The Yamaks (Extended Family Session)
An International Affair
We have had such a hot and humid July this summer! Last week, after finally ending another heatwave streak, Friday gave way to some overcast skies and slightly cooler temperatures, just in time for this extended family session. A set of grandparents, their two sons with their own families, complete with two sets of twins! As I prepared for the session in conversations with the client, I knew this would be a lot of fun - kids galore and family that hadn't seen each other in person in over 5 years and live across an ocean from each other.
Nezihe and I communicated a lot throughout the weeks leading up to this session. We found a suitable outdoor location that was sufficiently "natural" while also equidistant between us. We talked about outfits, especially knowing we were working with limited wardrobes from the travelers. Everything looked wonderful together - neutral blues and white to contrast with the greens, browns, and natural hues of Lake Fairfax Park. We stopped at the pier for a few of the young cousins together before heading over to the lake for a second location. With the later evening session, the shade and cloud cover allowed for both the lake and the surrounding path and trees to be great backdrops.
I had an added challenge for this international photo session: half of the people didn't speak English. That meant hand gestures, overt instructions for posing, and a bit of translation help from the US side of the family. It meant attempting a few newer names while also trying to keep twins straight. Language barrier aside, we were able to get some adorable, fun, playful, and candid moments in between the more posed images, too!
I'm grateful for the opportunity to capture memories for this sweet family as they gathered together this summer. I hope that these photos become part of their stories as they look back over the years, and that it adequately reflects the jovial, loving, and supportive family that they are. Thank you for trusting me with your smiles and memories!
