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!
Ashley + Jamie = Max
This session makes us so happy. You may remember Ashely and Jamie from their classy wedding in the mountains of Vermont back in 2012. In addition to this job being our livelihood, we are filled in so many ways from the relationships we make telling love stories. Making friends along the way is really the cherry on the sundae, and this sweet family is just that. Ashley, Jamie and their sweet son Max have become dear friends of ours and when they asked us to capture this fleeting moment in their family life, we were all in. We joined them at their darling apartment in Cambridge to grab some photos of Max doing his sweet baby thing, and after slipped over to Fresh Pond, which is just steps from their house to capture some photos outside of the three of them (and keep Max awake since it was nearly bedtime!). We are loving the images from their session and hope you enjoy a peek at this beautiful family too.
Kelsey + Danny = Together
Sometimes, all you need for really great photos are two people perfectly matched for one another. You may remember Kelsey and Danny from their amazing wedding in Guatemala (oh, and their awesome engagement session there too). They are currently living state-side and happened to be in Boston for a weekend during Danny's birthday, so Kelsey decided to surprise Danny with a mini photoshoot with us. It's always a happy occasion to re-photograph a couple we've worked with for their wedding, and even more so when said couple has become so near and dear to our hearts. We love the simplicity and joy in these images...just Kelsey and Danny, being together and so so happy.
Baby June
Okay. So if you made it all the way to the end of this series of photos and you have not stopped to say, 'awwwww' you should probably just get off the internet - because there is *no way* you're going to find anything sweeter than Meredith, Andres, baby June and their pup Eleanor. The belly button? The little tiny fingers? The giant puppy dog eyes? I just can't. Little June was clearly ready for her spotlight in front of the camera as the evidence above shows. She was an absolute peach during her session - no whining, fussing or crying (even after pulling an all nighter!)....just the sweetest little cheeks and fingers this side of the Charles. Welcome to the world, little June!
Betsy
Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves. How did we get so lucky that we get to photograph such happy things all the time? Betsy's photo session was full of LIFE and JOY. I mean, how can spending an hour in the park with a bubbly eight year old, two dogs, a slew of toys and a giant grassy hill just begging to roll down ever be a bad time? Quite simply, it can't. Betsy's parents thought it was due time that she have a fun portrait session all to her self, and why not? Soon enough she'll be grabbing the car keys and heading off to college. We love capturing little everyday moments in families lives and our time with Betsy was no exception.
Favorite Photos from 2012 - Lifestyle
Gathering photos for our end of the year recap is not an easy task. It involves searching through each and every shoot, wedding and personal folder to gather some of our favorite images. When I first started, I had gathered over 700 images. Narrowing down from there was not an easy task, so rather than relentlessly selecting *just the right photos* I decided to adopt the mantra "done is better than perfect." So, you'll be getting not one, not two but THREE separate blog posts today categorized into three types: Lifestyle (see above), Engagement and Wedding. We'll post all three today - so get ready for a lot of photos! It's been an incredible year filled with photography, so we hope you enjoy a small recap of the hundreds of thousands of times we clicked our shutter this year. The above photos include many personal projects (from Paris to Guatemala to the Badlands of South Dakota) and also a few snippets from the senior, family, baby and head shot clients we get the honor of photographing each year. The majority of these photos were taken on film, which is our preferred method of taking personal photos since it forces you to slow down and think carefully before you take the photo - something you don't always get the luxury of on a wedding day. We hope these photos make you as happy as they make us!
Holiday Mini Sessions
Looking for a fun and easy way to have a FABULOUS Holiday Card this year? I know what that's like. Usually I'm scrambling to find a decent photo of Matt and I from the year earlier and I'll be the first to admit that the tripod method does. not. work. We thought it would be a fun and convenient way for those of you who have wanted a family/pet/couple/newlywed/engagement photos to get to work with us for slightly less than our normal rates AND get some stellar Holiday Cards to start you out right.
E-mail us at hello@summerstreetphotography.com or though our Contact Form to reserve your spot and for all the juicy details including shoot location and rain date, Holiday Card details, suggestions for what to wear and more. We hope to see you there!
The F Family
When Laura contacted us just a few days after giving birth to capture her newborn's photos, we were impressed. I don't know about you, but most mothers of brand new babies that I know rarely have time to take a shower, let alone invite two perfect strangers into their home to photograph their 12 month old and their 12-day old. Yes you read that right, a 12 month old and a newborn. Irish Twins, as they say. When we arrived to photograph her sweet boys, the house was calm and bright. Perfectly bright in fact. Little baby C was an absolute dream to photograph as he quietly laid on the bed with no fuss. We later got to meet his one year older than him brother, little H, who was a ball of energy in the best way possible. We've enjoyed every moment of getting to know this lovely family, and can't wait to photograph them as their little ones grow.
The V Family
I don't know about you, but these photos are exactly what I needed today. Over the weekend, I lost a dear friend and when life slaps you in the face like that, one's priorities become very clear. I'm thankful to have a job that captures life's most precious things: life, love and families. I'm thankful to be able to capture life's little details and greatest moments to look back on as time passes by. I feel like there is nothing as beautiful as giving someone a gift of an artistic memory. This session represents that quite well. In November, we gave away a free photo session to a random entry of our first new blog post on our new website. Jacquie won, and she decided to have a family session done when we were in the Midwest next. We were able to capture the V family in St Paul, MN at the beginning of January with their darling little 7 month old boy. They were so precious together. Little Thomas was SO well behaved and I loved watching his face beam when his parents loved on him. Jacquie and her husband James are warm, loving and a bundle of fun. We couldn't think of better people to give this gift to. Thank you for letting us capture your darling family, Jacquie!
The C Family
The C Family are near and dear to our hearts. Their beautiful daughters, Morgan and Lauren grew up dancing with me, so it's safe to say that they are pretty much like extended family. There are many great things about growing up in a small community....for example you will probably know everyone when you go to the grocery store.....or when there is a high school (mind you, there is only one high school) football game, everyone goes. Anyone in my town would tell you that the C family are some of the sweetest people. They would give you the shirt off your back or whip you up an amazing bridal shower (I'm speaking from experience here....). When they asked us to take some family portraits of them our response was an astounding yes. Lauren, their youngest, has experience in front of our cameras as we took her senior photos a few years ago, so we knew they'd be naturals. One big event that happened in Yankton, SD recently was the conversion of an old draw bridge that used to house a major highway into a walking bridge. It's become quite an attraction and we thought it would be fun to take some photos on it. We think they turned out great, and enjoyed 'shooting' them at a nearby park as well. Thanks for being such great models, and constantly supporting our work on Summer Street, C Family!
The J Family
Since we are in our 'Off Season' right now, it gives us more time to do smaller photoshoots like family sessions, babies and those brave engagement couples who see winter as a time to cozy up with their sweethearts. Lucky for us, this winter has been unseasonably warm and snowless, so we've been able to shoot outside for most of our sessions. We met up with the J family when we were in the Midwest over the holidays. Mrs. J happens to be my old Dance Team Advisor, so we go way back. In fact, she was pregnant with her oldest when I was in high school. She has always been a joy to be around, so we had high hopes for their session. Her boys were SO patient and photogenic....(yes, even Mr. J!). We like to keep family sessions informal and fun so we started at the playground and played chase with the little guys to get them used to being in front of the camera. As it turned out, they didn't need anytime at all to warm up since they would both casually flash a smile and hold a pose for us every minute or so. It was like working with child models! We had a great time capturing their family and only hope the boys don't double in age the next time we see them!