Holiday in the Park
I was so excited when Maryann contacted me for holiday photos earlier in November! She had heard about me from a Facebook group, and we were able to start a conversation about what she was looking for, pricing, and image delivery quickly through FB Messenger. After looking at some options, she chose Morven Park in Leesburg, VA as their location. I LOVE Morven Park. There are hills, fields, trees, gardens, walls, fences, and great spaces everywhere, but also close to the main visitors' parking lot, too. While many equestrian events take place at this large venue (there's also a historic mansion on the premises), this Sunday it was a day for photography! We saw a handful of other photographers and families meeting up, and shared the space to allow everyone to get the shots they wanted.
The Hansen family comes with four beautiful children - ranging from 7 years to 17 years, which can be a challenge for any mom to prep, manage expectations, and get them all to the photo shoot on time. No worries here - each person stepped out of the car in dressy holiday attire, ready to go. The black with red plaid accents was perfect for the setting (since most of the fall foliage has now passed) and for what Maryann wanted - something for the Christmas card this year. Throughout our 20 minutes together, I heard no complaints, didn't have any trouble with attitudes, and was met with compliant and polite kids. This is SO HELPFUL for a photographer, and I'm sure it makes it easier on mom and dad to not have to "parent" during the photo session. Everyone smiled, everyone looked at the camera, and the whole family seemed to enjoy the time! Even with a name swap on my part (between the oldest daughters - oops!), I was genuinely appreciative of the courtesy and kindness of each family member - thank you!
As we neared the end of the session, Maryann brought up senior photos for her oldest daughter. Of course, as a family photographer, I do senior photos, too - and knowing that the experience with the family session was going well enough for her to ask brought a smile to my face! Hansen family, I hope you each have a wonderful holiday season with Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I do hope to see you all again in the future!
