First Birthday Photographer · Burlington, MA & Greater Boston
One year old,
exactly as they are.
Candid, natural-light first birthday and baby milestone photos across Burlington, Winchester, Lexington, Arlington, Bedford and the towns nearby — in a local park, or right at home.
Sessions in English, Mandarin or Cantonese · 國語 · 廣東話
4.8 / 5 from 100+ families
1000+ sessions photographed
30+ years behind the camera
7 day gallery turnaround
Ask a question or check a date
Tell me about your little one
No commitment — I reply to every message within 24 hours. Sessions start at $599 with every edited image included. Tell me roughly when the birthday is and what you have in mind, and I’ll come back with dates.
Greater Boston
A first birthday photographer near you
I’m Mat — a photographer based in Burlington, working across the towns nearby. One-year-olds are some of my favourite people to photograph: they don’t pose, they don’t pretend, and everything they do is the real thing.
My sessions are candid and shot entirely in natural light. No studio, no backdrop, no propping a baby into a basket. We go to a park near you, or we stay at home with the cake — and I photograph what actually happens. Sessions start at $599 with every edited image included, and your gallery is delivered within seven days.
The same approach works for six-month and nine-month milestones, and for the whole family in the frame. Babies change fast; sooner is always better.
Planning it
When and where to shoot
Around the birthday
Any time in the two or three weeks either side of the first birthday. Newly standing, newly walking, first proper laughs — that’s the stage worth keeping. Book three to four weeks ahead if you can.
At home, cake welcome
The high chair, the kitchen floor, the window light in the living room. If you want a cake smash, bring the cake — I photograph the real mess, not a staged set. Nobody has to tidy the house.
A park near you
Soft grass, an hour before sunset, and room to crawl or toddle. Every town round here has one. Parents and older brothers and sisters are welcome in the photos at no extra cost.
Recent work
Recent first birthday and baby sessions
Kind words
What families are saying
“Mat has taken our family photos for three years now and we are always very impressed and so happy with his work! He somehow manages to capture many beautiful images of us despite working with silly, quick moving, and sometimes very shy kids. He is so easy to work with, very responsive, professional, and his work speaks for itself.”
“We hired Mat without any knowledge of his work and we were completely blown away. He was professional, courteous and extremely talented. Our photo shoot included 2 toddlers and a doggy. Even with their resistance, he captured amazing shots. The quality of Mat’s work is what you would find for 5 times the price elsewhere.”
“We recently hired him for a maternity photo session. Neither my husband or I are super comfortable getting our pictures taken professionally, but Mat immediately put us at ease. The pictures turned out stunning and he got us the digital proofs very quickly. His prices are incredibly reasonable given what he provides.”
Sessions
Three simple ways to book
Every session includes your full gallery within seven days, every edited image, and a print release.
About Mat
Thirty years of chasing the real moment.
I’ve been taking photos since I was a kid — more than thirty years now — and I turned that into a business in 2015. Two kids of my own later, I still shoot the only way I ever have: candid, natural light, and the moments you didn’t know were happening.
Read My StoryGood to know
First birthday photos, answered
How much does a first birthday session cost?
$599 for 30 minutes, $799 for 60, and $1,199 for 90. Most families choose 30 or 60. Every edited image is included — no sitting fees, no print packages and nothing to buy afterwards.
Can we do a cake smash?
Yes — at home, with your own cake. I don’t bring a studio set or a backdrop; I photograph the actual first bite, the face, the mess and the parents laughing. That’s the picture you’ll keep.
Where do sessions happen?
A park near you, or at home — whichever suits your baby’s nap schedule. Plenty of my favourite first-birthday sessions never leave the house.
Can parents and siblings be in the photos?
Please. Some of the best frames are a big sister meeting the cake, or a parent and baby with nobody looking at the camera. There’s no extra charge for the whole family.
What should my baby wear?
Something they can move in, in solid colours rather than busy patterns. A spare outfit if there’s cake. Bare feet on grass is always a good idea.
How quickly do we get the photos?
Your full edited gallery arrives within seven days, and every image is yours to download and print.
First birthday and baby milestone photos in Burlington, Winchester, Lexington, Arlington, Bedford, Reading and Wilmington.
They’re only one once.
Ask a question or check a date — no commitment. I reply within 24 hours.