A Rainy Beacon Hill Christmas Card: The Dongas
“Even with a crazy toddler and a rainy cold day, he was so patient and easygoing. He made us feel totally comfortable in front of the camera and somehow captured the most magical moments without anything feeling staged.”
A little rain never hurt, not even a Christmas card.
I met Molly, Nolan, and their daughter Lainey on a misty winter afternoon in Beacon Hill, just as wreaths and holiday decor had fully settled onto the historic brick streets. The light rain felt more atmospheric than inconvenient, softening the edges of the neighborhood and giving everything a quiet, cinematic stillness. Instead of waiting for clearer skies, we leaned into the drizzle—walking slowly through the streets, sharing umbrellas, and letting the rhythm of the rain guide us.
But there was another boss on set: Lainey.
Photographing families with young children always brings a different kind of movement and energy. With Lainey, the session stayed playful and flexible, shaped by curiosity, small distractions, and the natural unpredictability that comes with childhood.
With the help of a few cookies, we coaxed out laughter and joy that shaped the most meaningful moments—while she explored, reached for her parents’ hands, and splashed in newly discovered puddles. This candid uncertainty is something I look forward to, because it replaces perfection with honesty and allows the images to feel lived-in and true. Cookie bribery included.
There was also a deeper sense of anticipation woven through the afternoon. With Molly expecting baby number two, the entire session became a meaningful in-between—a chapter as a family of three preserved just before everything grows.
Christmas cards will mark the season on paper, but the photographs carry something longer lasting: a soft, rainy day in Beacon Hill resting at the edge of change, and the quiet beginning of life as a family of four, with a new little brother for Lainey on the way.
