Massachusetts
Family session · Boston
In short
Family session in Boston starts at $375: 75 min on location with a photographer who works in Boston, and 40 edited photos delivered to a private gallery within 5 business days.
Why choose Family session in Boston?
Boston is a compact city and that is the practical advantage for a family session: nothing on the route requires a car, and a family with a stroller can cover three genuinely different backdrops without anyone being strapped in and out of a seat. What the city asks in return is that you take the season seriously. Between December and March the light is short and the wind is real, and a session planned for four in the afternoon in January happens in the dark.
Worth knowing about Boston
The constraint nobody plans for here is daylight rather than cold. In December the sun sets before half past four, which means an after-school family session is simply not possible for a third of the year, and the realistic winter slot is a weekend morning. Sessions between November and February are booked accordingly rather than squeezed into an afternoon that has already ended.
What does the session in Boston look like?
- The Boston Public Garden
- Lagoon, willows and the bridge, with shade and somewhere to sit. The most reliable family location in the city.
- The Charles River Esplanade
- Open lawns and room to run, with the skyline across the water.
- The North Shore beaches
- For a summer session with sand in it, forty minutes out and worth the drive in August.
What does family session in Boston include?
- 40 retouched photographs
- Posed group frames and candid coverage
- Individual portraits of each child
- Private online gallery within 5 business days
- Print release for personal use
Permits at these locations: The Charles River Esplanade: State DCR photography permit: $45, applied for at least 7 days ahead with a $1M liability certificate naming DCR.
FAQ — Family session in Boston
Do we need a permit for family photos in the Public Garden?
Yes for professional work. Boston Parks and Recreation requires a permit for commercial photography in city parks, including the Public Garden and Boston Common. The Charles River Esplanade is state land under the Department of Conservation and Recreation and needs a separate DCR permit. Which of the two your route needs is set out for you at booking.
What time of year is best for family photos in Boston?
Late September and October for the light and the foliage, and May to June for green and mild weather. Winter is possible but short — the sun sets before 4:30 in December, so the realistic slot is a weekend morning rather than an afternoon, and sessions are kept brief with somewhere warm to return to.