Oñate Family - Fall Session & Senior Photos
Family in the Fall!
As I headed out the door to this session, I was full of thoughts for posing, making sure I had the right address for a new location, and getting on the road. My client had selected a historic site in Boyce, VA - Long Branch House & Farm - an hour's drive from my home. What I didn't expect was an hour of beauty and peace with landscapes, space, and gorgeous fall colors for the time I spent in the car. What's more, the location at Long Branch is truly lovely: as my client Shelley promised, it was "pastoral" with farm views, trees, and horses alongside ponds, lanes lined with golden fall leaves, and plenty of sky.
The Oñate family met me by the historic house at the farm. We set out toward the landscapes, keeping an eye on the sun, as we had just about an hour of daylight left to work with. This was a fun combination session for me: a high school senior (I love photographing seniors - so much potential brimming!), and a family session, complete with an adorable Great Pyrenees pup, Misty. In between settings (we drove a bit to catch hills, horses, fence lines, and autumn colors), I chatted with the family, talking about the area, where they're from, the weather, and other tidbits. What I saw in their interactions was an ease. So often, teenagers come with an undertone of tension with parents, or a grumpy attitude. Husbands often are begrudging, hoping to get the obligatory photos done quickly. Moms are busy making sure everyone looks nice, prompting others to smile, or quietly signaling with facial expressions. Not with the Oñates! They all walked together, engaging in conversation, working with me easily on poses, and smiling naturally throughout our time together. What a treat!
I enjoyed photographing the family as a whole, and even the work of getting Misty to look at the camera brought a smile to my face. Eric Jr. clearly loves his parents and Misty, and he will be headed off to college next year, much to mom's disappointment (but not too far away!). I look forward to hearing where he ends up attending, and to working with the Oñates again in the future. While the location was top notch, it's always the personalities and interactions with clients that bring me back. Best of luck, Eric!
