family
I adore family sessions, but there is something so special about a session with a mom and her first born. Each child is unique and forms there own bond, but there is something about the newness of it all. This is mom’s first experience with her own child. This is a time where they are both learning together and growing. I’ve done a handful of sessions with just mom and her first born and they have become some of my favorites.
Read MoreStop for a second and think about the last time you had your extended family all in one place. Think about the last time you had even your nuclear family in one place. As we get older it becomes harder to stop what we’re doing to visit our parents, children, or grandchildren. I never get to see my sister and niece as much as I would like. Every second that I get with my family is something that I truly cherish, especially after losing my grandfather and grandmother within a few months of each other. Life is so incredibly short and memories tend to fade the older we get. This is a huge reason why I photograph families. I have a deep love for documenting the relationships between them. Most families don’t get together unless there is a wedding or funeral; it’s the sad truth. That’s why I get so excited when people contact me about doing extended family sessions. Involving the grandparents makes for such a special session. It freezes time for everyone involved. It allows them to have memories long after their parents and grandparents are gone. When I was a little girl I don’t remember being in photos with my granddad. But, looking back at those photographs now I’m so lucky to have those. I might not remember the event or circumstance, but I remember how my granddad always made me feel. I couldn’t imagine not having those photographs.
Read MoreIf you asked me what the highest honor of my career is, I would tell you it is when I get to photograph repeat clients. Yes, beautiful photography is important, but more important than that is the experience. I want the people that stand in front of my camera to want to return to it year after year. I want their photographs to line the walls of their homes. I used to love looking at the family vacation photos that the Kennedys had taken every year they traveled. Real moments. Raw moments.
Krysten is someone who I’ve photographed through all of her huge life events. We were new friends when I photographed her wedding and now she is like a sister. We’ve built a trust around my camera and she allows me to fully create art. When new life events come up we already know I’m going to be there to photograph it. We create mood boards and talk locations. She’s hired me to photograph her engagement session in Tallahassee, wedding in Jupiter, maternity photos in Atlanta and Miami, boudoir in Tallahassee, and travel to Oregon. What an incredible ride.
I love travel, I love photography, and I love documenting real moments in people’s lives. I hope to be many people’s “life photographer” during my career.
Read MoreSometimes you get families who just get it. They understand that while an hour family session is wonderful, it’s not really what a day in their lives looks like. This family wanted to spend a few hours just documenting what life is really like when you have a small child. Jessica is a destination photographer and ends up taking her family with her some of the time. This is what life looks like for a lot of traveling photographers. It’s not always glamorous or easy, but there is beauty in it. When you’re gone a lot and constantly busy, sometimes you just have to bring the whole family!
Read MoreBe in the photographs.
Think about the message your passing down to your own children that are looking up to you. If you constantly complain about your looks or not wanting to be in family photographs, what do you think that says to your children, especially your daughters. It’s going to make them question how they see themselves. It will put these ideas in their heads that women shouldn’t age. That women should feel guilt or shame in living their lives naturally and beautifully. If you’re at the place where you don’t want to be in photographs because you feel you have a few pounds to lose, you don’t like your haircut, you think you look to old, or whatever the case, I encourage you to put that all aside and get in those photos. You’ll be so glad that you did.
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