Seasons of Family Life
I first connected with Sylvia on Facebook; she was looking for someone to take some family photos and a few maternity pictures this fall. While the two of us quickly arranged a date and location thanks to her excellent communication, the session was still a few weeks off. I held my breath as the weather shifted cold and then warm, breezy and stormy. What we ended up with was an unseasonably warm fall day at beautiful Claude Moore Park in Sterling, VA. These clients are on the verge of changing seasons - adding a new little life to their vibrant family in only a few more weeks. Many people wait until after a new baby to get updated family photos, but this session captured the beauty of their family as they are now, closing out one chapter and embarking on a new chapter. Letting this season fade gently and ushering in a new season with grace.
I met the family in my usual spot in the parking lot, noticing that there were already several other photographers at the park taking families and high school seniors around to various spots. We started out low key, grabbing a few standing shots and then letting momma have a few with each of her kids separately. The littlest brought her BIG personality with her, so we opted to let her get out some wiggles as we walked to another location. The heat slowed us only slightly and we were able to capture a few different backgrounds and group shots as we moved throughout the park - full of no less than six other photographers, including a wedding party! Claude Moore offers wooded areas, a small pond, clearings, several historic buildings with great facades and steps, and two barns along with gravel pathways. We used this to our advantage, and with all the space, we were able to get some adorable shots of the family interacting (and the toddler showing off - I even got a roar from her at one point!), posing, and smiling, too!
What I really loved about this particular session was the care that each family member had for momma. Carrying around a little life inside while traipsing along gravel paths and trying to get a toddler, a teenager, and a twenty-something to smile can be a VERY big task - and in 80* weather, she was such a trooper! Everyone listened, her husband smiled along with the kids, and momma got to get all the different shots she wanted. It's a joy to work with families, to learn the names, to be a part of the journey and the story. Thank you for letting me walk alongside you for a moment in this season, and I can't wait to celebrate the newest little one very soon!
