Meet April, a Westwood mom of three and the photographer behind April K Photo. Originally from Wilson, NY, a small farming town on Lake Ontario, April now lives in Westwood with her husband, their three children, and golden retriever. With a background in broadcast journalism and studio art, April has been behind the camera for more than two decades and launched April K Photo in 2011. Today, she is passionate about documenting women and families through all of life’s different seasons, from weddings and newborn days to family milestones and women building their businesses. Through her work, April hopes to help women feel seen, confident, and worthy of being in front of the camera. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her cheering on her kids at one of their many activities or exploring local trails and parks with her family. Let’s get to know April!
Tell us about your family! How many children do you have, where are you from, and where do you live now?
I’m originally from Wilson, NY, a small farming town on Lake Ontario, where I grew up as the middle of five kids in a big, loud, close-knit family. My husband and I live in Westwood, MA and have three kids who keep us wonderfully busy. My oldest loves travel baseball and robotics, my middle is all-in on volleyball and field hockey, and my youngest is a gymnast. Oh, and we have a golden retriever named Trek, so it’s never quiet around here.
What’s your favorite aspect about being part of this community?
What I love most is the resourcefulness of moms in this area. There is so much talent, drive, and heart in the Needham, Wellesley, and Newton communities, and I feel lucky to photograph the women who are building businesses, raising families, and doing it all at the same time. Moms here show up for each other, and that energy is contagious.
What’s your favorite family activity to do in the area?
We are a baseball family, so you’ll find us at fields all over MetroWest most weekends. But when we get slower, we love exploring the trails and parks around the area. There’s so much green space close by that people don’t take advantage of enough. Hale Reservation is one of my all time favorites.
Tell us more about your background as a photographer and what inspired you to get into this industry?
I actually started in a darkroom in 2003, which feels like a lifetime ago and also like yesterday. My background is in broadcast journalism and studio art, and photography was always the thread that tied those two worlds together for me. I built April K Photo in 2011 out of a genuine love for documenting women at moments of becoming, whether that’s an engagement or wedding, welcoming a new baby or stepping into a new chapter of their business. That has been my north star ever since.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love making women feel seen. That sounds simple, but it’s everything. So many of my clients come in not knowing how to be in front of a camera, not sure they’re worth the investment, and they leave with images that finally reflect who they actually are. That shift, that moment where someone looks at a photo of themselves and feels proud, that’s why I do this.
It’s so hard to balance work and mom life. How do you maintain a healthy work life balance?
I’ll be honest, I think “balance” is a myth. What I’ve learned is that I have to be intentional about boundaries, because when you run a solo business out of your home, everything can blur together really fast. I protect certain hours for my kids and certain hours for my work, and I give myself permission to not be available for everything all the time. Some seasons are heavier on work, some are heavier on family, and after struggling for years with this, I’ve made peace with that rhythm.
What is the best advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
“You don’t have to earn rest.” I carry that one with me constantly. Moms are so conditioned to keep going, keep producing, keep doing, and someone said that to me at exactly the right moment. You’re allowed to stop before the list is finished.
What is the best advice you’d like to give a mom?
Stop waiting until you feel ready to invest in yourself, and stop waiting for the “right time” to document the moments that matter most. Those early newborn days feel endless when you’re in them, and then suddenly they’re gone. The photos you keep putting off because the timing isn’t right or the budget feels tight, those are the ones you’ll wish you had. You deserve to be documented too, not just your babies. Don’t be the mom who’s never in the photos.
What do you say to moms who splurge on everything for their kids but hesitate when it comes to spending on themselves?
I say it all the time, and I say it with love: you are also worth documenting. You just spent thousands on your child’s birthday party, their travel sports fees, their wardrobe, and you absolutely should, because they deserve it. But so do you. A professional session is one of the few investments you make that doesn’t depreciate. Those images will sit on your wall, live in your family’s hands, and outlast every other thing you bought this year. And honestly? Your kids are going to want photos of their mom someday. Give them that.
Thank you April for letting us get to know you! April K Photo specializes in capturing women and families through all of life’s different seasons, from maternity and newborn photos to family sessions, personal branding, and more. With a focus on helping women feel comfortable, confident, and truly seen in front of the camera, April creates images that feel authentic and meaningful for years to come. You can learn more about April and her work at aprilkphoto.com or on instagram at @aprilkphoto.
