If I can be honest with you for a second, I have always hoped that this family would want me to photograph them at some point. I just love the dynamics of their little family and their kids are incredible. So, when it finally happened, I jumped at the chance. I did a little happy dance! They started out playing a game of Uno in their sunroom that they love so much. It got a little rowdy and I can relate, our family gets really into games too! I love fast paced games like that. It's always fun to photograph. Then we went to the backyard to build a fire, watch the sunset, and eat some yummy s'mores. I love when a family wants to do something a little non-traditional (obviously), but I also love the opportunity to shoot past the golden hour and into blue hour (really minutes, it fades quickly!) and beyond. As I was shooting these, I loved the silvery blue hue the light was giving. It was so overcast and so cold outside, the tones just reflected that perfectly. I'm totally smitten with this whole set. I mean, come on, look at these girls! If you'd like to talk about documenting these ordinary days of yours and making the most out of your moments, let's talk- you and me.
Let's talk about how these moments are fleeting and this is the only way to preserve them. Let's talk about how to get you in the frame with your loved ones instead of always being behind the camera yourself. Click here to send me a message or click on the Contact tab above.
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One of my favorite things to photograph is a lazy-ish Sunday afternoon. This particular session was felt really comforting. It looked a lot like what I think many of our lives look like, just family hanging out together. Just enjoying the time spent together. Because together is enough. I was able to photograph a bit of their morning routine, which included a eating a frozen sausage straight from the freezer and the delicious warm pastry, we all know and love, Toaster Strudel. Gosh, I remember getting SO excited when my mom bought these at the store! They love Legos and did a friendly guys vs. gals building competition. And of course, the kids showed me all of their pets. Little brother showed me his wiggly tooth too! What better way to spend a rainy, freezing cold Sunday afternoon? Warm, inside, hanging out with the people you love- that's what it's all about. To schedule your in home Family Storytelling Session, click here to send me a message. I'd love to talk to you about capturing what's important to you.
Also, if you'd like to learn more about in-home sessions, check out these blogs: Is an In Home Session Right for You? What to Expect on Your In Home Session I wrote a blog a while back that has been one of my most popular blogs to date. I think it's because we can all relate to the sadness of loss and the bittersweet life we live. It's about those places and people that only exist in our memory, it's for those who are no longer with us. You can read that blog here.
I was at a session recently and I climbed into an old cottage in quite a state of disrepair. But, I love old things and I could feel it's history. It was speaking to me. I climbed in to shoot my subject through the tattered and torn curtains. It was clear that no one had been inside for a long, long while. As my eyes traveled over the space, I took a moment to take it all in. You can tell a lot about the people who live in a space by their belongings and the things they hold space for...or in this case, the ones who used to live here. There were relics, memories, and old possessions stacked everywhere. I turned to my left and I saw it there, tucked into the corner next to the window. The light cast it in a romantic glow and the thick layer of dust covered it like a veil. A piano with the most beautiful, intricate carvings on the front. It had books and papers stacked around it and old lamps sitting on top. My breath caught in my chest and the most vivid memory washed over me. I knew this piano, my grandparents had one very similar in their 100 year old home, also filled with relics like this one. I could instantly hear my grandmother playing old hymns and singing along softly, as she picked out the tune. She only played by ear. I could see her hands there hovering over the keys. I could smell something wonderful and warm cooking in the kitchen. I could hear the Braves game in the background. My whole body could remember the feeling of being there in their home. Honestly, it was the sweetest memory. And, it's funny how these things trigger a memory. That blog I wrote that I mentioned above? It talks about what I would do if I could go back just for one day with my camera and how I would document it...how I would honor that space. But I can't go back, so instead, I shot this moment in the here and now because it reminded me of them. And surprisingly enough, all of this happened in an instant. Just the tiniest blip of time in my day. That's usually the way these things go, isn't it? |
AuthorJess is a photographer serving families located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She specializes in documentary and storytelling photography. Categories
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