Greensboro
You are going to find this hard to believe…
My own children hate having their pictures taken. I can’t blame them. I’ve had a camera in their face since a few minutes after they were born so they have earned the right to be sick of it.
But I will keep trying and keep making them come to my studio.
Especially when I get results like these.
Here is the thing about Angie’s profession: she has to connect to her clients. Period. End of sentence.
As a Doula she is with her clients on one of the most important days of their lives. But the connection starts WAY before then. She meets with her clients several times to discuss their needs, their desires for a birth plan, their fears, their dreams. She coaches them, encourages them, guides them long before their sweet babies make their grand entrance.
Angie came to me when it was time to update her website, Facebook profile, and Instagram profile. She wanted to convey the right message to potential clients, to show them what she can do. In other words she wanted to connect with them before ever meeting them. So we set up a Personal Branding session. We did new Headshots in my studio. A few days later I was in the room documenting a meeting with her clients. I could barely remember to take pictures because I was so engrossed in what she was teaching them.
We made some magic.
I really feel bad for the Class of 2020. High School, College, Middle School, etc. Even my own little Kindergartner missed out on an end of the year celebration.
So when Salina told me she missed out on all of the fun end of year excitement most Seniors get to enjoy, I knew I had to make her portrait session extra special.
In her style consultation we talked about choosing outfits that are timeless and classic. You certainly don’t want to regret the look you decided to go for which is totally outdated now.
She totally knocked it out of the park.
Want to see more from this session? Click here.
The thing I love about Bridget’s session is that we got to focus on her. This was her first portrait session since her Senior year of high school. She is a mother of four, a supportive wife and a loyal sister. But for those few hours we got to focus on shining a light on her beauty, her strength, her power.
We got to focus on her.
I have taken their family portrait every year since…forever.
And I will continue taking their family portrait…forever.
I love them…
They are writing a book. She has the job of writing the words and he has the assignment to draw. Of course. He is one of the best artist I have every seen. She has a way with words that makes you hang on to everyone one of them.
So of course they are writing a book. But with that comes the book jacket and that infamous author photo.
So they called me needing a picture quick. Mendy told me in no uncertain terms that she would rather be at the dentist than to have her pictures taken. Nick looked like he was ready to walk back to his house than get in front of my camera. I guided them every step of the way. I made them feel calm and relaxed.
They may have gotten great images but more importantly they now have images that their 4 girls will treasure forever. As a permanant reminder of the love their parents still have for each other.
And they wrote a book about it.
Monica came into my studio with her daughter J for a mother/daughter shoot. There were dresses, make up, and beauty everywhere. I shot each them in their beautiful outfits and then together super close, super snugly. We had a great time. Their friend Robin came and was such a great help. After we were done, there were hugs all around and excitement about seeing the final images. The next day I texted Monica to thank her again for coming in and having a great spirit about her. She responded by thanking me for giving her this experience with her daughter. Without specifics she explained that the photo shoot was a great bonding experience that she and J needed. Times are tough right now and for a few hours on a Saturday they were together and having fun and playing dress up.
I don't just take pictures for you. I help you connect: to the real you and back to your family.
This is more than a photo shoot.
When I am doing a session, I am always on the look out for "the one". There is always one image that stops me in my tracks as I am uploading into Lightroom. It is the one that I edit so carefully to enhance it, not change it dramatically. It makes my heart leap when I find it.
But I always find it.
It is really hard to take pictures of my children. Not because they aren't photogenic but because it takes an act of Congress to get them to agree. I get it. Caroline has had a camera in her face since she was about 6 minutes old. It does require them to stop playing with their Legos or baby dolls.
But this time was different. I have spent the last 4 months researching and learning portrait photography. And in the last month I have been building a studio in my sunroom. I have learned how to use studio lights so I can take portraits anytime of day in any weather. But I need to practice. Do you know what "feathering" a light means? Well I didn't either until a few weeks ago and it has changed my photography. But I need to practice.
So I bribed Caroline with a new dress that she could pick out and I promised that she didn't have to get to fancy. All I asked was that she brush her hair (which apparently is a lot to ask of an 11 year old these days). And she totally nailed it. It took me 20 minutes to get this look. I had to readjust lights and V-flats but it is a start. And she looks beautiful.
6 kids...
3 grown siblings...
one chilly afternoon...
