I want to share my favorite photos of my girls and explain why they are my favorite. This season I'm changing the way I normally run a session. I'm going for less posing and more fun and way more feeling. This has always been my goal as a photographer.This is the year I'm really focusing on perfecting my goal. It's easier for me to explain with my favorite photos so here it goes.
This is probably my all time favorite photo of my girls. I get asked a lot if I set it up. The answer is yes of course! We had just moved into this house and I was noticing how pretty the afternoon light was coming through the window. I had a vision of the girls having a tea party in the light. So the next day I set everything up. I used real treats (a trick to get the kids to sit there) I used real dishes because minor details make a huge difference in the end. I let the girls dress themselves. Maddie is glamorous. She loves to add and keep adding to her outfits. Kae was 2 then and going through a minimalist phase. She had her little dress on for all of 30 seconds before stripping it off and streaking around the house. (yes I kept shooting) I love how her shoes are kicked off under the table. Even now she kicks her shoes off at every opportunity. The puppy was an added bonus. She smelled the cookies and had to see for herself what was going on. I had not planned or predicted she would do that. It reminds me to wait and see what happens. Because most of the time real life will win over my vision. I've wanted to recreate this scene again to show how much all 3 girls have grown. Part of me is hesitant though.
This is my all time favorite family photo we have. I had this vision for 2 years! I kept thinking how can we do this if I set up a tripod etc....Well, I found my how when I exchanged sessions with another local photographer. :) I told her exactly what I wanted and she got it! I was beyond thrilled! I've been wanting to do some sessions like this for clients and let me tell you this was by far the easiest session ever! Not much to set up except making the bed :) Dressed everyone in white because I wanted it to be timeless and classic. I knew exactly what I wanted so was less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Why I liked it? Because it's my family! We don't have many pictures of all 4 or us and it's fun. The kids are having a blast and that's what I want to remember.
I love kids in their rooms. Kae is all about gymnastics and like most kids she sees the trampoline within her bed. Not much set up here she dressed up and jumped on her bed. I thought the colors were nice together. Again it's just her having and that is why I love it.
Maddie riding her bike and a proud dad standing in the background. I love the summer feel of this too. As far as photography rules goes this really is not the best photo. Her legs are chopped off! But I love it. I don't mind the bad chop because it is a good memory.
When Kae got her glasses I wanted to capture it. One morning I dressed her in this cute outfit and we walked to the park a block from the house. She loves to swing more than anything. She wants to go higher and higher and fly. She was 2 1/2 here that can be a tough age but not if you find something that they are happy doing!
Smart phones have become part of our kids lives like it or not. One morning I was getting ready and looked over at Maddie sitting on the tub playing a game. Grabbed my camera and snapped away.
She has a great smile and laugh. This gets captured that it's hard to do the older they get. I stood there for a long time. We were talking and she relaxed. Then we started making each other laugh. Sometimes you can't force the issue. Waiting it out works much better.
Finally, our Christmas card a couple years back. I love Kae in her feet pj's and curls. I don't remember Maddie being so small either. For me this is the one of those moments that I wish I could push the pause button. That is my goal in photography to be the pause. I want to get a photo of your kids being kids. Who they are and what they are about. It's not about sitting on a bench with matching reindeer sweaters. Forcing unhappy kids to smile. That is NOT your family. I rarely actually see families do this without a photographer standing near by. :)
When you schedule your appointment think about your family's favorite activities. Let's come up with ways to capture the right here and right now.
