing at. The grounds were expansive enough to give us a ton of options but also small enough to move from spot to spot without taking up too much time.
One of the things that I loved about this wedding was that everyone was really, really laid back. It was really fun watching everyone dance but I was pumped to hear the occasional pop-punk anthem add a little spice to the playlist- as somebody who stuck a little Piebald into my wedding playlist I can appreciate that. They also had one of those weddings where people were really free to do what they wanted. Guests meandered around the barn where most of the action was but also spent time getting some fresh air and watching the sunset or just taking in a New England evening.
This was definitely one of the bright spots in a really weird year.
Great weddings, and I would DEFINITELY rank this as a great wedding are team efforts. Click the links below to learn more about the vendors who helped make this wedding great.
Venue: Allrose Farm in Greenfield, NH
Event Coordinator: Angela Marie Weddings in Deerfield, NH
Catering and Bartending: B&M Catering in Pawtucket, RI
Make-up Artist: Katie Walsh at KW Salon in Portsmouth, NH
Hair: Kelsey Kozak at Kels10hair in Plainville, MA
Dress: Stella Grace Bridal in Salem, NH
Alterations: Pins and Needles in Danvers, MA
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!
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!
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!
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!
Rebecca and Jason: Love in the Time of Corona
The Corona virus pandemic has forced us to accommodate strict health guidelines in our lives- including our weddings. Just because our weddings are smaller, quieter, and, well, different doesn’t meant they aren’t full of love and celebration. Check out some photos from this socially distant wedding in Worcester, MA with a portrait session at Elm Park.
So much of the past few months has been about coping with the situation that we are all in. If I were to go back 6 months ago and tell my past self that the wedding season, spring portrait season, headshots, event photography and basically every other part of my business would be at a standstill for months, I wouldn’t have believed myself. To think of how much our lives have changed since spring is so utterly bizarre that I sometimes have trouble walking through everything that happened. Sure- life is different but love still calls us to get married. Weddings certainly look different but the meaning and the impact is still there- maybe more so. This was definitely true for Rebecca and Jason’s socially distanced wedding in Worcester.
Rebecca shot me an email a couple weeks before their wedding. Like many other couples, their big dream wedding was sidelined by the pandemic. They decided on an intimate church ceremony with just immediate family present. I feel for all of the couples who have seen their dream weddings necessarily altered, I really do, but Rebecca and Jason’s wedding is proof that you can have a wedding that is just as special without a ton of extras.
Rebecca and Jason’s wedding photographer canceled shortly before their wedding. They reached out to me and luckily I had the day free. This is really not a shocker- most of my days are free. I go on and on whenever given too much space to write about how I love the storytelling aspect of photography. Every wedding is a story but its not super often that I get to tell a wedding story that is on a level of intimacy that this level was on. Within a few minutes I knew pretty much everyone involved and I felt that I was able to spend at least tome time with everybody. It’s easier to see how people fit together when things are a bit simpler. It was also great to see their ceremony being live-streamed straight from the church.
Afterwards, we headed to Elm Park in Worcester where we grabbed some quintessential photos on the bridge (you know the bridge) and attracted a lot of attention.
Check out some of my favorites!
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.
Felicity and Matt: An Engagement Session at Colt State Park
Colt State Park in Bristol, RI is the best of at least two worlds. Withing one hour, we were able to have an engagement session that took advantage of the fall foliage and the sunset over the coast. Throw in an awesome couple and you have a great day in the office.
Felicity and Matt have a special place in my heart. For starters, their engagement session had to be rescheduled multiple times due to crappy weather and other issues that were out of our hands. With a wedding at the start of the wedding season, they were also one of my first couples to be impacted by the pandemic. This is definitely a bummer but it’s one of those things where I know once Felicity and Matt’s wedding day arrives it’s going tot take on this added sense of celebration. People are gonna be ready to party.
Felicity and Matt picked Colt State Park in Bristol, RI for their engagement session. I had not shot at this place before but I was super curious- Felicity and Matt picked it because it delivered both foliage-filled areas as well as great coastal scenery. It totally delivered and I have suggested it a few times since then.
Our session was a great chance to get a feel for what it was like working with each other. This is why I ALWAYS suggest engagement sessions happen. Felicity and Matt had some photos that they liked which gave me guidance but they were totally cool with walking into the bushes or climbing on the rocks for me. They also had really cool Game of Thrones inspired shirts.
A few months ago the thought that wedding season might get so universally screwed up by something like this never crossed my mind. I’m sorry it has but all we can do is grab something and look forward to it. I am looking forward to Felicity and Matt’s wedding and will be investing in extra memory cards in case I go overboard in my photo count.
If your wedding has been impacted by the pandemic, I feel for you. The whole wedding industry feels for you. If you would like to chat about your photography needs then feel free to reach out!
A Backyard Wedding in Andover: Sharon and Bill
Backyard weddings are making a comeback- especially with event rules up in the air due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Gone are the days when backyard weddings always meant casual dress and coolers of six packs. I’ve been fortunate to photograph a number of awesome backyard weddings in New England and Sharon and Bill’s backyard wedding reception in Andover was definitely one of them.
Sharon and Bill know how to throw a party. I met them at their house in Andover, where they would be hosting their wedding reception, a day or so before their wedding with my wife, SiEun. SiEun would be shooting with me for their big day and I always feel a lot more comfortable taking photos if we can all meet up before hand. While we would be photographing a backyard wedding in Andover, it’s important to note that Sharon and Bill have one hell of a backyard. There were tents, facilities, linens, tables- the whole works.
I sometimes feel like backyard weddings get a little bit of a bad rap. I have photographed TONS of backyard weddings and they have never been anything but awesome. There’s an added level of comfort that comes with the familliarity but there’s always so much effort that goes into decorating and planning.
With the current health situation and large events being a no-go for who knows how long, I expect to see more backyard weddings. Whether those are really intimate ceremonies with only a few people or hybrid weddings with a formal ceremony at another location and the party coming back home doesn’t really matter to me- I love photographing these!
As I mentioned to Sharon and Bill, I also love real estate photography. One of my first thoughts while revisiting this wedding through their photos was, again, “wow, what a great livingroom!”
Check out some of my favorites!
If you are planning on a backyard, front yard, or vacant lot wedding I would love to hear from you!
Holly and Josh: A Rustic Engagement
It’s not often that I get to photograph an engagement session with horses on a working farm. I was able to do that for Holly and Josh’ engagement session on a foggy day in Oxford, MA.
As I was driving to meet Holly and Josh for their engagement session at Buffumville State Park in Oxford, MA, it started to get a little foggy. Within a few miles of driving from my house in Worcester it started to look like a horror movie and it looked like it was about to rain. I was getting a bit nervous for our session but I was happy to see that Holly and Josh were both game. I am super happy that they did because the gray weather really jacked up the colors and the vibe of this engagement session.
One of the things I really like about Holly and Josh was that they were really easy to talk to. This was the first time that we had met in person and there’s always that little bit of nervousness when you go straight from “hello,” to “ok, now go lean against that tree and kiss.” Both of them were super gregarious and full of ideas which really helps to keep things light, collaborative, an fun. Holly and Josh spend a lot of time with horses and they wanted to include them in their session. It was AWESOME getting to spend a little bit of time on the working farm where their horses live. This was the first time that I had a session involving horses. This was cool enough but I have a soft spot for rustic Americana and this couple really delivered on that.
Check out some of my favorite photos from Holly and Josh’ engagement session!
If you are looking for engagement photos on a farm (and can provide a farm) then I would love to hear from you!
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!
Rebecca and Sean: A Sunset Engagement in New Hampshire
Most of my engagement sessions are in parks. They are easy to access and beautiful- this is New England, after all. Rebecca and Sean had access to a backyard that rivaled any park that I have been to. Check out some photos from this sunset fall engagement session in New Hampshire.
Rebecca and Sean were a lot of fun to hang out with for their engagement session. They have a laid back personality that is similar to my own so it was real easy to get along with them. Their engagement session was a lot of fun because it took place on at the house of somebody connected to them. I love the parks that I photograph at, like Moore State Park in Paxton, but it is always nice to shoot somewhere new. Full disclosure, this place definitely offered a lot more than your typical backyard but hey, that’s New Hampshire for you. We also got to take advantage of the sunset. Check out some of my favorite photos from Rebecca and Tim’s sunset engagement session in New Hampshire!
If you are looking to have an engagement in spacious backyard, a park, or your front porch then I would love to hear from you!
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!
Molly and David: A New England Wedding at the Equinox in VT
Fall weddings in New England are something else. They really do make my job as a New England wedding photographer a lot easier. Check out this wedding at the beautiful Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester, VT.
This past October I photographed Molly and David’s wedding at the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester, VT. Manchester is one of those awesome towns that exist only in New England and I have had the great luck to have photographed at a couple different places in Manchester, VT. It is always beautiful and I have never worked with anyone in Manchester, VT who was anything but delightful. Molly and David’s wedding was no different.
I actually have a lot to say about Molly and David’s wedding because it was such a huge part of my wedding season. I had the pleasure to be a part of their whole journey; from their engagement sessions at Moore State Park all the way to their last song at the Equinox. It was also the last wedding that I photographed during that mad rush of weddings that are planned to take advantage of fall in New England. My second photographer, SiEun (who doubles as my wife) was also there with me for the whole day so it was definitely a celebration of a successful season for us.
Wedding photography is my job. It is a lot of work and there is a lot of preparation that goes into it that a lot of people don’t see. Earning a living is great but weddings like Molly and David’s make me feel really fortunate because both SiEun and I left feeling very fulfilled. I always tell my couples that the real reason why I offer an engagement session for free with all of my packages is so that we can all get to know each other. I went into Molly and David’s wedding with this great comfort level with them. One of the cool things about covering a wedding for an entire day is that you develop this really fun back and forth with the people that you keep bumping into. At the end of the night at a wedding like this my knees are always shot and I can usually barely move, but there’s this bittersweet feeling that something that you really put your all into is over. SiEun and I felt that really strongly as the last couple of songs played. Thanks for having us Molly and David!
This was one of those sweet events where the vendors were universally awesome- I would recommend any one of these vendors. Click the links to check them out.
Venue: The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester, VT
DJ / Photo booth: Digital DJ
Videography: Mobile Video and Photography
Hair and MUA: Blush Salon and Beauty Lounge
Flowers: M’s Wedding Flowers
Molly’s Dress: Alexandra’s Boutique
Suits and Ties for David and crew: Bonardis Formalwear
Cake: Centerpiece Cakes by Steph
Cannoli Station: Gerardo’s Italian Bakery
Invitations and Stationery: Happy Frog Invitations
Linen and Silverware: Michael’s Party Rentals
If you happen to be getting married in Manchester, VT then I’m your guy. If you happen to be getting married in Manchester, NH or Manchester-by-the-Sea in MA, or any other Manchester then I am also your guy.
Cally and Cory: A Wedding at the Manor
Wedding photography at the Manor in West Boylston is probably a rite of passage for any wedding photographer in the area. Check out some wedding photos from Cally and Cory’s wedding with elements inspired by their love for Japanese culture.
The Manor in West Boylston is one of those places that has been around forever. It’s basically an institution in the surrounding towns. I grew up with people who owned it and have been in the wedding business for long enough that I should have shot there a few dozen times by now, at least. Somehow, this was my first time doing wedding photography at the Manor in West Boylston.
When I first met Cally and Cory they told me that Japanese culture had been a big part of their relationship and that they were hoping to include that love in their wedding. When I arrived I was greeted by these unique twists on basic wedding elements- paper cranes as seat markers, a bamboo plant that held the well-wishes of their guests, things like that. Cally had added Japanese-inspired elements to her dress and had fashioned “shrine” maiden dresses for some of her bridal party. One of the coolest things was a fan game that they played in the middle of the reception. The game is common enough- back to back the bride and groom rat each other out to questions like, “who is the better cook?” Instead of raising hands or pointing they had colored paper fans that added this pop of color.
All in all- it was a great night for a wedding at the Manor.
Check out weddings at the Manor by clicking here.
If you’re getting married with themed elements from a culture that means something to you or in full Halloween costumes then I want to hear from you.
Catherine and Tim: Sunrise at Moore State Park
Sunrise engagement sessions in Massachusetts are gorgeous and absolutely worth the early call time. On this particular day the clouds might not have parted but the rain stayed away just long enough to get some gorgeous photos.
When it comes to where and when to shoot an engagement session here in Massachusetts I am pretty open. Over the years as a photojournalist for various newspapers I have shot in pretty much every condition: pouring rain, direct sun, snow, anti-government protests, etc.. The one thing I always tell my couples, though, is that sunrise and sunset are the times to aim for if you want that awesome soft-light that makes everything look a little bit like a dream. Very rarely do people take me up on a sunrise session. Catherine and Tim took me up on a sunrise engagement session at Moore State Park.
Here’s the thing about this engagement session: what you see in these photos was the only nice part of the day. The weather was forecasted to be terrible and it pretty much was until we arrived at Moore State Park… in the dark. The three of us all knew that we probably didn’t have too much time so we set out to get as many great photos as we could. We ended up getting a whole session in with the rain coming back as we got back into our cars. Whenever I see these photos I always think about them as extra lucky.
Engagement sessions come with all of my wedding packages. If you want to have a sunrise engagement session, sunset engagement session, or a special blizzard engagement session then I want to hear from you!
Brianna and Zachary: A Sunset Engagement at Hampton Beach
If you’re from New England you probably have more than a few memories at Hampton Beach. From Blink’s to body surfing and then more Blink’s. Not only is Hampton Beach a great place to swim in freezing water in the middle of summer, it is also a beautiful place for an engagement session. Check out this engagement session at Hampton Beach.
I love shooting engagement and family photography at Hampton Beach. Is part of the reason for this because I always end up at eating at Bernie’s and then at Blink’s? Sure. The other reason why I love it is because the beach gets quiet and the sky gets this awesome pastel look right as the sun starts to go down. That’s why I was really pumped when my wedding couple Brianna and Zachary opted to have their engagement session at Hampton Beach.
More and more I am becoming appreciative that the couples who choose to work with me have personalities that I really get along with. Brianna was one of the bridesmaids at a wedding that I shot last year at the Manchester Inn in Vermont. I was super pumped when her and Zachary chose me to be their photographer and I am super happy with how their session turned out. Full disclosure, half of the reason why I am posting this is because I am freezing in my office and am daydreaming about the beach.
Soon, Blink’s, soon.
Engagement sessions are free to all of my wedding couples who book a wedding package. If you are brave enough to let your ankles go numb for the sake of love, I want to hear from you.
Tom’s Blog:
Pictures are worth a thousand words but check out what goes on behind the scenes during my sessions.