If you follow a lot of Boston family photographers on social media, you’ve probably heard a few of us bemoaning the fact that we lack epic scenery like the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, Utah, and Northern California. While it’s true that I sometimes find myself exceedingly jealous of their mountaintop backdrops, I can’t deny the fact that we are gifted with some pretty awesome urban backdrops. My two favorite city spots for photos are Beacon Hill and Fan Pier Park in Boston’s Seaport District, hands down. Since I most recently had three sessions in the Seaport, I wanted to share those and chat about why it’s such a good option for your next family photo session!
It Looks Good in All Seasons
When you live in a place with four distinct seasons (one of which is notoriously terrible), it’s hard to find outdoor locations that look good for photos year-round. Enter the Seaport! You won’t find much in the way of grass or trees in this particular part of the city, which makes it impervious to the doom and gloom of winter and always looking its best! In fact, I prefer going there in the off season (or at the tail end of peak season) for lighter crowds. Beacon Hill is also a great option for this reason, *but* because it’s a residential neighborhood, the homes are decorated seasonally which you may or may not want for your images. The Seaport never changes and you always know what you’re going to get. It also looks stunning whether it’s sunny or overcast. Win win!
It Works for Minis and Full Sessions
I just wrapped up my fall season with three 30-minute sessions in the Seaport and it worked perfectly. I staked out a spot right along the Harborwalk and didn’t move much. With a background like the Seaport, galleries never feel boring, even if you don’t move around a lot and get much variety. And sure, I changed my angles slightly, and at one point brought my families over to a bench and a little park right next to the Harborwalk, but for the most, I utilized that one quintessential backdrop the entire time. It was beautiful!
However, I’ve also done a couple of full-length sessions down there and walked a little further for some backdrop variety. There’s the giant staircase which offers a beautiful view of the whole Harborwalk area, a dock, and the ICA next door for added visual interest.
Treat Yourself to Dinner After
I wrapped up my fall photography season a couple of weeks ago, and since my last client of the night was my good friend, we went out to dinner after! It was so much fun to be able to celebrate the season with a drink and *delicious* tacos at Bartaco. There are countless other options in the area, any number of which would be good for bringing the whole fam along! And, if you’re there during the holiday season, you could also go check out Snowport after!
The one drawback I would say is of course parking. It’s a challenge like it is at all city locations, but I will say that the Seaport area has more garages and parking lots than many other areas in Boston. You can snag a parking spot in advance using Spot Hero, and on weekends, garage spots run about $20-$25, which is much cheaper than they are during the week!
So what do you think? Would you consider the Seaport for your next family photo session?! If you’d like to learn more about family sessions in the city, you can reach out here!
