Let’s schedule your session! For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/CDP_Info In order to best meet the needs of my clients, session availability is limited. Message me, I’d love to invite you to the studio, meet up for a tasty treat or chat over the phone to get to know one another and discuss your session.
You’ve spent a good deal of time getting the kids ready and have done your very best to get them to your session still intact; no melt downs, no messes on their dress clothes. During their session, they are being well, um… kids. The session wraps and you drive home hoping, just hoping your photographer got a decent image.
I’ve been there, I know exactly how that feels after our own family session. If you are like me, all you ever want from a session are images that show off your child’s unique personality and sibling connections. Images that you’ll want to hang on your walls and gaze upon that remind you of child at that moment in time forever.
Peyton and Kaylie are a bundle of energy. Kaylie might even be related to the energizer bunny. Very few children love being photographed, which is why keeping the session fun is essential. We run, we play, we do jumping jacks, whatever it takes! These games just look like craziness, but truly it is the magic to capturing personality in images, like these of Peyton and Kaylie.
As they grow, I hope they’ll look back on these photos and remember how much they enjoyed each others company. How Peyton is an amazing big brother who adores his little sister. And I hope their momma can look back at the image on the bottom right and remember what it was like being able to carry Kaylie in her arms and make her giggle uncontrollably just by calling out random things and colors.
As a photographer, capturing my own kids is the most challenging. There is nothing new and exciting about the studio for them and they are all too familiar with the crazy lady behind the camera. So this time I decided to employ the help of a big sucker. Originally, I was just trying to get a few updated photos of Eli with Curious George, we’ve been taking pictures with him since Eli was born, but Blake discovered that I was handing out suckers and wanted one as well. Blake adores Eli and loves making him giggle, which he knows all the secrets on how to make Eli bubble with laughter.
Brian arrived home from work and jumped in on a few photos. Eli LOVES his Daddy! They’ve shared a special bond since day one. Anywhere Brian goes, Eli is sure to follow (or scream and fall apart about not getting to). When Eli was itty bitty, Brian would wear him around and they did all sorts of fun stuff, including working on cars and motorcycles. I often wonder if Eli will instinctively know how to fix a bike or become an amazing photographer when he is older, because of his early exposure.
Finally, I managed to get Eli to stay in place long enough to get a few images of him and Curious George alone. The sweet hugs only came after he would knock Curious George off the chair with a football and we would tell him that CG was hurt and needed some loving. Silly little boy!
Last week we took the chance to get away to Ocean Shores for a few days. The day we arrived the weather was warm and sunny, perfect! When we were leaving for the ocean the boys were really not excited (iPads and Xbox’s have a strong pull), but once we were there they were happy as clams playing on the beach.
Our second day we had Washington beach weather; cloudy, cold, rainy and windy. The kids didn’t mind a bit. We swam in the pool twice, took naps, drove around (picking up property flyers and dreaming), ate ice-cream, rode go-karts, drove on the beach and took a misty hike out to the surf. Speaking of ice-cream, I had my first ever scoop of black licorice at the Peppermint Parlor, YUM! If you like black licorice and ice cream, I highly suggest treating yourself to a scoop or two.
We packed up to leave on day three and were ready to head out early in the day. Conner piped up that he was disappointed that we never got to really get into the water. Well, we simply couldn’t let that be, after all the sun was out and it was a warm day. Blake actually fought us for a bit, but we all know that he loves water and it would take him mere minutes to end up in it smiling ear to ear.
I believe that while we grow up, often we stay the same. If you look closing at everyone around you, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of who they were as kids. Blake is a prime example and yes, I realize he isn’t grown up quite yet. When he was about Eli’s age we took him to Ocean Shores for the first time. As I photographed him this time, I was struck by how he did so many of the same things I caught on “film” the first time around; running straight into the water, pointing at it, jumping the waves, loving every moment. All while Conner, who has also grown and still remains the same at his core, stands back and worries a little that his brother is going to fall and get swept away.
Most of the time I come home with photos and never get much farther than uploading them and maybe sharing a couple. This time I promised myself that I would make a slideshow, just like I do for every single one of my clients. Often my clients become misty eyed as they watch theirs, this time it was me tearing up. Next I will be working on a simple album. For as much as I love the slideshow, there is nothing that compares to holding a print.
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