Working with mission-aligned non profit organizations is a real passion of mine. Before I became a photographer, I worked in the non-profit sector, toiling to make the world better, safer, and more equitable. Now, organizations hire me to help them tell their stories through photographs so that they can raise more money, recruit more volunteers, communicate their mission and accomplish their goals.

Below is a small selection of the photos I made for REN. If your organization is in need of professional portraits, storytelling photos, or event coverage, please reach out!

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Tip 1: Dress how you want to be seen.

Along with pose and expression, clothing helps communicate a message to the viewer. What you wear in your business portrait says something about you. Are you approachable, comfortable, formal, or casual? Are you a scholar or someone in high-tech? Are you an entrepreneur or an employee? Ask yourself, “How do I want to be seen?” Then look at the clothing you have picked out and make sure you’re communicating the right message in your business portrait.

Tip 2: Remember that a business portrait isn’t a fashion show.

Of course, while clothing is part of a first impression, we know that anyone who views your photo is looking first at your face. Your eyes, expression, and smile are far more important that your clothing. Avoid clothing that will overpower your face. Bright colors, busy patterns, flashy jewelry, clothing that has words or logos, and revealing clothing can all distract the viewer from seeing your face in a photograph.

Tip 3: It’s all about the neckline.

It’s perfectly acceptable to bring a few different shirts with you to your session and I can help you decide what will look best. Think about the neckline of your shirts as the most important factor, though, since the majority of business portraits are tightly cropped neck-and-shoulder shots. I never recommend short sleeves or sleeveless tops, low necklines, turtlenecks, and shiny fabrics. (Of course exceptions abound.) Regardless of whether your business style is casual or formal, I always think a suit jacket or blazer is a nice addition. And if you choose to wear a necktie, come prepared with a few options.

Tip 4: Keep colors darker than your skin.

Wearing colors that are slightly darker than your skin tone will help direct the light and attention to your face. We want your face to be the first thing people see when they look at your business portrait. Of course, if you know what colors work well on you, bring those options. Typically, people find that clothing similar to their eye color is flattering. It’s best to avoid pure black and pure white tops, unless you’re wearing a jacket or blazer on top.

Tip 5: Make sure it fits!

The fit of your clothes is important for two reasons: we want you to look good and we want you to feel good. Nothing feels worse that having your picture taking while wearing clothing that doesn’t fit properly. Try it on a few days before and look at yourself in the mirror. I never recommend buying anything new on the day of your photo shoot. If you have to go shopping, do it a few weeks in advance so you have time to wear the clothes and make sure they are comfortable.

Tip 6: Easy on the accessories.

When it comes to accessories, less is more. Jewelry, watches, and pocket squares can all provide a nice accent or splash of color to your portrait, but usually only one of those things is necessary. Again, feel free to bring a few options for jewelry and accessories and I can help you decide what works best.

Tip 7: Iron your clothes.

Trust me, as someone who HATES to iron clothes, it makes a big difference. If your clothes look wrinkled in real life, they’ll look wrinkled in the photo. And no, I will not Photoshop that.

Tip 8: Take care of yourself!

Okay, so this part is not really about your wardrobe, but taking care of your appearance overall will make a difference in your photo. Drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to your portrait session. Make sure your teeth are clean. Get a haircut if you need one (preferably a few days before your session.) And if you shave your face, do it several hours before your session. That red, freshly shaven look doesn’t really work.

The most important thing to bring to your session is a positive attitude and trust that your photographer will help you look your best. I promise not to let you leave with a photo that you don’t love!  

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Why the difference?

Well, after photographing hundreds of weddings in the last 15 years, I have come to the conclusion that 6 hours of photography on your wedding day is just the right amount of coverage.

I’ll tell you why.

When I first meet with couples to discuss wedding photography, I always ask two questions:

“What parts of the day are you most excited to have pictures of?” 

“What photos do you expect you’ll be most excited to see?”

Invariably, the answers to both questions are “the ceremony”, “the family photos”, “us together”, and “photos of our friends having fun.” In other words, photos of the middle part of the wedding day when the most people are gathered, the hair and makeup are freshest, and the memories are important.

This is why I offer 6 hours of wedding day coverage. It’s just the right amount of photography to get the photos you’re most excited about.

You see, I want couples to invest in photography coverage for the parts of the day they are most excited about documenting.

I want couples to invest in photography coverage for for the photos they’re most excited to have years from now.

I don’t want to produce hundreds of wedding photos that my clients won’t care about in the future. I want to make photos that last. I encourage couples to focus time and money on photographing the most important parts of the wedding day, so we can make you photos they’ll going to love looking back on long into the future.

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I am offering mini sessions this year on Sunday October 23rd, 2022. But before you click the link and sign up, here are some considerations to determine if booking a mini-session is right for your family.

What are your photo expectations?

Mini sessions are fast (15 minutes or less) and designed to get you just a couple good photos. I offer mini sessions for immediate family members only because with a lot of extended family, we may not have the time to get all the different combinations you’re looking for.

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you have a specific set of shots in mind and need more than 15 minutes!

What are your kids like – really?

I like to think I am engaging and fun with the kids I work and that they warm up to me quickly. But despite my best efforts, there are kids who won’t warm up to a stranger in the time span of a 15-minute mini session. Your kids may not sit still, look at the camera, follow directions, or crack a smile. During a full session, I relish this challenge of engaging and playing with the kids, chasing them while they explore. For a mini-session, though, we may not have time to get the photos you were hoping for.

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you have an introverted or high energy child and are not confident that we can get the photos you want during a short time frame.

Are you punctual?

Mini sessions are stacked back to back, with very little time in between. Punctuality is key. If your family tends to run late, a mini session might be a big source of stress. Running 10 minutes late to a full 60-minute session isn’t a big deal; 10 minutes late to a mini-session and you forfeit your slot.

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you know that it would be tough to honor a specific time slot or if you think you may run more than 10 minutes late.

There are so many factors to consider when choosing a mini versus a full session for your family photos, and hopefully these points gave you a peek into some of the things to consider.

If you’d like to grab one of the mini-session slots for this upcoming series on Sunday, October 23rd, just click the link to reserve a time!

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1. Basic, which is done in my studio and takes about 20-30 minutes
2. Branding, which can be done in the studio OR on location and takes about an hour

Which one is right for you?

The Basic Headshot Session is designed for those who need one nice, simple, excellent new headshot for an application like LinkedIn or their company directory. Basic sessions are fast, in the studio with a plain background, and included just one retouched photo.

Branding Sessions are basically for everyone else.

A Branding Session is 60-75 minutes, which gives us time to make a variety of photos that you could use in many more places than just LinkedIn. We can try different outfits, a variety of poses, play with lighting scenarios, and try more than one location (indoor and outdoor, for example.) Branding Sessions include up to 5 final retouched photos. That means you get a nice new photo for LinkedIn AND one to use on your website, one for your book cover, one for a campaign poster, and one for that conference where you’re presenting.

Both sessions feature the same collaborative approach that I use to ensure we make photos where you look relaxed and comfortable. After both sessions you choose your favorite photos from a selection of proofs. Retouching is always included!

If you have more questions or are ready to schedule a session for a new business portrait, please get in touch!

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And you know what they especially love? The tradition of the Parent Dances.

You know who else does? This photographer right here. I never understood this until I became a mother. And then I finally could appreciate how it must feel to be the joyful-and-sort-of-sad parents seeing their babies all grown up.

As a photographer, I always enjoyed the parent dances during the reception (typically a groom dances with his mom and a bride dances with her dad, but I have seen every possible combination under the sun including step-parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.)  The dances make for lovely photo ops and they are a great way to kick off the dance party.  (After the parent dances are over, it’s pretty easy for the DJ to play a Jackson Five song and fill up the dance floor.)  But now, as a parent, I love the parent dances even more.   I imagine how special it is for a parent to get just 3 minutes of time with their grown up kid on their wedding day and just hold their hands and laugh with them.  3 minutes is all they get – marrying couples are busy people with A LOT of things to do and people to see – and I know these parents soak it all up. *sniff, sniff

Given my obsession with the parent dance, I thought I’d share a few Do’s and Don’ts to help some of you think about this part of the reception and get some ideas for how to handle it on your wedding day.

1.  Do it.  Sure you may not want to because it takes time away from the party and it is embarrassing to dance with your mom, but for goodness sake just dance with her.  If any of my clients are on the fence about whether or not to include a parent dance in their reception I really push for it.  “Think how happy it will make your mom/dad,” I tell them, pleadingly.  And I say the same to you.

2.  Don’t talk the whole time.  Since you’re a little uncomfortable dancing in the first place – and especially with your parent – the normal thing to do is make small talk and chit chat.  But talking the whole time about banal things like “was the steak cooked well enough” is not only really boring but also makes it harder to get nice photos of you two together. Talk a little and smile and laugh, but don’t talk through the entire song.

3.  Do discuss the dance with your parents ahead of time to make sure that they are into it and to include them in choosing a song.  Don’t make the decision for them and don’t spring it on them at the last minute. Nobody likes surprises in front of 150 of their closest friends and family.

4.  Do try to choose a song that is special to you but not predictable and not cheesy.  There are hundreds of lists of great songs online if you just search for “parent dance wedding song” but half of them are predictable and the other half are cheesy.  I suggest you choose something special to you both, not special to half the world.

5.  Do consider doing your parent dances at the same time rather than doing two different songs, especially if you’re short on time and/or super uncomfortable.  It’s a win-win situation: everyone gets the dance they want and everyone gets off the dance floor quickly.

6.  Do remember that the parent dance is FOR YOUR PARENT as much as it’s for you.  These are the people who changed your dirty diapers, taught you to walk, taught you to feed yourself, bought all of your clothes, kissed your boo-boos, and explained why the sky is blue.  They are proud of you and they love you and your wedding may be a little bittersweet for them.  Use your parent dance as a chance to say “I love you” and “thank you” and “I am glad you’re here.”  It will make their night.

7. Don’t look annoyed.  Sure, parents are annoying, I get it, and even the mildly-annoying ones can be super annoying on a wedding day.  They may have been annoying you all day!  But this is a moment and a photo op that your mom or dad is going to treasure.  So smile.

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Bun in the Oven

Maternity portraits are a popular thing to do and I personally love them.  (Disclaimer: I don’t do naked-in-the-moonlight-with-a-sheet-draped-around-you-maternity-photos, but rather a more “lifestyle approach” comparable to my other portraits.)  It’s a very sweet and tender time of your life that you may want to remember though beautiful portraits of you and your partner. After all, it won’t be long before your family will look COMPLETELY different, so it’s kind of a treasure to have some special photos of you before you became sleep-deprived zombies. If you’re considering maternity photos, you’ll want to do them around 30-32 weeks (roughly 8 months or so). Ideally, this is when your belly is big enough to be adorable, but not so big that you’re uncomfortable or have a hard time moving around.  In my experience of living with a pregnant lady, by about 34-36 weeks you don’t want a stranger photographing you anymore.

Newborn & Potato Stage

Newborn babies are the sleepiest, snuggliest, and softest during their first two weeks of life. If you’re going to do the swaddled-sleeping-baby-with-a-bow-on-their-head photos, do them during this time. (Disclaimer: I don’t do those kinds of newborn photos! See above disclaimer regarding my lifestyle approach to portraiture.) After two weeks they wake up and then lie there like potatoes for a few months as their little bodies begin to grow. During this time, we get some sweet photos of you and baby snuggling, maybe going for a walk, or feeding them in their special room. The photos are intimate but not action-filled. I like photos of the potato stage since they are not so much about the baby as they are about you as new parents, navigating this new world.

Smiley Baby

Most babies start actively smiling around four months (before that, they’re just making involuntary expressions), but they still don’t do tons of smiling or laughing until closer to month 7 or so.  By month 8 they are also sitting up well, perhaps crawling a little, responding to your facial expressions, reacting to toys and music, and generally alert enough to get some amazing photographs. For the best smiley baby photos, I recommend family portraits between 6-10 months of age. This is when we can do actual baby portraits!

Active Kiddos

Around age 2, most kiddos are starting to walk and run, making family photos that much more interesting, challenging, and dynamic. And it just gets better and better – until they’re adolescents and start to hate everyone. Pre-schoolers and young school age kids are smiley and active, they love to play games, they can follow directions, and are generally hilarious to photograph. Some photographers offer a “cake smash” session where the kid gets a cake on their first birthday and goes to town with it. I don’t do sessions like that (see above disclaimers regarding authenticity) but I do think that the first birthday is a great time for a family photo shoot, and a sweet time of life to memorialize in photos.

Got more questions about planning for, scheduling, and preparing for family portraits?  Head over to the contact page and let’s get started!

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And yet, as a wedding photographer, I also love the idea of doing a portrait session with you before your wedding. It helps us get to know each other, it allows you to have fun, get comfortable in front of the camera, and get some practice being photographed. It’s nice to have nice pictures of you two together.  And it gives us the opportunity to make photos of you not all dolled up in wedding clothes. I have come to believe that this portrait session is essential to successful wedding photos.

That’s why I call it a Get to Know You Session. Because that’s what it’s really about: getting to know your photographer and getting to know what it’s like to be photographed as a couple.

Get to Know You sessions with me are a laid-back hour spent together in the beautiful Arnold Arboretum in Boston. We walk around, find pretty places to take pictures, and talk a lot. We talk about your wedding day plans, your family dynamics, and the friends you’re excited to celebrate with. I give you coaching about how to how to stand together so it doesn’t look awkward and where to put your hands. I remind you (a lot) to stop looking at the camera.  I make you laugh! And I help you relax so that you can just be yourselves in front of the camera and get authentically beautiful photos.

Still not convinced?  Look at the photographs! I promise you that all of these couples were nervous for their Get to Know You session, worried that it would be uncomfortable, and convinced that it was impossible for them to look good in pictures. You be the judge

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