Category Archives: About Me

Aug 03
Why I Do What I Do

I have chosen to work outside of a studio because I want to capture those genuine interactions that you share on a daily basis. Memories are created on your couch where the Tickle Monster is most prone to attack, at the breakfast table where your little one gives themselves an ice cream facial, or in the park down the block where you go for a walk every weekend (and where your spouse finally got up the courage to propose). It is those moments I want to help you treasure in the years to come.

Another reason why I like to come to your home, or meet you at your favorite park, or join you for a stroll along Tremont St. is because these are familiar locations, and more importantly, that you won’t feel like you have to perform for the camera. Too often, people in front of the lights, in a photographer’s studio they have never been to before, either tense up because this is a unfamiliar situation, or are ebullient, turning into a hyper version of themselves because they feel the need to perform. In a studio, people are not being genuine, and that’s not what I want in your photos.

When I was living in Olympia, WA, I was an assistant to a wedding and portrait photographer for two seasons. He did a great job crafting the light in the studio. The shots he produced were consistent, and looked great in the wedding albums he created, but I rarely got a sense of personality from the subjects he photographed. He had a formula, and he stuck with it. To him, all engagement photo sessions happened at Tumwater Falls, and all formal wedding photos were shot against the same purple background. He posed every bride in one specific way, positioned the parents in the exact same spot for every wedding, and followed his formula that he has used for the past 20+ years.

After working with him, I knew that I did not want to be a photographer who follows any formula. I want the personality of families or couples to provide substance and depth of emotion to the photos, and I want to talk with you to determine your favorite places, then go there to have our photo session. I want your home, your life, and the love you feel to shine through. Years from now, when you look back on these photos, the laughs that come with them, the love that is evident in them, will be felt across generations.




Jul 08
Some Favorite Out Takes

When I photograph families, I tend to only share a few (around 5 or 10 at most) of my absolute favorite images from each session on my blog and Facebook page. Most times, the photos I post are a great representation of the day, and I am happy to share them.

Then there are those images I feel really lucky to have caught, but that don’t really tell the story of the event, so most of you don’t get to see them.

Well, it’s time to put a stop to that!! 🙂

On occasion, I think I am going to post some of the photos that made me giggle, but that were not my top picks, likely because they happened away from the main event (in all three of these cases, they happened away from the main festivities, when very few were looking).

This is Patrick. After being on his dad’s shoulders for only a moment, his hands found the PERFECT way to steer his dad around! Ride ’em, cowboy! 🙂

The cupcake in her hand and the look on her face tell the story. There USED to be two cupcakes on Colin’s tray!

The guy testing the water had no idea what was about to happen. Any last words?

Jun 22
Great American Backyard Campout!

I know this is short notice, but I just found out about this myself (through the great blog I follow called Boston Mamas.

This Saturday June 25th 2011 is the Great American Backyard Campout sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation.

For my friends and family, it is no surprise how much I love camping, as is evidenced by how often I bring up my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail at every opportunity (and even on my blog now, it seems). That love of camping started when I was in Boy Scouts when we went out for a couple weekends every year to some fairly local campground. This was not backpacking as we did not haul our gear more than 100 yards or so, but it was sleeping in a tent, hearing the noises that creatures make in the night, experiencing what an impending thunderstorm smells like, seeing the effect the wind has on a valley full of trees. All of these things make me feel grounded and part of the world, both empowered and minuscule at the same time. Those feelings of connection began growing in me the first night I slept outside. That didn’t happen until I was around 12, and when I have kids, I want to be sure to expose them to the outdoors as soon as possible.

This Great American Backyard Campout seems like a fantastic way to expose kids to the sense of adventure and delight they could have in the outdoors.

For those of you in the Boston area, the forecast is for a chance of rain Saturday night, but I have to say, for me the feeling of being all snug in a sleeping bag while rain falls on my tent is just amazing! Some of my best nights of sleep have happened under those conditions.

For more information on the Great American Backyard Campout, click here

For more information on the National Wildlife Federation, click here

For more information on the Appalachian Trail, click here

May 23
The Photographer gets Photographed!

Yesterday, I had a second family shoot with two little boys, their mom, dad, and grandma. They are an energetic and fun bunch, and it was great to work with them again. As usual, I got out my camera and sat on the floor to start photographing the boys, the oldest of which was running around the house yelling: “Take my picture! Take my picture!” followed by “Can I see it?!”

The younger one had other plans, though. Within moments of me sitting cross legged on the floor, he ran right up to me, flopped on my lap, curled up, and got cozy. It was so awesome to feel like I made such a connection with him, and that he was so comfortable with me. He kept doing that throughout the day, then as the session was about over, his bigger brother joined in. They were crawling and climbing and giggling all over me! Their mother, caught up in the laughter, picked up my camera, which I could not use because I was tickling and wrangling her boys, took a few shots of us having fun. This is not the first time this has happened, and it feels so good when it does!!

Just figured I would share my joy. Happy Monday!

May 22
Celebrating Mister Rogers

Two days ago would have been Mister Rogers’ 83rd birthday.
For me, Mister Rogers has always been a source of inspiration, and his magical view of the world is one I try hard to share. As a way to honor him, I have collected ten of my favorite quotes of his below.

  1. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers-so many caring people in this world.”
  2. “As you continue to work on your understanding of yourself and others, you are really engaged in love.”
  3. “People whose work is self-expression of the most obvious kind-artists, writers, musicians, dancers-seem to be drawing heavily on play to do what they do. What they all have in common is the urge to take what is known and rearrange it in new combinations.”
  4. “Pretending doesn’t require expensive toys.”
  5. “The child in me is still…and sometimes not so still.”
  6. “On the occasions when I did something with a child’s block building that was more than I was asked to do, I quickly discovered how important it was to respect the architect within the child.”
  7. “Think of the ripple effect that can be created when we nourish someone. One kind empathetic word has a wonderful way of turning into many.”
  8. “Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbors.”
  9. “There is no normal life that is free of pain. It’s the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.”
  10. “I find out more and more every day how important it is for people to share their memories.”

I have two Mister Rogers shirts I like to wear, and it’s not surprising how many people smile and or comment when they see this one. He helped so many people feel special!


All Photos ©2013 Patrick Rogers Photography