A curated life. This is something that I have been meaning to talk about here but have been trying to figure out the best approach. It is something we face everyday, on the internet. Being an online ministry, it's easy to get caught up in the cycle. I want to break it and share what I'm thinking. It's like when the photographer tells you to breathe deep and shake your arms and shoulders, just so you'll relax and not look so stiff. I want to unstiffify things here.

I find it so easy to see the success of other business owners and then walk away with my fake tail between my legs and head down. How do I measure up to that? Do you go through this too? It can get pretty discouraging seeing only the good stuff online. As a new business owner, I have experienced this pretty recently and so I thought I would share a few reminders that have helped me to stay focused on what really matters.

For us as Americans, we know how to live stressful lives. Everything is go, go, GO. Big cities are filled with people coming and going, cars beeping and zooming. We have premade meals so that we have more time to work. There are watches, phones, tablets, and computers to keep lists, remind us of duties, and loads of information so that we can do more! 

Going through these images to share with you today made me wish for spring! I also love seeing the energy and expressiveness of these kids. Photographing families has been a constant for me over the years and I still find it to be a favorite! Carmela and the kids met me at Sholan Farms for a quick session in the trees and gazebo out back. I am so happy I was able to capture these moments! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Closing out the end of autumn with this session was so inspiring for me. Tina wanted to include the autumn leaves in her shoot but wasn't sure how to make it happen since most of the leaves had since fallen. With the evening sun kissing the scene and whimsical branches reaching, I think we were able to capture the color and wonder of new life!

More often than not I end up finding a place for families. I do enjoy having the ability to find something for them, but sometimes I don't know their area as well. I thought I would share how to choose the best location for family portraits and reasons why you should have something planned ahead of time as a family.

Jenni contacted me about getting pictures of her family over a year ago, letting me know that she was anxious to have pictures once R came home! We finally got that chance to meet up a few weeks ​​​​​​​back at the Willard Brook State Forest in Ashby, MA. I couldn't have been happier with these three! Adoption is such a powerful depiction of love and dedication. Having the pleasure to work with adoptive parents and their kids is something special. It really gives you a glimpse of how powerful love can be.

Only in the last 10 years has it become increasingly more popular to have lifestyle type family portraits done. I remember as a kid going to a studio and having to sit with my hands propped a certain way in front of a big camera on a tripod. Nowadays photographs have become truer to personalities and set in very diverse locations. I thought I would share 4 myths that I have heard over time about these lifestyle family portrait sessions.

I have been waiting patiently to share these images with all of you. These ladies came to me seeking to have photos taken of them to give as a gift to their parents for Christmas. I was so glad they wanted to have pictures taken! I have done work for them individually before and couldn't wait for the chance to capture them together as sisters. We decided to meet at the George Hill Apple Orchard in Lancaster, MA for this session!

You know how it goes. You finally get around to setting up a time with the photographer for family photos. Somehow you found time in that schedule of yours. Then fear comes over you when you think about what you are supposed to wear. Yikes! I've seen it. I've been there before. You want to look your best but you don't want to have to spend more money on new outfits for everyone. Let me give you a few tips that might help either answer the questions or ease the concern. 

I was excited to photograph these four because the last time I did, there were only 3! It has been a while. I was a little daring this time around and decided to work in open sun in this field behind Sholan Farms in Leominster, MA. Thankfully, winter light is lower in the sky so it worked out to my advantage (Any aspiring photographers out there? That secret was for you.) Taking risks, I am finding, really takes things to another level.

So you want to know what is in my camera bag? I am honored. No really, I love being able to share what I have learned along the way and what I do to make magic happen. Well, my type of magic anyway. When I first started out, I used to go straight to the post from a photographer I followed, to see what type of gear they had. I wanted to know, "How do they do it?"