In-home family sessions are some of our most favorite ways to document a family. Shoes are kicked off, people cozy up on the sofa and act like *themselves* together. Nothing is more inspiring or lovely than this. Someday when I look back on a season of my life, I want to remember it as it actually happened; the way your 5 week old's head smells, watching your first born become a big sister, the tears - the laughter - it's such a joyous time of life that is filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. When Hannah and Milan invited us to document their newly minted family of four we were beyond excited. We count these two as some of our dearest friends so spending this time together was such a gift to us. Thank you for allowing us into your home and hearts, Hannah and Milan. We love you four to the moon and back again!
The B*G Family
We love this job for so many reasons. The biggest being that we are given the honor of coming into people's lives during such emotional and vulnerable moments. Falling in love, getting engaged, getting married, having a baby and watching your family grow and change - these are the exciting years of life and it's with a full heart that we get to celebrate these times with our clients. When Maggie and Nick invited me to capture some photos of their sweet family on their little boy's first birthday I was so excited to document this stage for these three. Making it through the first year of your first child's life is a major accomplishment (those of you who have been there totally understand) and these two are doing life and parenting with such grace and ease. Their family radiates love and I hope the photos speak that to you today. Thank you for letting me into your beautiful lives, Maggie and Nick! Little G is irresistible!
Happy Birthday Baby P
If you're anything like me, you've gone through these photos at *least* 5 times to soak up the sweetness that Ashley and Adam's family boasts. I mean come on! Have you seen a more beautiful group? It's been such an honor photographing this family the past year. They decided to do a 'Grow with Me' collection with Summer Street, which means I've gotten to photograph their Maternity Session, Newborn Session, 6 month photos and now sweet baby P's 1st birthday. Now that these sessions are complete, we'll work with Adam and Ashley to put the highlights from each of these session into an heirloom album for them to look back on and enjoy over time. Baby P is turning into the most darling, smart little sweet heart. Ashley and I have grown very close over the past year, so it's always a special honor to photograph friends' lives as well. Adam and Ashley, thank you for allowing me to capture such a special time in your lives!
The M*L Family
We won't judge if you decide to look at this session again. And again. And again. We get the warm fuzzies when we look through these photos because it's almost as if the love this family shares oozes out of each image. When Kerry and Gordon asked us to capture some family photos in their backyard, with no agenda but to capture them at this moment in time, we were all in. Kerry and Gordon are raising their two girls with grace and heart. It's clear that they are doing a fantastic job by the joy that radiates from not only their faces, but their girls who only know love. Thanks for allowing us into your lives during this time that is filled to the brim! Now excuse us while we go look at this post again.
The J*S Family
There are so many reasons we love this work. The most important, however, is family documentation. As an example: my parents are moving out of my childhood home and passed along a few totes of childhood memories and memorabilia. Not wanting to house boxes and boxes of un sentimental belongings, I did what any responsible home owner does and went through it all to make sure I was keeping the good stuff. Little did I realize how emotionally difficult it was when I got to the 5 gallon tub of photos. These photos are SO precious to me, and capture times in my childhood that seem like just yesterday, but when I look at how young I was, or how much my family has changed since these images, they are a reminder of how quickly time passes and how important it is to cherish each day. That's how we approach our work on Summer Street. Sure, we can take pretty pictures, but it's who is IN THEM that makes them so special as time goes on. Documenting growing families is such an honor, so when Nora and Ryan asked us to capture some images of their sweet family, we were all in. Nora and Ryan are sensitive, warm and have huge hearts. It's no surprise that they are fantastic parents to their little ones (who were also SO easy to photograph...just look at them!). Thank you for allowing us into your lives to capture this special time. We hope when your kids are grown and you give them their tubs of memories that they stop in their tracks and call to say how much they love you when they see these photos.
The L Family
We can't tell you what a privilege it is to watch our couples grow into beautiful families. Nicole and Jeff have been long time Summer Street supporters, starting back to their dating relationship and commissioning us to photograph them as a couple. Fast forward a few years and we're shooting their Engagement Session and Wedding. Now they've welcomed two beautiful boys into their family and asked us to capture some photos of this special time in their lives. We love the challenge of shooting indoors, and with a newborn in cold months there really isn't a better option than shooting in the studio if a family wants something a little more formal than their own home. At just 18 months apart, these two boys are going to grow up as the best of friends. It's obvious already that big brother is doing a great job, and sweet little brother will have a strong role model to look up to. We couldn't resist taking a few images of the newest member of this clan who was the perfect subject with his clear blue eyes locking right into the camera. Nicole and Jeff, we are thrilled for you during this exciting and exhausting time. Our hearts are full of love for you four and we are honored to capture your family as it continues to grow!
Baby P - Half Birthday
Is there anything sweeter than a six month old baby? If this thought had never crossed your mind until today, I'm convinced you are now persuaded after seeing baby P in her half-year old glory. I MEAN COME ON! She is just *waiting* for her debut as a Baby Gap model, isn't she? It's so rewarding working with families throughout the first year of their child's life. We started this journey last summer with Ashely and Adam's Expecting Session, then we met darling baby P in August, and now we are 6 months later. You'll see this family again when their sweet pea turns one, and then we'll create an heirloom album with all four of these photo sessions in them. I can't wait to hold that album in my hands and hand it over to these proud parents. If one thing is certain, time is the enemy of change, and babies are the number one proof of this. Kids grow and change so quickly - the first year especially - so this is such a treasure to share. We'll see these three on the blog in a short few months!
2014 - IN REVIEW
For those of you still hanging around at the end, let's start with a high-five for being able to process all those images. We are well aware that this little annual tradition of our images in a yearly review format is entirely too big. Believe it or not, this is a highly edited version of some of our favorite images for the year. I suppose that's what happens when we shoot more than 50 weddings in a year, not to mention even more portrait sessions. There is just so much LIFE and LOVE that we get to witness! It's such an honor, guys.
Now you get to read our little acceptance speech of gratitude. First of all, none of these photos would be possible without the beautiful clients we get to have in our Summer Street family. Their lives and love are our constant inspiration, and without that we'd just be taking photos of pretty things with no substance. Next up, our team of dedicated photographers. Of course Matt and I started this whole crazy business, but we've picked up Chuck and Abby along the way as our sensationally talented Associate Photographers, and much of what you see above is their talented work as well. Next up we have the privilege of working with some of the finest in the industry as our second shooters and assistants for some weddings; Ashley, Katie, Deb, Bella, Dan, Olivia, Ellie, Jean and Vina - your talent behind the lens is clearly phenomenal and we're honored to call you peers. We are hybrid shooters (film and digital) so we have to thank our talented film lab, Richard Photo Lab, for their expert work in the dark room. This year we hand-trained a new talented digital editor as well. With the influx of a new market in the Midwest, Matt and I needed back-end support to help us deliver beautiful, consistent images to our clients in a timely manner, and we knew bringing an in-house editor to help us would be just the thing. Laura is now part of our team and has been an integral part of our back-end this year and helps all our images become what you see on our site. Talk about a talented group!
We have captured love in many places this year. From sandy beaches to historic estates. Ornate houses of worship and cathedrals in the woods. Childhood homes and mountain tops. All across New England and the prairies of the Midwest, we've gotten to step back and capture lives full of love. We've been able to tell their stories through photos that they will cherish for years to come. We are completely honored to call this work, and we toast to you all for supporting us along the way. Here's to 2015!
*In the mood for more photos? Previous years in review: 2011, 2012 (part I, II, III), 2013*
The S Family
When someone asks us what we do for a living, we usually say, "We're Photogrpahers." What follows is usually in tune with, "Cool! What kind?" and we usually say, "We photograph love. Weddings, couples, babies, families....the good stuff". It's a true honor to capture love. Some people are called to be funeral directors or politicians or plumbers or doctors or tax accountants, all of which are incredibly important. But spending your working time surrounded by love? We are overwhelmed with gratitude for this. When the S family asked us to capture some photos of their life together, we were immediately on board. There is something magical about the everyday. The traditional family portrait that sits above the mantel with all parties clad in white shirts and khaki pants is important, don't get us wrong, but there is something about capturing a living, breathing family doing their thing that speaks to us. The S family has plenty of love to go around, and it was so easy capturing their love together.
The S Family
Oh my heart. These people. This session. We've known Dannell and Peter since 2008 when they led a team of musicians and dancers on a mission trip to Trinidad and Tobago. I was honored to join them dancing in Trinidad, and have enjoyed keeping in touch with them ever since. Fast forward a few years, life has brought them two beautiful boys. Their oldest child has severe brain damage and developmental delays, and his life is truly a celebrated miracle. Their youngest is about as energetic as any 2 year old boy is, and a whole lot of fun. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and this family knows just how true this is. Between a team of specialists, doctors, friends and family, they know the benefits of leaning in and being supported by their community. It was fitting then, to have the boys' Grandmother and Aunt join in on this special family session. It was an honor being able to document these fleeting moments, and I hope your family treasures these images for a long time! Hugs and love, S Family. You are such a blessing to so many!