4th of July Portraits Over the Years with Red, White, & Blue Backdrop

In 2018, I created this backdrop for a cake smash session. Since then, it’s become a family tradition to pull it back out and capture 4th of July portraits of my son, Grayson. Now that we have another new member of the family, it will be fun to see how they both grow each year!

Since 2018, I loved watching Grayson grow and seeing his personality evolve over the years – especially through these images. As a mom and photographer, it’s been fun to work on this series over the last 4 summers. I’m so happy that now we get to include our daughter, Adelaide, in this tradition, too. 

Since Grayson has been with me for the last few years as I’ve grown the studio, any time I get to document him is incredibly special to me. This fun summertime tradition is something we both look forward to all year long! Summer is already a great time full of family moments and traditions – so these red, white, and blue portraits are one more thing to enjoy about these hot summer months! Enjoy a peek into our family’s summertime tradition! 

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Lazy Days of Summer - A Fun portrait session at an ice cream shop!

I always have so much fun photographing this family, and when mom told me she was up for a nontraditional session of her boys this summer, I knew just what we should do:

ICE CREAM!

We’ve done cake smashes and milestone sessions together, holiday portraits and family photos outdoors in the summer and fall. But with two toddler boys, you know what we’ve never done? MADE A REALLY BIG MESS AND JUST PLAYED!!!

I suggested we meet at a playground adjacent to an adorable little ice cream shop, and she loved the idea! This is my favorite local ice cream shop because not only is the ice cream delicious, but the red and white striped umbrellas are picture perfect!

Oscar & Miles were definitely up for the challenge of enjoying their ice cream cones, and they didn’t mind one bit that it dripped everywhere with sprinkles raining down all over their clothes. I couldn’t stop laughing with their mom & dad, and we had such a blast watching these boys enjoy such a carefree summer activity. My favorite part is that they’re going to get to look back on these summertime photos for yearssssss and remember their boys just as they were at this stage, with ice cream dripping down their elbows and sprinkles dotting their tiny fingers.

Are you considering a more relaxed and non-traditional portrait session for your little ones? Let’s chat about what you LOVE to do, and what you want to remember most about this stage of life with your kids!

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Cape Cod Family Photo Session at Lighthouse Beach in Chatham

For just a couple of minutes, let's pretend that the snowbanks aren't overtaking the windowsills, and that our heat isn't cranked up high.  Let's go back to the beach...  Who's with me? To escape the snowy roads of Boston, I'm going back through this fun family session from last summer.  We met up early in the morning in Chatham at Lighthouse Beach, and it felt like we had our own little stretch of the beach to ourselves.  Over by the water a group was gathering for a sunrise yoga session, so we went off behind the dunes and created our own little playspace.  It was perfect for these three brothers -- lots of room to run, play soccer, fly airplanes, and dig in the sand!

I love it when grandparents join us for the photo sessions!  They play such an important role in a family's life, and it's so special when we can capture that on camera.  These lucky boys get to see their grandmother every single day in their home.  She was thrilled to have a photo of her with her grandsons!

I mean, really, how much fun is this little guy having?!?!  I love laughter on camera.  :)

We had such a fun time together!  It makes me eager for more beach sessions this summer... or maybe it's just the snow out my window that makes me crave summer?  Either way, I can't wait for that warm weather and that gorgeous golden sunlight.  It just makes everyone ready to capture some gorgeous family memories on camera!

Summer's Spontaneity

"Loadin' up and living right,

Fast cars on a summer night,

Breeze is warm and the music's right

This endless summer.

Boogie boards and diggin' holes.

Sand castles and fishin' poles.

What a way to save our soulds

This endless summer."  

(Aaron Lewis, "Endless Summer")

A last-minute phone call, a few bags and coolers thrown into the car, and a spontaneous trip to the Shore.  When I got that "What are you doing next Tuesday through Thursday?" message from a friend, I just knew I had to drop everything and meet her on Long Beach Island.  She brought the kids.  I brought my camera.

Below, one of my favorite pictures of Wendy and Zack.  Love the retro vibe to these beach photos!

It was a relaxing mid-week getaway.  The house we stayed in was one of those perfect beach cottages, only a block away from the beach and filled with that comforting feel of sand under your feet on the hardwood floors.  When I was a kid, we had this little placard that read, "If you once get the sand of the Cape in your shoes, you will return."  Same thing here.... there's just something about the beach that has you coming back for more!  We definitely had some sandy beach babies with us this week!!

And, what would a trip to the beach be without a stop for ice cream?

I absolutely love the story board below.  Zack went to town on his dish of ice cream, and he was oh-so-disappointed when he reached bottom.  Clearly he wouldn't accept that there was no more ice cream in his dish, and he kept searching for more.  His expression in the last photo just kills me!  :o)

Beautiful Addison Caroline was with us, too, celebrating her two-month birthday. I haven't seen her since I did her newborn shots at 2 weeks, and this beach babe has grown so much already!

Two-year old Hailey spent the whole week looking out for little baby Addie.  So adorable!

Such a wonderful trip!  Now if only our endless summer really were endless!!