family portrait. there are so many ways to create them. i’m halfway obsessed with those of the past – the formal stiff everyone in their best clothes staring back with a blank expression – and those of today that reflect a family’s personality, a time & place that is now. so during a session a few weeks ago, well rather before the session scouting around the area for interesting vignettes – i saw this ramp leading down to a parking garage. the slope, the angles, the geometry of shapes – well i had an idea of a family lineup. and that’s what we did. i think this format leads to an image that is a little different but no less meaningful or fun. and unique.

the longer i go at this, the clearer i am on creating a street documentary format for portraits.  personally i like the blend of work that results &  not only does everyone have a great time, there is an openness & trust that makes the session more of a creative experience. while i do mix in portraits, i’m always taken with the others that surface – ones that are little pieces of art that just happen to include the client. this past weekend, i had the opportunity to photograph a family – four kids, two parents. with all the kids in other states, it’s the rare occasion they are all together at one time. so, we started out at a pub near Faneuil Hall (one the parents had their first date in) with pints and appetizers. And then made our way around Quincy Market. while we had to move fast (it was freezing out), we did it in a way that made for a lot of laughter despite the wind & the chill. and the best compliment i received was a hug. from them all. and a thank you for a wonderful experience. (i learned later, that everyone was dreading the experience so they were happily surprised with how things turned out.)

to say i am happy with them is an understatement. truth is, i’m in love with a lot of them. they are beautiful and real, visceral, and filled with connection. and i’m sold on this type of offering because everyone walks away with a lovely memory – one that’s expressed as art.

it moves me to see a unique connection within a family…and this one is deeply bonded in affection, care, respect, admiration, appreciation & love. it’s visible expression that i physically felt. i am so thankful we wove these in & wanted to share a few… hopefully i’ve posted in time for them to see before the holiday festivities begin….

h/m – you are beautiful and you have incredible children!

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth. (Rumi)

where does one begin with such loveliness…beauty that fills one up with happiness that has everything to do with the shine of the mum & what glows from within. this was a lightful, loveful, playful, happiful, rompinful day (i’m on a making up word roll here) that took place in well cared for yard (tx to jodi & bill) & finished in a surprising find – an old graveyard set in a breathtaking setting behind a church down the street. the light was the prettiest so far this summer. there were so many to choose from that i’m breaking this down into two parts….the ones that hit my soul – those silent, still poetic ones – i’ll share another time.

laughter
loud & unrestricted
chaos
fleeting & revered
we play
we eat
we meltdown in safety
we sleep
& dream
never ending tomorrows

See more …

Selecting one image from a session sounds pretty straightforward…and acclaimed wedding photographer Jeff Ascough makes it look so effortless. I’ve followed his Photograph of the Week series for almost a year as his insights are inspiring & informative, & his thoughts around his choice for Week 41 relate well to a recent session & one’s ability to notice.

“It’s the ability to notice, study and observe combined with an eye for light and composition that makes you a photographer…”

I won’t profess to have arrived in terms of the discipline & trust this requires, but it is part of my thinking at every session. Which brings me to the Selected from a recent children’s session. I wanted to get a few of mother/daughter interacting without me in their face and sort of hid alongside and behind the refrigerator. In looking at the scene, I noticed the reflection in the refrigerator and positioned myself to place the emphasis on the mother’s face. The image really shows the real day-to-day of a wonderful mother who spends a lot of time playing with her little one. The other two I’d wanted going in were ones showing her lovely eyelashes (love this angle for children) and profile (bonus that she was at her crib).