Five Common Questions about Couples’ Portraits at The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
I photographed Brian and Elie at The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University this past weekend. This was a venue that I'd never been to before; however, knowing how beautiful Roxbury is, I knew that I would not be disappointed by this location. Given the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts, and the fact that Elie’s proximity to positive cases (he’s a doctor), the two of them decided to celebrate their nuptials with a couple of close friends at their home in Roxbury. For their pictures, they decided to have a safe socially distant session outdoors and Brian chose the Arnold Arboretum in Boston for their “couple in love” portrait session.
Having been to the Arboretum myself now and experienced it, I wanted to share 5 things most couples should know about photographing portraits at the park.
Do you have to pay to access the park?
You do NOT have to pay to access the park. The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is actually a publicly owned park that is free to the public. I found out that the land that makes up the park is owned by Boston, but is run by Harvard University. Harvard, it appears, signed a 1,000-year lease in 1882 to use the property. This means in my lifetime, at least, we can all enjoy the park at no expense!
How large is the park?
The park is 281 acres! It is described as a living museum by the park's website and having been there, I have to agree! In our session, Brian, Elie, and I barely walked a mile, and we came across some of the most exquisitely designed landscapes I've come across. The trees, shrubs, and flowers were planted in such complimentary, yet natural configurations. Per usual, I arrived a little bit before my couple so I could scope out the site, and my creative sense flared! Everything I saw was so inspiring, just walking around.
Can we bring our dog?
The park is dog-friendly! Quite frankly, while I was there, I saw almost as many dogs as I did people, and it was somewhat distracting! They were all so cute and friendly. Brian and Elie chose to leave their fur-baby home because they were dressed to the nines and didn't want to worry about getting fur all over their clothes.
Are there places to change at the park?
Yes - there were many restroom locations around the park where you could change your attire. And I'm talking about regular restrooms, not mobile units. I don't consider portapotties restrooms. There's no emergency dire enough to make me use one of those things.
What should I expect from my portrait session?
You should expect to walk a lot. During my session with Brian and Elie, we walk into the park from the Faulkner Hospital Entrance (one of the few spots with easy access to parking …shhh! Don't tell anyone) to the Bonsai Gardens and then down to the Rose Garden Arches. And that was barely a mile, and it took us about 90 minutes. You will walk uphill, downhill, on a trail, and on the road. You will walk and walk and walk again! So make sure you bring comfortable shoes. Brian did and was eternally grateful for it!
I cannot wait to return to the Arboretum for another session. If you're in Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, or don't mind driving into Boston - please give me a call! Let's plan a session, and we can discover the park together. In the meantime, I'm going back to the park. I plan to pack myself a sip and paint picnic and just head up there with my family to enjoy the grandeur of this lush oasis in the heart of Boston.