Outdoor photo sessions are my favorite thing to shoot. There is nothing like natural light, open space, and a location that means something to the people in front of my camera. But outdoor sessions come with a responsibility that not everyone thinks about. But I think about it a lot.
Leave No Trace
a set of ethics and best practices in order to both enjoy and protect the outdoors
On September 11, 2026 I became a certified Leave No Trace professional. Leave No Trace is a nationally recognized outdoor ethics program built around seven principles designed to protect the natural spaces we love to spend time in.
As a photographer who shoots almost exclusively outdoors in Central Massachusetts, this certification felt like a natural extension of how I already approach my portrait work.
Whether we are shooting at a working farm, a state park, a nature trail, or someone’s backyard, leave no trace is not just a philosophy I believe in. It is now a certification I hold.
Stuff we can do!
- Biodegradable glitter: looks identical to regular glitter in photos and leaves nothing harmful behind in the soil or water.
- Seltzer water in a champagne bottle: same visual, same energy, same spray. Nobody knows the difference in a photo.
- Biodegradable confetti: paper fully compostable and we clean up every piece before we leave.
- Balloons — used and removed responsibly. Never released into the air.
- Natural props like flowers, fruit, fabric, and food — beautiful, versatile, and leave nothing behind.
Stuff we can't do.
- Traditional plastic glitter — leaves microplastics in soil and water and is not worth it.
- Regular confetti — takes forever to clean up and often cannot be fully collected from grass or ground cover.
- Smoke bombs at most locations — many parks, farms, and natural areas prohibit them entirely. I research location rules ahead of time and will never use one where it is not permitted.
- Anything that cannot be fully removed from the location when we leave.
- Remove flowers or plants from our locations. Leave it how we found it.
Why This Matters
When we shoot on private farmland or in a natural area we are guests. The land is someone’s livelihood or a protected ecosystem and it deserves to be treated that way. I research every location ahead of time so we show up prepared and leave the space exactly as we found it. That access is a privilege and I take it seriously. It is the same mindset I bring to every session I shoot.
What This Means for Your Session
You still get the champagne spray shot, glitter explosion, and confetti moment. All of it, done thoughtfully, with a Leave No Trace certified photographer who researched and took care of the details.
Say hello. Let's work together.
If you are planning a creative outdoor session in Central Massachusetts and you want the fun props done the right way, I would love to work with you. Fill out the form and let’s start planning!
