The Zhou Family - Extended Session
The Perfect Gift
A few weeks ago, Luisa reached out to me looking for a photo session. As we conversed, she mentioned that this session was to be a gift for her mother-in-law - a specific request for her 70th birthday to have photos with her family and grandchildren. Of course, this was a special present, and we were able to find a good location to meet up to make this birthday wish come true!
In order to meet up after naptimes, and coordinate several different starting locations, we settled on Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly, VA. For a spring Sunday, we ended up with some sunshine and only a slight breeze for the afternoon, which worked out well, since the outfits and dresses the girls wore were so cute! Luisa did an excellent job selecting coordinating colors and patterns with greens and blues, and everything paired nicely with the outdoor scenery we had to work with. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park has several spots that work well for photos: Walney Pond, trails behind it, a bridge, and the Welcome Center area with plenty of trees, fence line, and flowers. After meeting at the pond, we tucked away along a path to catch some green, including some flowers I brought along to enhance what we had to work with. The girls (both names mean "star" - too cute, especially with these star dresses) warmed up to me, and we had lots of peekaboo and silly faces! At each spot, we captured a variety of poses of the group, including Ms. Diana, the star of this show. Lots of family photos, grandma with the girls, and individuals of each of them with her, too.
Halfway through, we moved over the the Welcome Center and it's beautiful magnolia tree, daffodils, and split rail fence. The spring flowers are just starting, but we were able to use what the park had to offer with great success! I took the opportunity to do a few smaller family photos, some of just the two kiddos, and some additional poses. This is the beauty of the Extended Session - a full hour gives lots of time to change locations, give multiple poses and background options for the client. We clapped hands and sang near the daffodils, and eventually began to wind down. For the last pose, we added in the family's two corgis - long time parts of the family, and one who may be on his last legs. A full family photo!
It was such a pleasure to meet and work with the Zhou family! The girls were smily and so cute together, holding hands. Luisa and Frank were patient, easy going, and so lovely to chat with in between poses, and Diana truly was the belle of the ball for the day! I hope these family photos are lasting memories for a long time - and the perfect birthday gift! Happy Birthday, Ms. Diana!
