Sneak Peek–A Family Shoot on the Cape

Jun 15
Sneak Peek–A Family Shoot on the Cape

This group of 13 folks traveled all the way from Canada and Arizona to get together for about a week, to celebrate their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary (congratulations!). Considering how rarely they are all in the same place, they wanted to get photos of this reunion.

It was a really fun to watch dad and daughter bury mom in the sand, then turn around to see cousins building sand castles, then (and this was one of my favorite moments) watch one of the uncles bring a small crab out of the ocean and show everyone. Most of the kids just looked. One was bold enough to touch its back. But the littlest girl just looked silently, then after a few moments, spat her tongue out of her mouth and said “blech!!” It was so cute!

Working with these folks was such a treat! They were one of the most helpful groups I’ve worked with. When I was photographing the kids, grandma was happy to stand behind me and get their attention, and several times throughout the day, people called me over to capture a different moment. I am not sure I would have gotten that moment with the crab without their help!

The weather was great, the folks were kind and fun, and the water was the perfect temperature (I had to stand knee deep in it while wearing my pants and shoes and socks to get some of these shots)! Thanks for letting me photograph such a great time on the beach!

This is just a sneak peek. The rest of the photos will be posted in the next couple weeks.










Jun 15
Sneak Peek–Jane and Chris’s Engagement Session

One of the treats I get at every engagement session is seeing what type of space that the couple wants to inhabit. Sometimes, they choose the engagement session location because that’s where they spend their Sunday afternoons, or because that’s where the proposal went down, or in Chris and Jane’s case, it’s because it holds a lot of great memories.

Chris spent a few summers at Lynch Park in Beverly, MA as a lifeguard. It’s one of those spots that if you don’t know it’s there, you could easily drive by and have no idea what a wonderful place you just passed. It has so much to offer. It has a sandy beach, a rocky beach, a beautiful flower garden, and yes, two lions perfect for riding!

For me, it’s the silly moments that really provide for some wonderful moments, and it’s those moments that I seek out. Jane and Chris had no problem showing their silly side during this shoot! We were walking around near the end of our shoot, and Chris sidled up to this stone lion, then got on its back as if he was meant to be there. I took advantage of this moment in these explorers lives, and it’s one of my favorite shots of the day!

In between (and sometimes during) the silly moments, it was easy to see the love they had for each other. My second favorite shot of the day was when they both leaned on a short wall opposite each other and just smiled. I just love capturing these moments!

This is just a sneak peek. The rest of the photos will be done and posted in the next couple weeks. Stay tuned!





Jun 15
Sneak Peek–Barb and Jen’s Engagement Session

When working with a couple for the first time it can sometimes take a while to get used to each other. Some folks can be uncomfortable in front of the camera, and understandably so. I mean, how often in your life do you hire someone to stare at you intently, seeing how the light falls on your face, and how you fit into the background then taking a photo of you? Not often, I suspect.

There was no adjustment period with Barb and Jen. No awkward getting to know you questions or seeing how they would react to being photographed. Thanks to Jen (the wiseacre of the couple), we started off laughing and joking around right away! That made for such a fun shoot!

We wandered around near the Charles River in Cambridge, stopping to giggle from time to time, and I was happy to capture some genuine laughter and love between these two!

This is just a sneak peek. The rest of the engagement session will be done and posted in the next couple weeks.

Thanks you two!







Jun 14
A Treasure of a Family Shoot!

There was so much going when I arrived that it was hard to keep up! As was typical for me, I got my camera out and sat on the floor, and the youngest of the two kids (Patrick) curled up on my lap while Christopher ran and danced around the house (see my previous post “The Photographer Gets Photographed” for more details about how well the kids and I got along). Hearing the siren song of his big brother’s giggles, Patrick leaped up and had to join in the running and dancing. Their grandma was visiting all the way from Hungary for a little while; this morning, it was her job to wrangle the kids and help them brush their teeth and get dressed for the day.
Judit had planned a treasure hunt for part of the day. Having some sort of activity really helps provide for some wonderful shots because it means people can ignore the camera and have some genuine interactions. Judit had been working hard at teaching Christopher how to read Hungarian. So, she wrote all the clues in Hungarian and with some help from his mom and grandma, he found the treasures (some chocolate and bubbles)! This clue in the photo reads “The fifth step. Stop! 2+3=____ Now you can look for it [the treasure]”
I really enjoyed following them during so much activity, and I think it made for some wonderful photos that got a view of a day in the life of this family. From seeing them when they just woke up still in their pajamas, to them getting ready, then searching for treasure, playing in the garden, breakfast time, then more playing, I mean, there was so much going on, I felt at times an invisible observer, and at times part of the family. It was amazing!!
These are just some of the photos. It was so hard to narrow it down to these ten. If you want to see the whole gallery, go here.









Jun 13
Looking for a Wedding Photographer? Try Snapknot!


When I was planning our wedding with my wife, there were several times I felt overwhelmed and just wanted to toss up my hands and elope at the nearest courthouse. I am quite sure my wife felt the same way at times, but luckily for us, the urge wasn’t strong enough to follow through with it. In email exchanges with clients, I have certainly felt that same frustration coming through. I know it’s rough, and I hope what I have to say today will help some of you.

I found a site called Snapknot (www.snapknot.com) that focuses on connecting couples with photographers. In my experience with some of the sites that try to expose folks to all kinds of vendors (I am thinking of The Knot here), it just feels like there are too many options. Visiting the home page there with all the advertisements, blog options, advice links, categories of stuff I had not even considered, I mean, it made me feel more frantic than I already was!

Finding a photographer whose vision resonates with your own is so important, and Snapknot helps you find that photographer. Snapknot is focused on one thing, connecting couples with photographers. That’s it, and to me this is so refreshing. In the interest of full disclosure, I did sign up to be a member of this site to list my photography business. That’s how much I love it. The first time I visited the site last week, a chat window popped up from Mike Rheaume, one of the two founders of Snapknot, to ask me if there is anything he could do for me! Wow. I mean, WOW! This is an experience I want others to have, so I am happy to promote them any way I can.

So, if you are looking for a wedding photographer, or know someone who is, send them to Snapknot!


All Photos ©2013 Patrick Rogers Photography