What I’m hearing from so many parents is that one of the hardest parts of this pandemic is their children’s loss of social interaction. Playing with other children helps develop their personality, as well as create self-esteem. What do you do when your child can no longer be social and play with friends? How do you encourage that grown and build self-worth in them?
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Why I choose a lifestyle approach for family sessions
It comes down to something so fundamentally simple; you have a story to tell and I’m here to help tell it through photographs.
Lifestyle sessions let everyone breathe easier. I had a session where the child didn't want to be in any of the photos. The mom was stressed and kept apologizing. I told her to breathe and that this was a time in their lives. It's so natural for kids to not want to be in photos, or to be over it within a few moments. This is how her son was feeling at this time and that's okay. We thought of ways that would be fun and natural for him. I had dad pick him up and hold him upside down. I had mom spin him and tickle him. Brother played with toy trucks with him. These are the moments that we remember. We remember storytime, bathtime, putting baby to bed, nursing, playing airplane (where you are on your back and you fly your child through the air using your feet), pillow fights, and just being a family.
Lifestyle sessions allow me to be a quiet presence in your family’s life. They allow me to capture moments that you are never going to want to forget. There are no rules when I show up to a session. I just want to tell your story perfectly.
Read MoreFinding a New Normal
The world is beginning to open back up and I’m feeling…sad.
I know, that sounds crazy, but hear me out.
Let me start by saying that I know how privileged this statement is. People have been without income, not able to see family, sick, dying, working overtime, caring for the sick and dying, living with their abusers, missing their senior year or school, and living in their depression.
I have been able to work and still provide services to my clients (past and new) through this quarantine. I don’t take that lightly.
Read MoreYou Are What I'm Grateful For | West Palm Beach Family Photographer | Shannon Griffin Photography
As an adult, I don’t particularly get into the holidays as much as I did when I was a child. There isn’t the same sense of wonder and magic. It’s also the busiest time of year for me (I had a family session yesterday, on Christmas Eve). I’m also very aware that the holidays are not wonderful for everyone. There are a lot of people that don’t have family, friends, a roof over their head, etc. This time of year brings up a lot of depression and anxiety in many. There is no rule that says that you have to be happy and celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas or Hanukkah or any other holiday.
This is where I feel truly lucky. I’m working right up until being with my family, I suffer from anxiety and some depression, and I feel like I’m not getting any time for myself, but…I’m happy as hell. That’s a lot for me to be able to say that. I know a lot of that is because of you, my clients. A big part of my self worth comes from my business, it comes from holding time still for you. It always sounds clichè, but I couldn’t do any of this without you. You keep my passion alive. You keep me believing in myself and my business. You’ve kept my doors open and a fire in my belly for over 10 years.
Read MoreIt's Almost Time to Tell Your Story
While photography is not considered “essential” in immediate terms, it definitely is in the long run. You know why? Because YOU are essential. Your stories and your kids stories are essential. If this time together has taught us anything it’s that family and loved ones are the most crucial aspect of our lives. I’ve always loved photographing families, but this has just solidified that for me 100 times over.
This will not last forever. We will be with our family and friends again. We will be able to hug our loved ones and create new memories.
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