A New Season
The last time I worked with the Fisher family, it was November - a slight chill in the air, fall colors surrounding us at Burke Lake Park, Thanksgiving around the corner and light up Christmas decorations were already lining the park's roads. We'd gathered then as a family of three: Bridget, Reilly, and little Hanna, with another little one on the way. I remember How shy Hanna was at first, and how we used some small Sesame Street figures to capture her attention. When I met the Fishers this June at Baron Cameron Park, those little figures were the first thing I remembered!
Our original plan was to go to Lake Fairfax Park, but I hadn't accounted for their Independence Day fireworks, so we pivoted to the nearby Baron Cameron Park in Fairfax, VA. Filled with baseball and soccer fields and a small dog park, I scouted out a few shady spots toward the back of the park as I waited for the family to arrive. Once there, I had the privilege of meeting the newest Fisher, little Leah, only 3 months old. I always love being on both sides of birth - the maternity photos and the next set of family photos afterward. There's a completion to the set that is such a joy!
We started sitting down, and while Hanna warmed up a bit, we pulled out the figures of Abby and Elmo. Leah was a bit harder to pull a gaze from, but she was the sweetest and so calm for the humid session! I posed them for a few family shots, then we moved on to a new spot. We stuck to the shade, but the sun made it a warm day, and the humidity came and went depending on the fickle breeze. Thankfully, Bridget brought a portable fan to help keep Leah cool, and it helped! Big smiles and some chatter eventually came for Hanna, with a bit of cajoling and some jokes (and tickles from Dad), too. We walked across the gravel path to one last spot where I took another family photo, and then we attempted some of Mom and the girls, Dad and Hanna, and one of the two girls by themselves. At that point, we gave in to the weather and attention spans of a toddler and infant. The promise of a playground was close at hand!
All in all, despite the quick location change and the temperature, the session was so smooth until the very end! Leah knew when she had enough, and we all agreed. I love seeing the easy playfulness that the Fishers bring to their sessions, clearly a reflection of everyday life. I look forward to catching up with you all in a few years and seeing how the girls have grown!
