On-Location Family Photography | Patrick Rogers Photography

Oct 23
Sudbury Grist Mill

The Sudbury Grist Mill is one of those iconic places around here. It has been photographed a million times, and when we arrived for our family photo session there, the place was crawling with photographers and their clients (one was doing a high school senior photo session with some glittery attire, another was asking their couple to get close and kiss in what I assume was an engagement session, etc.).
It made me feel like everyone was on stage performing. I’ve never liked those types of shots, so I asked my folks to get away from everyone and go play by the lake where no one else was. It made all the difference. The family I was working with got a little more relaxed and the kids focused more on climbing on the rocks and getting rides from dad! That’s what I like to photograph, and that’s what I hope my clients hire me for!

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Aug 29
I Can’t Help Myself

River is a friend of mine from back when we went to The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA and lived in the same house. He actually met his wife at my going-away party when I moved from Olympia to Chicago (to take a job atThe Art Institute of Chicago), and almost two years ago, they had August, an adventurous little guy who loves being outside and being active! Lucky for me, they moved to Lebanon, ME, just a few hours from us in Somerville, MA

Last weekend, I was hired to photograph a birthday party/family reunion at a lake house in Lyman, ME, so Carrie, Reid, and I took the opportunity to visit with River, Miriam, and August when we were up in their neck of the woods.

I had thought about photographing River and his family while we were visiting, but after a four hour family shoot (tons of fun, but somewhat exhausting), I figured I would keep the camera in the car. But, after watching August having fun running around in the yard as the sun was throwing a golden yellow all over the place, I made a quick dash for the car and pulled out my long lens. I’m so glad I did! The long lens kept me a little further away and let him be himself and play in the trees and in the grass, and captured his playful personality.

When I have the chance to work with outdoorsy kids and families, and when the light is just right, it makes me so happy that I decided to start taking photos nearly 20 years ago now. Capturing that moment that really speaks not only to someone’s character, but that represents the lifestyle I’d like to shoot, there’s just nothing that beats that!!

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Aug 27
Pool Party–End of an Era

There is a group of kids near Stow, MA who have been going to the same day care for all but 3 months of their lives. To say that they are just friends or playmates is quite the understatement.

One of the kids’ mom’s let me (and I say let me because photographing families and parties always feels more like an honor than a job!!) photograph a pool party she was hosting to serve as a sort of graduation party.

I got to the party about 10 minutes early. I parked the car and started getting out my camera bags. Within moments, Jacob, the 5 year old, came running out to see who I was. He did kind of a drive by greeting, yelling “Hi Patrick!!” then went running back in the house. When I got to the back yard, Jacob was running a circuit from the pool to his mom and dad to the window, all the time talking about who was coming and how he couldn’t wait to see them!

When they got there, the giggles and splashing and water skirmishes between ever shifting factions (with frequent cease fires for a hot dog or cake break) didn’t stop for hours!!

Photographing kids and parents just being themselves is so much fun for me. During these parties, most kids ignore me pretty quickly, and that’s when I get the chance to really capture their personality. That’s gold to me, and to their folks!

Jul 24
Carla and Jason: Waiting To Go Home

Going to and from jobs, school, and a little one in the hospital, Carla and Jason, and sometimes Phoenix, spent a lot of time riding the T. More than that, they spent a lot of time waiting.

Waiting at the station for the train to take them to another train to meet their other half. Their “other half.” I do not use that term lightly. They complete each other in the silliest and most loving way.

I wanted to show their story in my photos. I had a pretty clear idea that I wanted to show him waiting for the train, then her and Phoenix waiting for Jason’s train, then them going somewhere together.

After a short while, I got the sense that they were not just waiting for their other half to arrive; they were waiting to go home.

By home, I don’t mean a house or an apartment or a trailer, or any other physical structure. I mean home, where you feel safe from all the difficulties and troubles of the world, where you feel a sense of all encompassing love like a fuzzy blanket on a cold night, where nothing and no one can bother you. When these three were together, they were home.

This was a place they built together, and each day they improve it. It was a place built to help each other through some difficult times, a place to be themselves, and it is always with them.

Wow, I am getting all misty eyed just thinking about how that love feels, and how obvious it was with them. I’m trying to express that sense of compassion and love, but words are failing me. Take a look at the photos, I need to go get a tissue.

Mar 15
Benson, The Reading Therapy Dog

There was a girl in my grade school class who had the hardest time reading out loud to the class, as we were compelled to do on a regular basis. She was quiet, shy, and I’m sure this was the worst part of her day.

I felt so sorry for her, and wished I could do something to help her be less shy or something to help her gain the confidence to be able to read out loud without such a struggle. If only I knew Benson back then!

I just started working on a fairly extensive project to help the Goodnow Library in Sudbury improve their website and overall public persona. The first step in this was to photograph one of the weekly story time sessions with Benson, the reading therapy dog.

The way it works is Benson, trained through the Pets and People Foundation, is just there for the kids to read to. He is a really mellow dog, rescued from Tennessee by Kim, and is happy to just lay there and listen to the kids read out loud. Kim was a librarian, and she helps the kids with the more difficult words sometimes, but mostly, it’s just the kids and Benson spending some time together.

How awesome is that?! What a supportive and relaxing way to be more comfortable with reading out loud, and to a greater extent, becoming more comfortable with public speaking in the future, to gain self confidence, and to pet on a soft, loving dog like Benson!