It was just one year ago when we were celebrating his older sister’s First Holy Communion at St Andrew’s Catholic School in Newtown. The Bucks County First Holy Communion photography sessions take place in April and early May. This year, I photographed half a dozen children receiving their First Holy Communion in the Lower Bucks and Philadelphia area. Each session is unique and beautiful in its own way.
At this Holy Communion photo session, he was dressed in the traditional white garment that recalls baptism. Mom and dad explained to me about the history of this white suit; it was the exact suit his father wore for his First Holy Communion decades ago. The dress his sister wore for her session last year was made from her mother’s wedding dress.
We started the Communion session outside St Andrew’s Church in Newtown. The yellow flowers on the door added so much detail to the session, representing spring and post-Easter celebrations at the church. I was not surprised at all how photogenic he was! His sister was just as photogenic, making my job super easy. I knew I wanted to capture his beautiful smile from a few different angles. My favorite portrait of him is the one just below where he is looking down and smiling. The special cross ring on his finger represented just how passionate he is about this very special time in his life.
At the end of the session, we grabbed his bible and headed to the very back of the church. I wanted to use this tree-lined section since the sun was seeping in from behind. I love the yellow and green natural backdrop against his white suit and dark complexion.
Thanks mom and dad for trusting me with these memories!
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More Bucks County First Holy Communion photography sessions can be found here.
Heather Thomas is an award-winning family and newborn photographer serving Philadelphia and Ocean City, NJ. She holds a Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in newborn, children and family photography. Known for her organic and simple style, Heather’s work has been featured in magazines and online publications around the country.
