Family Photography Session in Coastal Maine

A family photography session is such a fun addition to your vacation. The Ferry family has been vacationing in coastal Maine for years, always staying with family friends. This year, with their sweet little girl, Lottie, in tow, they decided to stay at an inn along the coast in Brooklin, Maine.

Tucked away into the trees, a cute little cabin was the first location for the family photography session. Moments like these are my favorite to capture. Real and raw moments of every day life. Like clipping a bow in your daughters hair or playing around on the bed as you get ready. The little seconds of life that seem simple and routine -- those are the most beautiful to me. It’s not hard to see the natural chemistry between Lauren and Drew, but also their soft, compassionate nature around their daughter. It made them entirely too easy to photograph and boy, does it show! 

After the cabin, we strolled down to the water along an easy trail. It opens up into a gorgeous rocky shoreline. It was super windy that day while they played along the water and gave endless piggyback rides. They lounged on some rocks and played in the sand, just soaking in their time together. It was honestly the perfect little spot for a vacation with your family. 

And while the scenery was gorgeous and the family was lovely, it was our conversations that made the biggest impression on me from this session. As we walked along the trail, I chatted with Lauren about our birth stories. Every detail one of us brought up, the other would say, “NO WAY, me too!” We both went into labor early with January babies. Not only that, we both started having contractions out of nowhere, no Braxton Hicks, no other signs. Then we both decided to let our husbands sleep a little while longer while having early contractions, calling our moms, before waking them up knowing it could be the real deal. HAHA! The similarities were bizarre, but it made for great conversation. 

Then, I got a weird little feeling knowing dad's name was Drew, so I asked her what she chose for a middle name. “Drew,” Lauren said to my surprise. Her daughter’s name was Lottie Drew. My daughter’s name? Kaylie Drew. Both are named after their dad.

I mean, come on! How crazy! Here I was casually chatting away with a family from Pennsylvania, who I had never met prior to their family photography session and we were living parallel lives in a small way.  

Their photos are really beautiful, easily a favorite session from this year, but it’s that conversation that I remember best. After all, my job isn’t just about taking pretty pictures. It’s about making and capturing connection. The sessions I remember best are the ones spent chatting away like I’ve known you for years. That’s what the Ferry’s family photography session felt like. 

I’m pretty dang lucky to have connected with the families I have over the years. People like the Ferry family, who make my job an absolute pleasure. Like the Sountis family who I’ve been photographing since their oldest son was just a babe. Every family has their own unique story and I get to play a small part in it. Preserving their memories to tuck away for generations to come.