Happy 2026, friends! I’m hitting the ground running this year and am resuming my annual photo superlatives after failing to do so in 2024 (whoopsies!). This is an end-of-year business tradition I started doing many years ago, inspired by my 8th grade English teacher who gave all of us superlatives at the end of the school year. It was something that really stuck with me, and a couple years into running my family photography business, I decided I wanted to wrap up each year doing the same :).
I was just looking back at my superlatives from 2023 and noticed I definitely spent more time on my collages, so you’ll have to forgive this much simpler post ;). And pretty please do not take it personally if your family’s session didn’t land on the list. I had 78 sessions this year (quite a lot for a full-time teacher who runs a biz as a second job!), so I just grabbed the ones that struck me as particularly novel.
So here you have it- my 2025 Session Superlative list!
Most Dramatic Sky
This is a category I love to include each year because I’m such a sucker for a dramatic sky. This September sky did not disappoint but it also scared the living daylights out of me. It was forecasted to be bright and sunny and I was not expecting we’d be chasing a tornado that evening. Just kidding, no tornadoes were actually encountered, but it sure looked like one was coming!
Best Foliage
This one was a tie between a mid-October session, and a LATE NOVEMBER session in the city. Goes to show you really can’t predict where or when you’ll find great foliage, and you shouldn’t book your session based on when you think you’ll get the best colors ;).
Dreamiest Backdrop
If you’ve been following me for a few years, you’ve probably heard me say that flowers are what make my photographer heart tick. I love spring blossoms and summer wildflowers, but give me whimsical wildflowers doused in golden light and I’m the happiest photographer on the planet.
Most Personality-Filled Session
I probably could say this is true of about a dozen other sessions, but if I *had* to pick, I think this big sister takes the cake for most personality. I mean, playing the guitar for her baby brother?! It’s just too much <3.
Best Dress
I had so many mamas in gorgeous dresses this year, but this is the only one I promptly ordered for myself (and then returned because I looked stupid in it haha). My client totally rocked it though (Anthropologie ftw!), and I’d gladly photograph more parrot dresses in 2026, just sayin’. PS I think we also need to have a moment for his suspenders <3.
Best Toddler Wranglers
I feel so fortunate that the vast majority of my clients roll with whatever comes their way during photo sessions, but this family rolled with it so exceptionally well that I think they might secretly be professional toddler wranglers. They not only ran around and got down on the ground with their son, but they were so clever and creative with him, too. For example, when he didn’t want to sit down on my blanket with them, they told him their laps were a launch pad and they’d blast him off to space. It was brilliant and it worked!
Tallest Stuffy
I don’t care if this is an absolutely ridiculous category; Gerald the Giraffe deserves a moment, okay?!
Favorite Mother-Son Moments
As a boy mom, mother-son photos always tug at my heart strings, and these two in particular really made me swoon <3. I hope these mamas love their images as much as I do.
Most Creative Sibling Shot
Lol lol lol. I love this family and that is all.
Favorite Photo Re-creation
One thing I love to do for returning clients is try to re-create a special photo from a previous session. This can be especially sweet at newborn sessions, so when this family asked if we could re-create an outdoor photo with baby #2, I happily obliged! I couldn’t get the angle exactly the same due to a GIANT flower pot in my way haha, but it’s close enough ;).
Best Big Brother
You all know I’m a total sucker for a good dog/baby shot, and this big brother didn’t leave me hanging! They were both so stinking cute!!
Favorite Sister Shots
Who says great sibling shots are reserved for little kids?! These two sets of sisters proved family photographers can get great shots of kids at any age!
Most Meaningful Session
As cheesy as it sounds, being a family photographer means documenting all chapters of life, and I’m always honored when people choose me for whichever chapter that may be.
Most Unexpected Weather
It was NOT supposed to rain during this session, but alas, we live in New England. The takeaway here was that it’s not worth stressing about the weather! You can’t even see the rain in the photos ;).
Most Pupular Subject
It’s a lame category name, I know ;). But really, Buddy the dog was super popular! So popular, in fact, that two random passersby at Old North Bridge in Concord basically joined our photo session and didn’t leave until I told them to hahah.
Most Adventurous Family
It’s not everyday that families ask if they can run through water at the end of their photo sessions, but when they do, eeeeep! Love!
Best Accent Wall
You know me and accent walls! I basically drool over them, and this whimsical underwater theme did not disappoint!
Sweetest Siblings
This is one category I do every year in addition to dramatic skies, and there was certainly no shortage of sweet siblings this year!
Most Joyful Photo
This is another category that had dozens of contenders, but there’s something about those hands in the air that just scream joy to me <3. I love it so much.
Favorite Image of the Year
It’s probably controversial to declare a single image my favorite hahaha, but COME ON <3. How lucky was I to turn around right as it happened?! This is such a reminder that the best moments can’t be planned or prompted.
I have so many more ideas and images I want to share from 2025 (favorite kids’ outfits, most festive session, best silhouette, and on and on and on), but I’m stopping myself here so that I can actually hit publish before the day is over ;). I hope you enjoyed scrolling, but even more importantly, I hope you have a happy and healthy new year!
Until next time, folks,
Melissa
