Coming "Home"
The last few months of any calendar year are full of thoughts of "home" - going home for the holidays, decorating the home, feelings of being warm and cozy, and surrounded by loved ones. For the Allen Family, part of "home" was having their oldest two children home from college for the Thanksgiving holiday. When Jennifer reached out to me to book a session, she knew she wanted something outdoors, and something that felt - in her words - like home. So as we suggested locations, Runnymede Park in Herndon, VA came to mind. For their family, this is pretty much their backyard as Herndon residents, and a perfect spot for these family photos!
It's always fun for me to watch how families interact from the start to end of the session. I take my cues from mom, but watch to see if certain children are more serious, if a silly joke might crack a smile, or if breaking the ice with conversation about themselves helps loosen them up. With the six Allen children, it was a joyous mix of everything. The older ones were more compliant, even if reticent to have to be there. Individual photos are easy for me to pose and shoot, but sometimes not the most fun for the person on the other side! That said, there were a few ready for their close-up, and some more shy. The real fun begins when you throw ALL the siblings together for a group shot! Little jabs, whispered jokes, and reminding everyone to look at the camera all at the same time!
I absolutely LOVE the warm fall tones that Jennifer selected for her family's outfits. The jeweled earth tones give just the right pop of color amid our natural backdrop, but don't distract from the smiling faces of each person. Look at the beautiful way it ties together the images with the color schemes among the trees and bramble!
I'm excited to share the full gallery of this session with the Allen family, as there are SO many cute ones of the family members interacting. (You don't see the youngest two climbing on the rocks behind mom and dad... ) It was a beautiful challenge to remember eight new names, but a wonderful session full of great poses, smiles, and getting to know a warm and friendly family.
