After Bedtime, Before Sunset
As a Duxbury family photographer, I’ve learned that evening sessions have a rhythm of their own. The light shifts, the world quiets down, and somehow kids come alive all over again, even when bedtime has already come and gone!
This family session was full of that in-between magic: big grins, soaked clothes, and the kind of snuggly pauses you want to remember forever. And while it may have looked like just a playful evening on the surface, it carried with it the weight, and the beauty, of everything this family has walked through in the last year.
Originally, these photos were meant to celebrate Audrey’s arrival as a newborn. But life had other plans. After being diagnosed in utero with Pierre Robin Sequence, Audrey spent 54 days in the NICU and underwent three major surgeries before her first birthday. Her parents chose to wait on photos until the surgeries were behind them and Audrey could be celebrated as the strong, vibrant little girl she is now, surrounded by the people who got her there.
The picture of the girls together is so cute 😭😭
(– from their mom, and honestly, I agree.)
This is why I do what I do. It’s not about perfect posing or getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time. It’s about capturing this…the kind of image that hits you in the heart because it feels true. Because it is.
Every family brings their own dynamic. Their own (sometimes wild!) energy. These two girls had so much joy between them, and watching it come through without forcing a single moment? That’s what makes a session like this feel less like a photo shoot and more like a memory. We’re just enjoying some moments together and get to enjoy them forever!
Marking the Moment
Audrey
Celebrating a first birthday isn’t just about cake and candles. It’s about pausing to take in how much life has shifted in just one year. For Audrey, that meant finally being on the other side of surgeries, feeding tubes, and hospital stays, arriving at this moment with wide eyes, strong legs, and a smile that doesn’t quit.
This session felt like an exhale. No pressure. No rush. Just a family soaking each other in, marking the moment not with a party but with presence. And this first photo? The joy on their faces says everything.
A mom & her girls
A baby on your hip, a toddler in the grass, golden light streaming through the trees… that’s the kind of “chaos” I’ll happily photograph any day.
This moment with mom and her baby girl felt like the heartbeat of the whole session. Playful, grounded, connected. One year into this new chapter of their family, and you can feel the rhythm they’ve found together, even if, in her own words, it still feels a little hectic. With Audrey on the move and Emma keeping everyone on their toes, “laid-back” doesn’t quite apply. But love and laughter? That’s everywhere.
The Story
EMMA
I’ve been photographing Emma since she was in her mama’s belly, and somehow, she just keeps getting sweeter. From her newborn session to Christmas minis, to chasing her around during family shoots, I’ve loved watching her grow into this spunky, big-hearted big sister.
There’s a rhythm that forms when you’ve photographed a family over time. Everyone relaxes faster. The smiles come easier. And moments like this one, with her laughing into her mom’s kiss, aren’t just coincidental captures. They’re part of a story that’s still unfolding.
Getting to document these milestones over the years is one of the best parts of being a Duxbury family photographer, especially when families like this one keep coming back for each chapter.
And true to form, Emma immediately stole the show. The moment she saw the camera, she was ready for it. Playing in the water, goofing off, cracking up—it was all joy, all her.
Getting to document these milestones over the years is one of the best parts of being a Duxbury family photographer, especially when families like this one keep coming back for each chapter.
KIND WORDS
Awwww they’re beautiful!! Thank you so much!!…
These are gorgeous!! Thank you again! 🤍🤍🤍
The Complete
Adventure
This session marked Audrey’s first birthday, but in so many ways, it was also a celebration of this whole family’s journey…the strength it took to get here, the laughter they fought to protect, and the rhythm they’re finding together now that the hardest days are behind them.
Here’s a look at some of my favorite images from the evening.
All about the session
THE LOCATION
Beautiful Duxbury, MA on the South Shore
carynscanlan.com
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