Last year this time, I was tentatively preparing for a big switch to full service sessions, with an emphasis on creating tangible artwork for my clients and no longer selling digital files. I could see the benefit in serving my clients by providing a complete experience from planning through delivery of artwork. But my timing of making this transition after the shut-down in 2020 required a lot of faith. Was this a good move, or would I hear crickets?!?
As a parent, I’m always thinking about what I can do to make experiences more fun for my kids and for me! And I really like this mama’s approach to her family portraits. She chose Beaver Street in Sewickley where we could stop by a park, walk by storefronts on the sidewalk, and if they were good, she promised a visit to the bakery where her 4-year old twins could pick out a treat. Little reminders of the promise of a reward were great motivators and I think the photos speak for themselves, these cutie pies had fun! And when I dropped off their album and wall art, the kids had so much to say about our photoshoot when they were reminded by seeing their photos.
A family heirloom inspired a modern twist on silhouettes and an opportunity for families to capture their own and benefit Hurricane Ida Relief with the Red Cross.
Every now and then, I photograph a family when a child is about to graduate high school and learn that they haven’t been photographed as a family since the kids were babies. And I really feel for them, although I try to keep that to myself to avoid adding to any regret they’re already experiencing. Sometimes coordinating busy schedules for a photoshoot is that one task that just feels like too much where there are so many other things competing for our attention. As encouragement to any families out there who haven’t been photographed in a while, I thought I’d share this fun session from a family with two daughters who are in the tween years.
This fall has been busy, but it’s been a blessing and an inspiration! I’ll jump right back to where I left off so we can get caught up. In my last post, I shared a message from an inspiring guest blogger and friend about how she and her husband felt called to foster-to-adopt three little ones over the course of 15 months. She told me about this amazing organization, the Foster Love Project, and how it provides for foster children and the families who care for them. After witnessing this precious family grow through adoption and hearing about the Foster Love Project, I knew I wanted to do something to support foster and adoptive families through photography. In one day, fifteen families raised $750 through the Family Portrait Fundraiser on November 3rd. With this money, the Foster Love Project can provide for specific requests from families like cribs, bunk beds or strollers; as well as specific requests from kids in foster care such as special bedding, sports equipment or school supplies.
Here are a few highlights from our Family Portrait Fundraiser.
And here is one of the many families I’ve been blessed to meet through this fundraiser with the Foster Love Project.
This family was so much fun to photograph, just look at these charming faces!
And here’s the couple that started it all!
I want to thank everyone who participated in the Family Portrait Fundraiser and I’m definitely making plans to do something similar next year. If you’d like to stay in the know about this and other opportunities, please subscribe! Plus, you’ll get a bonus Session Planning & Style Guide, written by yours truly, with exclusive tips from over 10 years of experience in photographing families.
Captivating Imagery
Captivating Imagery
Captivating Imagery