The past few weeks of warm but grey winter weather have made it a strange time in between seasons and I found myself reminiscing about the season that just passed, when the changing landscape and bright colors literally stopped me in my tracks several times a day. Here are some of the snapshots from those moments.
Myra Pix sighting!
I spy Myra Pix on the new Harvard School of Dental Medicine website! Scroll down to "Meet Some of HSDM Outstanding Faculty". Way to go Dr. Brittany Seymour!
Family Photo Shoot: Schow Family
I had such a fun and active shoot with the Schow family at their home in Somerville! Annicka displayed her soccer skills while Hugo enjoyed a book and of course the two of them made sure to take advantage of the pile of leaves, making for a prefect fall afternoon.
Family Photo Shoot: Addison Family
I'm so glad Rosanna Addison reached out to me for this photo shoot because it allowed me to discover the Mystic River Reservation on a beautiful fall morning. We had a fun and relaxed shoot with Grant and Ella, and Grant definitely earned his donuts afterwards :)
Family Photo Shoot: Shoemaker Family
I had a lovely fall photo shoot with the Shoemaker family. We started in their back yard and then walked over to the nearby community park where little Nick had so much fun on the playground equipment and playing with the leaves, and I had so much fun capturing it all!
Couple photo shoot: Stephanie & Andrew
When I first heard from Stephanie, she was healing from a major surgery to remove a tumor in her jaw. The surgery left Stephanie with half of her bottom jaw removed and, consequently, a new face. But Stephanie was determined to find beauty in her situation and use her time healing as a "re-start". I was so impressed by her conviction to find beauty in her new self, and honor this time in her life. Though this recent experience has been filled with struggles, Stephanie was able to make it through with the support of loved ones, especially her boyfriend of 7 years, Andrew. We had a lovely evening walking around Cambridge, taking photos to commemorate their most recent chapter.
Personal Branding: Brittany Seymour
Assistant Professor at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Global Health Advocate, and Devoted mother are just some of the many hats that Dr. Brittany Seymour wears. Though each of these roles comes with a variety of challenges, Brittany's bright optimism is unwavering, and her passion for her work is evident. I loved our little shoot in her charming Beacon Hill neighborhood-- a perfect backdrop for her cheerful and relaxed, yet polished brand.
Personal Branding: Jessica Griffin
Jessica Griffin and I were brought together through graduate school at Boston University's School of Education, where she is now the Assistant Director of Graduate Student Services, and was previously the Manager of Graduate Financial Assistance. During her 6 years working at BU, Jessi has come into contact with hundreds of students, often in times of distress, frustration, or confusion as they navigated difficult conversations around finances and their education. She gently guided students through all of this with an approachable demeanor, thoughtfulness, and empathy. We had a fun shoot around Cambridge, and I think the resulting images perfectly convey Jessi's professional and compassionate nature, and just why she's so great with students.
Family photo shoot: Seymour Family
Though it looked threatening, thankfully the rain held off while I met up with the Seymour family in the Boston Public Gardens for a family shoot. Their little girl Taylor Lane is simply adorable, and I'm so glad Chandler the pup joined too!
When to plant a tree
"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now".
Despite my love for the craft and years of training, it has taken me a long time to call myself a photographer.
What is a photographer, anyway?
In high school I studied photojournalism and wrote about Steve McCurry and Dorothea Lange. I marveled at their work and impact. I continue to seek out the work of photojournalists today, along with my voracious appetite for news. My deep respect and admiration for the people who capture the images, along with the story, also left them up on an unobtainable pedestal. Was I able to tell a story like they did? These are true photographers, and I am merely playing around and enjoying my lens view.
I appreciated photography, all aspects of it, so much, the preparation, process, and end result. I take so much pleasure in looking through wedding photos and portraits. Images I love, because they capture emotion, relationships and beautiful settings. I imagined the strain of being a "real" photographer and carrying that title. Plus, there was all that lugging around various lenses, and lighting equipment, and hours spent selecting and editing photos. I told myself they were true photographers, because they had all the tools and made serious money.
I recently heard Elizabeth Gilbert on her "Magic Lessons" podcast describing this struggle “Sometimes we honor art so much we think the stakes are higher than they are.” Art is, after all, about self-expression and creation. And when you're worried too much about the formality of it all you stifle both. Which is detrimental to growth. Around the same time that I heard the Magic Lessons episode, I was reading Seth Godin's blog post in which he bluntly points out, "You can be perfect or you can make art."
Point taken, universe.
So here I am, planting my tree. It’s over a decade late, but apparently this very moment is the second best time to plant. I am a photographer, and have been since I was 15.
I am a photographer because ever since my first photo assignment, I have been seeing pictures in my head. Whether I’m walking down the street or sitting in a restaurant, I’m cropping my surroundings in my mind. I don’t always have the time or means to capture the photos I see all around me, and that’s ok., because simply recognizing it makes me happy. And I can't help smiling too when I see someone setting up a great shot.
I am a photographer because the fact is, taking photos gives me a unique type of joy. And I'm committed to feeling more joy. It turns out that's what joy (actually, any lasting feeling) really requires—a commitment to feeling it.
What are you committed to feeling? And what can you plant today to honor that commitment?
photo: Portsmouth, NH.