The Lydons

I first met the Lydons a few years back when Deirdre contacted me for a big shoot in Southie with her family and her husband’s brothers, along with their families. I remember that the day of their shoot was cold and blustery but that even in the midst of bitter temperatures, I was thinking that this was one fun family and the kind of people with whom I could easily have a beer…or three. Somewhere during the shoot, Deirdre whispered to me that she was early along in her second pregnancy and would contact me in the spring when baby #2 arrived to join big sister Josephine. Last spring, I got to meet baby Emmett and photograph him just after he was born and everyone was just adjusting to life as a family of four.

This year, Deirde reached out in the winter to set up a spring session and after much coordinating, we were able to come up with a date in mid June. We met at the beach in Southie and we were joined by Deirdre’s brother in law and sister in law and their 2 little ones. It was my first beach session of the summer and I was glad that it was a slightly overcast and somewhat foggy day since I like the way that looks in photos and prefer it to bright blue skies that make everyone squint.

The cousins raced around the beach, sampled tasting the sand and shells and periodically Josephine panicked at the loud sound of airplanes taking off just overhead. I think it’s safe to say that the parents were all doubtful as to whether any usable photos would actually come out of this experience. I, on the other hand had no worries because the truth is, when you put a bunch of people together that all love one another as much as these people clearly do, there’s bound to be some good stuff that happens. When the parents are shaking their heads and making peace with this whole idea being a lost cause, I’m snapping away. Sure enough, there were smiles, there were hugs and there were little moments that tell the story of what life is like right now–and that’s what I call a successful session!