A Familiar Place
As we shift from a rather warm Virginia fall to colder temperatures, I often get asked if I still do outside photos (yes), or if I do in-home sessions (yes). And then there are the families who brave colder air, or smile despite the wind. The McDonald family did just that! While the weather was definitely warm enough for an outside session, the family wanted to go to a secluded spot a few minutes walk from home. We all walked along a beaten path to a beautiful clearing with a bench in the middle, surrounded by trees still clinging to the last bits of autumn.
The clearing is a space that the family visits often, even naming the bench after one of the kids. This family of five has three wonderfully independent and confident children, leading the way through brush, alongside a creek, and around trees to the clearing. Sam, Rebecca, and Cate were full of questions, conversation, and ideas about our time together. I let them "help" with poses, and worked in my own as we went. The clearing and bench allowed for some space to move about, and we did just that. Starting with some family poses at the bench, this helped the youngest to warm up a bit; her matching dress was sleeveless, so she was rightfully a bit cold! I had everyone stand together for another family pose before working with each child separately, which gave little Cate time to bundle up and find her smiles.
Switching it up, I had everyone hold hands and walk for some shots, and by the end, everyone had smiles and energy to spare! I used it to my advantage and snapped a few of Cate playing (as she chose not to pose on the bench like her older brother and sister), and it worked well. A few photos of the three kids together, and then they were released to play as I took a few of just mom and dad before walking back to their home.
This session was playful, light-hearted, and lovely! There were genuine smiles, the chatter of children making up games and playing in the leaves in a space that they knew and loved, and enough great images to make for a great time together. I hope you all enjoy the holiday season; thank you for letting me capture some joy in such a neat little spot in the woods with you!
