The Hill Family | Grow Session | Belchertown, Massachusetts

When Renee reached out and wanted to do a family session at Quabbin Reservoir, I couldn’t wait! I have known her husband, Sean, since we were children. I have the fondest memories of going trail riding through the woods with the horses, and walking the property all around our neighborhood. Keep in mind, in Belchertown, it is NOT suburbia. Its super rural with windy and bumpy roads, and homes with lots of land and space. Back then there weren’t many paved neighborhoods, which is what I love most about growing up there.

Now it has been YEARS since I have connected with Sean, and being in this business has enabled me to re-connect with so many people from my younger years, which has been so amazing. He co-owns and runs Bear Hill Saw Mill with his father, and has an amazing collection of new and reclaimed wood, each piece more unique than the next. Great to keep in mind for all those feature walls you’re thinking of installing! Check their mill out here!

Getting to know Renee in a personal capacity as opposed to a friendship existing only on social media was awesome. When we finally met in person I felt that I had known her forever! She is cheery, happy, and always smiling. She’s super creative and owns her own craft company where she makes handmade rustic wood items, which Sean and her have built from the ground up. You can check out all their pieces here, and on facebook here.

In addition to finally meeting Renee in person, I finally got the chance to meet their two beautiful kids! These two have gentle personalities just like their parents, and although they are far apart in age, they are still so close! Wes in Renne + Sean’s son, who is bright eyed, happy go lucky, and has one of those million dollar smiles that’s contagious. Haley, their daughter, is in the medical industry and living in the Boston area with her loving boyfriend, Stephen. She’s getting ready to go to graduate school, so doing some family photos is coming at the perfect time before she is is off to new adventures!

Being able to photograph this family was such a gift. I adored spending time with them all and reconnecting. Here are my favorites from their fun grow session!