Christina Ward Photography » Authentic. Warm. Classic. Bright.

It’s been a crazy busy fall, but this past Sunday was my last session of the “holiday card” season – and the weather stayed mild to the very end.  This was a great autumn weather-wise, warm and not too rainy.   Once the season sneaks toward the end of October and inches into November, I start to get very nervous about my outdoor sessions (ideally, all of my sessions).  But I only had to cancel one session all fall due to the weather (and, don’t worry, Brandon and Chloe’s E-session will be still be comin’ at you this spring).   I sure would love a mild winter this year, and if this fall has been any indication, I just might get my wish.

I met up with the lovely Dupuis family at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA.  Baby Theo is about six months old and just getting more sure of himself sitting upright.  He was such a trooper, despite the wet ground and crunchy leaves.   His mom and dad were excellent behind-the-scenes baby-wranglers and we made the most of our hour or so in the sun, singing lots of songs and jumping up and down to Theo’s great delight (and bystanders’ too, no doubt).

It was great to meet you all, Dupuis family.  Have a wonderful holiday season and I hope to see you all again in the new year!

The Leahy family recently welcomed new baby Henry and invited me down to take some pictures of big brother Charlie and little Henry settling into to their new life together as a family of four.    I know I sound like a broken record lately, but it was another gorgeous fall day!  Mid-November, sunny and in the high fifties – tough to beat that.   When we booked this session, I resigned myself to purely indoor light, scooting close to windows, but was delighted that were able to run around the yard for a bit as well.  That certainly put two year old Charlie in a more photogenic mood.  The promise of cookies also didn’t hurt :)

Take a quick peak at the good-looking Leahy family at their home in Cohasset, MA:

Thanks so much for having me down, Leahy family.  Henry is certainly just as cute as his big brother!

Meet the Piedalue McGinnis family – quite a mouthful, eh?  But so cool only a unique moniker would do.   Two year old Issac (or “Ike”) was waiting for me to show him my best moves and I didn’t disappoint – jumping, singing, silly faces, I did it all with no shame.  That’s how I roll.  What can I say?  I’m very popular with the toddler set.  And it was yet another warm, sunny fall day – we were all dressed in sweaters and just about sweating in the sunshine.  How’s that for November in Boston?

Thanks a million M. and A. for a great afternoon at your place and out at the park.  Enjoy this little sneak peak of your session images:

I have had the huuuge joy of knowing Leiha for over five years, both professionally and personally.  Wow, five years?!  Where does the time go.   She is the ultimate mentor and cheer-leader of hopes and dreams and, at the risk of making her blush via the internet, my life is so much better for being so blessed as to wind up her colleague all those years back.   Nowadays, we’re both married and she has her hands full with eighteen month old Billy.   My good fortune continues and my camera and I were lucky enough to spend a stunning October afternoon in and around Beacon Hill with Leiha, Jim and cool-guy Billy.   If you’re growing up in the city, then the Common is practically your back-yard, and Billy was totally at ease among the fallen leaves and tourists.  I was just along for the ride :)

Take a gander at the M. P. family and see if you can keep up with Billy in the city … and check out those big eyes and golden curls?  Baby model much?

Thank you, Leiha, for everything.    I could say it a million times and it would never be enough.     Also, I’m super smitten with Billy so you better let me come back and hang out again soon, camera or not :)

I loooove when clients come to me with specific ideas for a shoot.  I am game for just about anything, and also happy to make suggestions, but its always the most fun when someone already has an idea in mind they’re excited about.   For Tamar, the set-up was awesomely off-beat — her vision?  A new year’s greeting card featuring ten month old Felix, diaper clad atop a bottle of champagne.  Happy new year!   Isn’t that amazing?  How could I resist?

Of course, best laid plans … I mean, there is only so much “posing” one can accomplish with a ten month old.  Felix was certainly interested in the shiny bottle of Veuve Cliquot, but more in a “how can I get my mouth on this” kind of way.  Come to think of it, I guess that describes most adults’ interest in it as well – well done, Felix.   So, I’ll admit, we didn’t quite get the perfect “Baby New Year Rides the Bottle Into 2012” shot that Tamar had envisioned in her dreams.  But we sure did have a ton of fun and lots of laughs and the final greeting card that went out was still miles of awesome.   My absolute favorite people are the ones that don’t take stuff too seriously, like Dan and Tamar, and that’s certainly the kind of parent I  hope to be one day.

Check out Mr. Felix getting his party on …

For the rest of our afternoon together, we decided to just follow Felix around the house, and then to the park in the South End, and roll with the tide.  Again, my favorite kind of clients and shoots – especially with the little ones, who are so unpredictable and don’t usually respond favorite to a lot of forced interactions.    I find the best results (and the happiest kiddos) come from just going where they go and capture the ensuing moment.   With that said, here’s more Felix, at home and at large:

You’re the best, Krock family — tell Felix I’ll be back soon and to save some bubbly for me.

Autumn in Boston can be a mixed bag weather wise, but I lucked out with yet another gorgeous, warm fall day for this shoot with the Marrow Redd family.    I’ve known Helen and Mike for for quite a while, but hadn’t gotten to spend much time yet with ten month old George.   He’s a serious little gentlemen, maybe more so on this day since he’d missed his nap.   We availed ourselves of the nearby Tufts campus for an hour or so and had a fun time walking, chatting and snapping photos on the beautiful grounds.  There were co-eds lounging about the lawn in shorts and t-shirts – more fall days like this please!

Here’s a little snippet from our afternoon: