Gathering Together
It's been a BUSY season for photography! As families are starting to come together for holidays, children home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, travelling to see each other, I've had more inquiries and sessions. I LOVE IT! Jen reached out to me to see if we could schedule something while the oldest was home from college. We fit in a session on a Sunday afternoon, and despite the chill in the brisk wind, the overcast skies were perfect for lighting! The family piled out of the mini van in fabulous coordinating colors: a muted rust, creams, and ivory accented with jeans and some browns. Against the backdrop in Morven Park, the colors were just right!
The Taylor Family came with a plan: some holiday, some family, and a mix of the groupings. This made shooting during our 40 minutes a breeze! We started with some holiday options (gotta get those cards out in the mail! - I'm offering 1 week turnarounds for the holidays), then worked around a few other photographers to capture the rest. Set in Leesburg, VA, Morven Park is a great location, since there are pathways, brick walls, a gorgeous wrought iron gate, stairs, fences, and rolling hills all nestled in close proximity. We took full advantage! Along with the younger daughters, we captured individual photos of the kids, some of the girls, some of the guys, and a few of just the parents. I think it's so important to make sure that last one - just the parents together - is part of the family session. Too often, the last professional photo of them together is their own wedding. Parents are the foundation of the family, and starting with them at the center of the family photo and getting a few without the kids is really a priority for me (as long as you WANT that photo, of course!). As we worked around the park and through the various groupings, we chatted about life, kids, and holiday plans. The youngest two girls became more comfortable, smiling easily and letting me help with the poses. By the end, everything came out so adorable!
I continue to be grateful for all of my clients and their families as you put your trust in me to capture who you are as a family and to put moments into a standstill, to have memories that can hang on a wall as you "remember when" years from now. Like the Taylors, I've had a handful of first-time families this fall and holiday season, and I am so glad that we connected! These warm smiles, the leopard print boots with pink laces, remembering that the leather jacket was still back at college... I hope that you fall in love with the images of your sweet family from this session and that you look back on them fondly for many years!
