family photojournalist Archives - Sudbury - Framingham - Boston Newborn, Child & Family Photographer

June 5, 2023

Toy Story Graduate

Toy Story Graduate
“Yesterday” I walked Trevor up to his first day of kindergarten with his Woody from Toy Story hanging off the back of his backpack. Now he gets ready to graduate from high school. His journey hasn’t been easy over the past 13 years while dealing with Chronic Lyme Disease. But he is a warrior and defied the odds of graduating on time with the help of his teachers and doctors. He did it! Thank you Framingham teachers, staff and his medical team for believing in our son, Trevor!

I wanted to create something unique and personalized to remember all his hard work; to show that he will continue onto his next journey.
“To Infinity and Beyond” was one of those famous sayings in the Toy Story movies. This was perfect for his cap and gown photography session. I had tears as he started to walk down this path and he was “mom, really?” Even photographers get emotional over their own images.

How did I capture this photograph?
I used an off camera flash at just camera left to light up the Toy Story characters and used my 24-70mm 2.8 RF Canon lens on my Canon R5. Using this mirrorless body offered the LCD to be viewed as live on the ground to give the perspective that the Toy Story were larger and equal to size of my graduate who is walking off to his next journey.
I used a shallow depth of field at 3.5 to blur the graduate as he walked away. The focus was the characters and they watched him walk down the path close to sunset.

This location was special to our family, as I’ve photographed my boys here almost every year since they were toddlers. Cushing Park in Framingham is a beautiful passive park.
I love to tell stories through my photography, even if its just one image. You feel emotion and know there is a story behind the image.
Yes, he still had his favorite Toy Story friends, some packed away in a box – but his buddy Woody was still sitting up on his dresser with some of his sports trophies.

I’m sharing this story with you because many of you have graduates or someday soon. Remember to capture those memories.

Those fleeting moments are remembered best through photography. Lastly make sure to print those photographic memories because digital images will become obsolete in the future. The printed photographic can last for a lifetime.

Your children will thank you for having those photographs. They can look back at their childhood and remember all those experiences through printed photographs as well as share these memories with their future children.

Toy Story Graduate

Here is a photo of my son on his first day of kindergarten as he walked up to the path of school with the backpack as big as him with his favorite toy, Woody from Toy Story. Back then, he never went anywhere without his favorite buddy. 1st day of school

Here is a small video of the location and as he walked down this path as the sun was setting.

Are looking for unique senior portraits for your High School Senior in Framingham, Natick or Sudbury? It’s fun to include your sports uniform in your full hour senior session. My full hour senior session offers you plenty of time to change outfits and have multiple poses. Don’t forget to book a Cap and Gown session once graduation is open us. We can do a 30 minute mini session or a full hour. The day of the actual graduation is crazy busy. Usually the schools either give out the cap and gown a few days before or you are purchasing them to keep forever.

I offer senior portraits for students from Medway, Hopkinton, Wellesley, Hopedale, Walpole, Ashland, Marlborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boston. As well as sessions for seniors from Sherborn, Wayland, Brookline , Cambridge, Natick, a Medfield. Paula Swift offers beautiful portraits of athletes in my studio and outdoors.

Visit Paula Swift Photography – https://www.paulaswift.com to find out more information about booking a photography session.

Master Photographer and a Certified Professional Photographer with over 28 years of professional photography experience. Beautiful portraits can be captured right in your hometown of Framingham, Wayland, Concord, Natick MA, Marlborough, Holliston or Ashland.

Lastly, my creative eye will give your senior the best and unique look for their senior year. Cushing Memorial Park and Farm Pond in Framingham is a beautiful location for your high school portraits in Massachusetts.

As a former staff photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper in Worcester, MA Paula also holds two college degrees in the field of photography.
Paula Swift Photography has won awards for her newborn, baby, children, family, maternity and high school photography through the Professional Photographers of America, and Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts – PPAM.
She is the recent past President of PPAM for the year of 2021-2023.

February 5, 2021

Documenting Milestones

I wrote this article last fall for the Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts newsletter. I feel its important to share this with a wider audience, as we need to keep on documenting milestones, no matter how big or small. Moments are part of our photographic history and legacy.

As photographers one of the best parts of our career is that we are gifted with the opportunity to document milestones of families and their children we meet. We are blessed with creative eyes to capture memories that our clients can’t do themselves. Those fleeting moments that they miss because they are part of the moment or just don’t have the skills to achieve themselves. But what happens when a milestone comes into our family? We have all experienced this whether it’s our own children, family members or with our own furry children. Yes, we can hire someone to capture those moments but there is something a bit more special and challenging to do it yourself. As we know our own family is not the easiest subject. From complaining about not wanting to do the session, liking how we are particular with clothing and being picky about how their hair looks. Everything our clients go through but it’s so much more heightened when it’s your own family member and more so when it’s your own teenager.

This fall, my oldest son Ryan made it to his senior year. I knew for months this was coming, but of course the pandemic hit and then my photography session scheduled booked up quickly… clients always come first. Finally, we had one afternoon when I knew the foliage would be gorgeous at the location that was closest to my studio.

Let me go back to 2003 when Ryan was born. I was a full-time staff photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and luckily I had accrued enough sick and vacation time to be able to stay home with him for his first few months of his life. During that time, I started thinking about transitioning away from photojournalism and started researching going into the portrait photography business. But on my terms. I wanted to be able to tell children and family’s stories in a storytelling way using my journalistic style. I went back to my field of photojournalism after my maternity leave while still researching how to break into the portrait business. Then came baby boy number two in 2005. I was ready to leave photojournalism at that time. I photographed Ryan and Trevor constantly but not the smile and look at me type of portraits. It was more just sitting back and being their own personal paparazzi. When Ryan was about three years old, we ventured to the Wayside Inn Grist Mill in Sudbury, just a few miles from our home. This location is heaven for a curious boy. He was wearing his favorite overalls. He had maybe four pairs and lived in them. As he explored the area behind the mill, he would skip along the path. I just kept my distance while quietly documenting the scene as he found new things. This first image is one of the images I captured from that day in 2006 when he was three. Documenting Milestones

As we were going from location to location to find the best natural light and background for his senior portraits this year; he started walking down the path he had skipped along in 2006. I captured him again not realizing how fast his journey had brought him to this moment. I know it’s cliche’ to say this but it was like I blinked and he was suddenly a young man. At that moment all of those memories came rushing back to me. The Journey While in 2006, I photographed the scene in the spring, it was now fall of 2020. It all just came together to show seasons change as a young boy grows into a young man.

Ironically, one of my first PPAM competition merits and Hallmark Gallery award in 2009 image was titled “The Journey”, he was also photographed at the Wayside Inn Grist Mill in his favorite overalls.

Please remember those milestones can be every day moments that will have so much meaning in the future to a family. A moment in time that shows movement, emotion, growth and change without a face, can be just as important. Documenting milestones are part of each family’s photographic legacy to be passed down to the next generation.

About Paula:

Paula Ferazzi Swift, M.Photog., Cr., CPP is the owner of Paula Swift Photography,Inc. studio in Sudbury, MA. She is the current VP of Technology for PPAM, and is nominated to be the incoming PPAM president for 2021-2022. She lives in Framingham with her husband and three sons. After a career as an award winning photojournalist, she now offers a full array of studio and location photography services. She recently earned Bronze Medal status in the 2020 IPC.

framingham senior photographer
high school senior photos

May 14, 2019

Wayside Inn Grist Mill Photo Session

It was really nice meeting this family that was visiting the area from Prague with their adorable and cuddly 7 month old son. We were blessed with warm and sunny weather for their Wayside Inn Grist Mill Photo Session. I’ve almost forgotten what that felt like with all this rain we’ve had this past month. The Wayside Inn Grist Mill in Sudbury, MA is a perfect location for an outdoor photo session. They do ask for a $25 donation to photograph on their grounds, which is so worth it for this beautiful unique New England location. The most popular spot is to have the big red wheel which formal name is the Grist Mill in the background. What many don’t realize is there is so much more there with a stream, old barn , open field and lots of nooks and cranny that I have discovered here that are amazing for family and children photography sessions. I’m very lucky that my Sudbury Photography Studio is just about 1.5 miles from the Wayside Inn Grist Mill so it’s the closest location to my studio and one I highly recommend. Here are many favorites of their sweet and loving family photography session. Wayside Inn Grist Mill Photo Session

Are you looking for Sudbury Photographer or a photographer who can capture fun and loving portraits in a natural way at the Wayside Inn Grist Mill in Sudbury, MA? Paula Ferazzi Swift of Paula Swift Photographing, Inc in Sudbury, Massachusetts offers fun, posed and storytelling photography in Westborough, Northborough, Framingham, Concord, Weston, Marlborough, Southborough, Holliston, Boston, Sherborne, Needham, Wellesley, Wayland, Brookline , Cambridge, Natick, Medfield or in Metrowest ? She will help you with your clothing if you are stumped on what to wear for your photography session. Outdoor photography sessions are perfect to capture this little moments family and children share with one another. Please visit Paula Swift Photography – www.paulaswift.com to find out more information about booking a outdoor fall family photography session. Paula Ferazzi Swift is a Master Photographer and a Certified Professional Photographer with over 24 years of professional photography experience. Featured as Boston’s Best Family Photographer by CBS Boston in 2015, Paula Swift Photography offers creative, story-telling and beautiful images of children and families. Paula Ferazzi Swift is the Author of Storytelling Portrait Photography – How to Document the Lives of Children and Families which is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and your local book stores.

Paula Swift Photography will come to your home or yard to captured your children and family in beautiful and storytelling way. The Wayside Inn Grist Mill in Sudbury, Mass. is an amazing location for your professional photography sessions. For a small donation of $25 we that goes to the Wayside Inn Organization, we can book your session for this beautiful and historical location. Paula Swift, a former staff photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper in Worcester, MA also holds two college degrees in the field of photography. Paula Swift Photography has won awards for her newborn, baby, children, family, maternity and high school photography through the Professional Photographers of America, and Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts . You will find Paula Swift Photography’s beautiful new studio in Sudbury MA just about 20 miles west of the city of Boston. Paula Swift also travels throughout Massachusetts and New England for on location sessions.

Paula’s photography specialties include maternity photography, newborn photography, baby photography, children photography, family photography, high school senior photography engagement photography, sports photography, and freelance photojournalism. Boston Family Photographer, MA Child Photographer and Award-winning Boston Photojournalist, Paula Swift Photography offers a wide range of photography skills for all her sessions. “Paula Swift Photography the best photography in Sudbury MA – Metrowest Boston.” Choose a Professional Photographer with Experience and Skills to capture your special memories. Paula Swift is a 2018 Bronze Medalist and 2014 Photographer of the Year Bronze Medalist in the International Photography Competition by the Professional Photographers of America. www.ppa.com

May 7, 2019

Fun and Loving Portraits

I love photographing these two siblings each year, they always offer fun and loving portraits of each other. I have been going to their home for sessions and never used this beautiful location on their driveway, this year the light just happened to be perfect for their fall photography session. When I photograph sessions I will art direct a pose and then let those fun and loving reactive moments happen, that is what creates my storytelling photography. It’s not all about sitting and saying “cheese” at the camera. Yes I do capture those smiles looking at camera, minus the “say cheese”. It’s about capturing natural expressions that include giggles and smiles throughout our time together. Thank you for letting me be part of your children’s photographic history.

Here are many favorites from their fun and loving portrait session.

shrewsbury photographer

Are you looking for Shrewsbury Photographer or a photographer who can capture fun and loving portraits in a natural way? Paula Ferazzi Swift of Paula Swift Photographing, Inc in Sudbury, Massachusetts offers fun, posed and storytelling photography in Westborough, Northborough, Framingham, Sudbury, Weston, Marlborough, Southborough, Holliston, Boston, Sherborne, Needham, Wellesley, Wayland, Brookline , Cambridge, Natick, Medfield or in Metrowest ? She will help you with your clothing if you are stumped on what to wear for your photography session. Outdoor photography sessions are perfect to capture this little moments family and children share with one another. Please visit Paula Swift Photography – www.paulaswift.com to find out more information about booking a outdoor fall family photography session. Paula Ferazzi Swift is a Master Photographer and a Certified Professional Photographer with over 24 years of professional photography experience. Featured as Boston’s Best Family Photographer by CBS Boston in 2015, Paula Swift Photography offers creative, story-telling and beautiful images of children and families. Paula Ferazzi Swift is the Author of Storytelling Portrait Photography – How to Document the Lives of Children and Families which is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and your local book stores.

Paula Swift Photography will come to your home or yard to captured your children and family in beautiful and storytelling way. The Wayside Inn Grist Mill in Sudbury, Mass. is also an amazing location for your professional photography sessions. For a small donation of $25 we that goes to the Wayside Inn Organization, we can book your session for this beautiful and historical location. Paula Swift, a former staff photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper in Worcester, MA also holds two college degrees in the field of photography. Paula Swift Photography has won awards for her newborn, baby, children, family, maternity and high school photography through the Professional Photographers of America, and Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts . You will find Paula Swift Photography’s beautiful new studio in Sudbury MA just about 20 miles west of the city of Boston. Paula Swift also travels throughout Massachusetts and New England for on location sessions.

May 6, 2019

Photography Workshops

Our last two Photography Workshops for 2019
Storytelling Portrait Photography on Saturday June 1st, 2019
and
Newborn Photography Studio Lighting & Posing on Saturday August 3rd, 2019

Learn how to photograph children, families and newborns from a professional photographer who has been a full time award-winning photographer for over 24 years.

_____________________________________

STORYTELLING PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP – HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES NATURALLY

Storytelling Photography Workshop
Saturday June 1st, 2019
10:00 am – 5:30 pm

Are you ready to learn how to capture your clients in a fun and storytelling way?

Have you wondered how to let your families be relaxed so you can photograph them how they truly are with their children?

Do want to learn to photograph those children who are on the go or are very shy in front of the camera?

This Storytelling Photography Workshop is just you have been looking for.

Once a dynamic photojournalist and staff photographer at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette; photographing news stories, sports and features all over Massachusetts, Paula Ferazzi Swift owner of Paula Swift Photography, Inc.. in Sudbury, MA now uses these same skills to photograph children and families. She wants she shares these with you!

Whether it’s a fleeting moment when a child thinks no one is looking, a hug a parent shares with a little one, or even a toddler running, giggling, from the camera, Paula approaches her sessions just like a fire…ready to go at a moment’s notice, but in a stress-free, fun experience for her clients.

Paula will share her experience as a photojournalist and how she implements those skills in capturing beautiful, timeless and story-telling portraits in today’s competitive photography world. You’ll start in the studio for a portion of the day and then head outdoors to photograph children and a family. She will discuss how the same skills and thought processes behind photojournalism can help you capture amazing storytelling portrait photography images for your clients.

Watch and learn what Paula has to share and discover ways these will impact your own photography. Then you will have your chance to do it as well..the best to learn photography, watch, learn and do!

Paula’s book Storytelling Portrait Photography: How to Document the Lives of Children and Families
Is available on Amazon …buy it before the class and Paula will sign it for you. 🙂 This book is perfect to have before or after you take this workshop.
https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Portrait-Photography-Document-Children/dp/1682031489/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480439103&sr=8-1&keywords=amherst+media

Date: Saturday June 1st, 2019

Time: 10am – 5:30pm

Small class environment and limited to 10 photographers.

Items to Bring: Note-taking materials, DSLR and Zoom Lens (not mandatory, bring what you have), camera not mandatory if you are just starting out, lunch/snacks or money for lunch ( we can order take out).
Location:

Paula Swift Photography, Inc.
730 Boston Post Road, Suite 29
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-261-5266

We will go outside to a location nearby to photograph family and children.
To register for this class email Paula
paula@paulaswift.com

Registration open until May 28th 2019 or until sold out.
Cost is $325 and must be paid at time of registration to guarantee your workshop seat.
All of our workshops are taught in English only

For those of you traveling from out of town. Logan Airport in Boston, MA is 25 miles east of the studio and the best airport to fly into. There is Fairfield Inn by Marriott located the next block from the studio. They are located at 738 Boston Post Road and we are at 730 Boston Post Road. You can walk to the studio…they are that close.

Here are beautiful storytelling portraits that were captured during our June 2018 Workshop!

mother and daughter moments
storytelling family photography
Behind the scenes of the June 2018 workshop
photography workshop

NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
STUDIO LIGHTING AND POSING

Newborn Photography Workshop
Saturday August 3rd 2019
9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Spend the day with award-winning newborn photographer Paula Swift as she shares over 24 years of experience as a professional photographer. Get hands-on as you learn studio lighting for newborn sessions. While many photographers are teaching natural or constant light in this area, Paula shows how and why studio lighting is her way to go and how easy it can be. You’ll also learn how to prepare for a shoot, including client consultation, props and light set ups. Explore techniques to help throughout the session such as soothing and safety tips, POSING of new baby, how to put everyone at ease, as well as lenses and lighting methods that work beautifully for newborn sessions.

Best part, you’ll get to photograph the newborn(s) we have for the workshop as well.
Take advantage of Paula’s expertise and experience to learn more about newborns and how to photograph them beautifully, using light properly and being SAFE!

Date: Saturday August 3rd, 2019

Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Items to Bring: Note-taking materials, DSLR zoom lens and/or macro lens, camera is not mandatory if you are just starting out,
a sack lunch/snacks or money for lunch, we can order take out.

Cost: $325

Location:
Paula Swift Photography, Inc.
730 Boston Post Road, Suite 29
Sudbury, MA 01701
978-261-5266

We will have at least one newborn to photograph during the workshop.

What will be covered during the Newborn Workshop?
Studio Lighting
Safety
Posing
Best Angles
Wrapping Techniques
Props
Client Prep
Composition
Photography Equipment Used

Small class environment and limited to 8 photographers.

Who should attend: A photographer just starting out to a seasoned pro. If you are looking to get into Newborn Photography this will cover the basics of studio lighting, how to prep clients, newborn safety and posing. You can sit back and watch or take your own photos. Models will be released for portfolios. There is no mileage restriction for this workshop, anyone can attend who wants to learn how to photograph newborns.

To register for this class email Paula
paula@paulaswift.com

Registration open until July 31st, 2019 or until the class sells out.

Paula Swift Photography excepts all major credit cards and checks for registration fee

All of our workshops are taught in English only

Did you take a previous full day workshop with Paula Swift in 2017 or 2018? Let her know when you register and you will receive $25 off your workshop fee.
Thank you to WHCC for sending giveaways to the studio for students who are attending and for supporting my workshops and speaking engagements.
newborn photo classes
Paula Swift, M.Photog., Cr. CPP was recognized in August 2018 as a Bronze Medalist for her Newborn Photography at the Professional Photographers of America International Photographic Competition. She will also have two of her images printed in the 2018 Showcase book and all four of her images will be on display at Imaging USA in Atlanta, GA in January 2019. These are her four award-winning images.
Award Winning Newborn Photography

You will create beautiful newborn photographs right along with Paula, as you learn simple studio lighting techniques and how to pose a new baby safely and beautifully.

FOLLOW US @PAULASWIFTPHOTO

Boston Metrowest Massachusetts Photographer
- Sudbury Photography Studio -

Paula Swift is an award-winning photographer specializing in portraits of newborns, babies, children, families, maternity, high school seniors and couples – offering both posed and lifestyle photojournalistic sessions to fit your style. If you are looking for a photographer near me, check out Paula Swift Photography. Located in Sudbury, MA and serving clients throughout the Boston area including these following cities and towns in Metrowest Boston and beyond: Auburndale, Acton, Arlington, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Berlin, Bellingham. Billerica, Bolton, Boston, Boxborough, Brighton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Carlisle, Concord, Dover Framingham, Franklin, Foxborough, Grafton, Groton, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Mansfield, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Millis, Milton, Needham, Natick, Newton, Norfolk, Norwood, Northborough, Northbridge, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Swampscott, Upton, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Weston, Westwood, Whintinsville, Winchester, Woburn, Wrentham and Worcester, Massachusetts.
If you don't see your city or town listed, please reach out to Paula Swift to inquire about having a photo session in your area.
Paula also offers beach sessions in Southern Maine in the summer. Please reach out at least 6-8 weeks in advance to book your beach session.

ADDRESS:

730 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 01776

PHONE:

978.261.5266

EMAIL:

paula@paulaswift.com