Hey hey! I’m Melissa—mom to two wild boys and two dogs (also boys, because apparently I enjoy chaos), and photographer to fun, care-free families in the greater Boston area. “Boston family photographer” feels a little too formal, though. I prefer referring to myself as a toddler-whispering, child-taming, photographic ninja.

I promise to find humor in just about every challenge that comes my way, so please don’t stress about your kids’ behavior during family photos. I’ve seen it all. Truly. And if you’d like proof that I’m fully in the trenches with you, feel free to take a peek at our family film below—it’s equal parts love and mild chaos.

When I’m not mom-ing or documenting real life with my camera, I spend my weekdays as an elementary Reading Specialist. Somehow, these two jobs complement each other perfectly, and I can’t imagine choosing one over the other (thankfully, no one’s making me!). If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that time is a sneaky little thief. With my camera in hand, I’m here to slow it down.