Boston Newborn and Children's Photographer – Paula Swift Photography, Inc. Photographer Blog

I hope the title says its all. This famous Bear baby I photographed January 2010 and was featured the cover of baystateparent magazine turned one this past January and also won Gold at a national parenting publications competition for cover photography and design.

I was away in Chicago this past week to surprise and celebrate one my sister’s birthday when I got a message on my facebook business page from the Editor of baystateparent. I was so surprised and thrilled to have one of my images featured on the cover for their Gold winner at the Parenting Publications of America annual editorial and design competition. Bear was just about 2 weeks old when I photographed him in this adorable bear hat which was chosen to be on the cover for their Baby Gaga March 2010 baby issue. He was so snuggly and sweet during his session ; this is still one of my favorite newborn photographs. Those of you who have visited my studio will recognize this image that is hanging huge on my wall.

Fast forward to this January and Bear turned One! Boy has he changed…he is such a big boy and almost looks like his big sister twin. He is still as cute as can be. Here is the cover from last March 2010 and here are some recent photographs from his in home session with his big sister Alex who is now 2. A little birdie has told me that Bear and Alex will become big a brother and sister this summer. Stay tuned to meet their new baby later this summer.

A big thank you to Lauren and Craig for allowing baystateparent to feature their son on the cover last year and a thank you to baysateparent ( Carrie and Paula) for choosing this image for their cover. Also a big Congratulations to baystateparent magazine and their state for all 17 awards they won! Well deserved awards! You can read all about their awards HERE
I was away in Chicago this past week to surprise and celebrate one my sister’s birthday when I got a message on my facebook business page from the Editor of baystateparent. I was so surprised and thrilled to have one of my images feautured on the cover for their Gold winner at the Parenting Publications of America annual editorial and design competition. Bear was just about 2 weeks old when I photographed him in this adorable bear hat which was chosen to be on the cover for their Baby Gaga March 2010 baby issue. He was so snuggly and sweet during his session ; this is still one of my favorite newborn photographs. Those of you who have visited my studio will recognize this image that is hanging huge on my wall.

Fast forward to this January and Bear turned One! Boy has he changed…he is such a big boy and almost looks like his big sister twin. He is still as cute as can be. Here is the cover from last March 2010 and here are some recent photographs from his in home session with his big sister Alex who is now 2. A little birdie has told me that Bear and Alex will become big a brother and sister this summer. Stay tuned to meet their new baby later this summer.

A big thank you to Lauren and Craig for allowing baystateparent to feature their son on the cover last year and a thank you to baysateparent ( Carrie and Paula) for choosing this image for their cover. Also a big Congratulations to baystateparent magazine and their state for all 17 awards they won! Well deserved awards! You can read all about their awards HERE

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With everyone owning a digital camera theses days I’m sure as a consumer its very easy to find photographer in your area. The market is so saturated with people who are calling themselves photographers. Everyone owns a camera in this day of age, whether its a point and shoot, an iPhone or a digital SLR…everyone is a photographer. However, not everyone should be calling themselves a Professional Photographer and charging as a business. Unfortunately there is no official licensing in this industry ( yet). So as a consumer you really need to do your homework.

PPA – Professional Photographers of America has started a campaign to educate people on why its important to hire a Professional Photographer, not just someone you found on the web with a nice website. Photography has really become the new “Tupperware” craze. It seems that every mom with a camera who took a few nice photos of their children, has started a business lately. I think its great if you can take nice photos of your own children but to charge as a professional and not pay taxes, not have insurance and not be registered a as a business in your state; they are running a business illegally. Though as a consumer you may not realize this as you do your initial research. Its easy to find if a business is registered by checking your state Department of Revenue’s website.

PPA recently started a campaigned called See the Difference. To educate consumers on why you should hire a professional photographer for your big day and portraits. I am honored to have one of my family portraits featured in the campaign video. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE VIDEO

The second image featured in the video is one of my award-winning family images titled Roots and Wings.

To bring this in perspective. I own lots of pots , pans and a nice two ovens, but I am no way a chef and would never think of charging someone for me to cook for them. Just ask my family.

Its so important when you are a hiring a professional photographer to really look closely at their credentials, their background, are they registered a business in the state and of course their images. If their pricing is really low well its probably too good to be true. I truly believe you get what you pay for. If you are hiring someone to capture those first moments of your new baby, don’t take the chance with a friend who just got a new camera. If you are getting married and have spent thousands on your dress, venue and flowers…don’t cheap out the photographer. One thing you will remember most from that day is those portraits and how you looked. You can’t go back and reshoot that big day.

I have had to reshoot baby portraits for a client who was heartbroken after the “photographer” she had hired didn’t know how to use the studio lights or the settings in the camera out of focus. The photographer called it “soft focus” . Another couple came to the studio and had me photograph portraits of them together after their friend came never through with their engagement portraits. He took them and they never saw them. Thankfully these were all cases where there was time to recreate special portraits for them.

So just do your research when you are looking for a Professional Photographer in your area . Its so easy these days to have get a new camera put up a website/blog up and be found on the web.. and voila a photography business.

Thanks for reading …

Here is the image that is featured in the See the Difference video

Paula Ferazzi Swift holds a Bachelors of Science in Communications Media – Photography and an Associates in Science in Visual Fine Arts – Photography. Paula worked as a staff photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette 1995-2005. In 1999 Paula had three of her images as part as the staff’s Pulitzer Finalist entry in Feature Photography for their coverage of the Deadly Worcester Warehouse Fire in Worcester, MA. She is a member of Professional Photographers of America and Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts. Paula Swift holds many awards under in her 16 years as a professional photographer, in photojournalism at the National Press Photographers Association, New England News Association, Professional Photographers of America’s International Print Competition, Professional Photographers Association of New England and Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts. You can view her Portrait and Photojournalism work at Paula Swift Photography, Inc. Paula Swift Photography, Inc. is a registered corporation in the state of Massachusetts and an insured photography business in the state of Massachusetts and the United States of America. Paula Swift is the owner of Paula Swift Photography was established in 2004 and moved into a 1000 sq ft studio loft located in the historic Fountain Street Studios in 2006. The studio was recently expanded to add another 1000 sq ft in 2009.

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Meet beautiful breast cancer survivor Tara and her very adorable daughter Ava…they were the cover models for baystateparent Magazine’s annual Think Pink issue. It was an amazing photo shoot in my Framingham studio loft with this incredible mom and her fun 2 year-old daughter. From the moment they walked into the studio, I just knew this was going to be fun and energetic studio photo shoot. As a former photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, these are the type of shoots I just fall in love with. I just loved their personalities which was so key in capturing these fun and story-telling images for baystateparent’s issue on breast cancer and their survivors. The Think Pink annual issue is one of my favorites they publish every year. Paula Ethier, the creative director at baystateparent is always a pleasure to work with and I love her ideas. Check out this October’s issue and the stories written by Lynn Jolicoeur and other local journalists about Tara along with other local women who are conquering breast cancer with their strength and incredible positive attitudes!

Thank you Tara, Ava and baystateparent.. it was a honor to meet and photograph you.

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Thank you for all who voted for Paula Swift Photography, Inc. as Boston’s Best Family Photographer in Nickelodeon’s Parents Connect we were notified recently that we WON!

I love photographing families and their children and this is such an honor to be considered Boston’s Best Family Photographer. Many of you know I spent 10 years as a photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and I am thrilled to have turned my experience as a staff photographer there, into a Photojournalistic Boston Family Photographer

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a fun email to receive while you are away on a get away from your family.

“You’ve been nominated by Nickelodeon’s Parents’ Connect Picks Award as Boston Best Family Photographer!”

Come vote for Paula Swift Photography, Inc. through August 31st, 2010.

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Very exciting news here at Paula Swift Photography!  I recently found out 2 of my images were accepted and awarded at the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) International Photographic Competition.  ”Roots and Wings” 9was selected to be in the PPA’s Loan Collection where it will travel around the country on display with other Loan prints. This is what PPA and its members consider “the best of the best”. “The Journey”  was selected into the General Collection where it will be on display at the annual convention next January in Texas. Both of these prints won big in 2009 at our state PPAM convention and then were awarded seals at the regional level PPANE last fall. So I entered them at the big International Competition and was so surprised one of them went Loan!  Did I mention this was my first time entering PPA’s competition???  Thank you for letting me share this amazing news with you. Stay tuned for many featured sessions to be blogged soon!

Here are the award winning prints…

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