This feature in our "Meet the Photographer" series was sponsored by Megan LaBella Photography. We are pleased to recommend her to our readers!

There is a hidden gem of a motherhood photographer on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Megan LaBella Martin, the owner of Megan LaBella Photography and a mom of three small kiddos, knows exactly what it feels like to be the one always taking the photos rather than being captured in the memories. With a degree in photojournalism and a master’s in education, Megan is the perfect person to not only capture beautiful photos but also quickly put your child(ren) at ease so they can enjoy the photo session, too.

Caring for mom

What excited me most about Megan’s philosophy was her non-negotiable insistence that I, the mom, must feel cared for and stress-free leading up to and during the photo session. In my previous family photo experiences, I was always the frantic planner leading up to the photos, and then I was expected to try to look comfortable during the session. My experience with Megan was the exact opposite.

Megan and I had two prep phone calls to discuss location, photo ideas, my daughter, and any questions. She also kindly answered several text messages with a series of outfit options for both my daughter and me, and then a late-night text the day before with some additional last-minute outfit choices. Having a photographer spend the time making sure I had an outfit I loved and would look good on camera meant the world to me. Megan also offered to meet my daughter ahead of time, knowing some kids need a little extra time to get to know the person behind the camera. The thoughtfulness and attention to these important details can only come from a mom in the thick of motherhood herself!

Megan’s philosophy of caring for mom goes above and beyond prep calls and outfit recommendations. Megan partnered with another local North Shore mom, Alyssa Payos, an esthetician and makeup artist out of Beautique Salon and Spa in Newburyport, for hair and makeup before our photo shoot. As someone who has zero skills and expertise in this area — nor the time to figure out these arrangements on my own — I felt so relieved to have all of this set up for me, and I felt confident and beautiful during our session.

The day of

Megan and I decided Newburyport would be a great location for photos, with options for beach or wooded backdrops. Despite checking all morning, traveling from MetroWest on a Saturday inevitably means traffic. Worried I was going to be late (I was), I texted Megan reporting our traffic updates while stuck in them. I received calming reassurance that all was good and to take my time. Knowing I was traveling from MetroWest, Alyssa had blocked her calendar for longer than a normal makeup session. Call it good planning or call it mother’s intuition — either way, I am grateful these women were looking out for me.
 
Sitting in the salon with Megan and Alyssa was like hanging out with two good friends. As Alyssa wove soft curls into my hair and applied makeup, we talked about motherhood, our children, and our career aspirations. My daughter sat in my lap most of the time, enthralled with the hustle and bustle of the salon.
 
After a quick outfit change, we headed to Old Town Hill, a beautiful quiet Trustees property filled with open fields, woodlands, and a salt marsh.

The focus

The photos truly speak for themselves. Megan’s eye for encapsulating all the love and emotions of motherhood in a single image is a treasure I will cherish forever. At one point during our session, Megan told me she wanted to make sure we captured my heart. I can’t think of a better description — my daughter is my heart.
 

Mom, you deserve to be cared for, to have every detail handled, to be pampered, and to be gifted with the most precious photos of you and your child(ren). Whether you are early in your motherhood journey or a long-time veteran, let Megan capture your heart.

Sarah Aspinwall
Sarah Aspinwall
Sarah grew up in Connecticut, but Massachusetts has always felt like a second home with extended family across the state. With a master's in public health and a lifelong passion for healthcare, Sarah moved to Boston after graduation. She is a fierce advocate for better access and reducing the complexities of the healthcare system. Sarah met her husband covered in sweat and lifting weights at a local CrossFit gym (talk about first impressions!). They adopted a rescue pup from Mississippi and welcomed their daughter in 2021. After nearly a decade of city living, Sarah and her family headed to the Metro West area to start a new adventure in the suburbs. Sarah has volunteered for Community Consulting Teams of Boston (CCT), offering pro bono management consulting to Boston-area nonprofits, and she served a three-year term on the board. She is an alumna member of the Kappa Delta sorority and has served as an advisor to the Northeastern chapter since 2014.

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