I had the wonderful opportunity to document an in-home session for this beautiful family in Dallas as they celebrated the arrival of their first son.
Stepping into their home, I was immediately greeted by a warm and loving atmosphere. Our time together unfolded naturally, capturing those genuine, unscripted moments that make in-home sessions so special. From showering their new baby brother with kisses and adoring looks to playfully jumping on beds and tickle attacks. One of their favorite daily routines is storytime with Dad, and I had the privilege of capturing that too.
It’s always an honor to watch a family grow over the years through my lens. I photographed this trio when their baby girl was just a couple of months old, and just like the last time, we had a blast together. We shot at two of my favorite Grapevine locations: Main Street and Rockledge Park. The Palace Arts Center made for a fun and colorful backdrop to begin our session, and just before sunset we moved to the rocky coastline of Rockledge to wander the cliffs and make some memories.
These laid-back, in-home family sessions are some of the most fun to photograph. It’s such a privilege to be invited into a client’s home to document the unique nuances of their family and those special moments that make up a childhood. This session was one for the books. From secret handshakes and daddy-daughter dances to imaginary under-the-sea excursions, these four allowed me to capture them as they truly are, forever freezing moments that their children will thumb through and cherish for a lifetime.
I knew from the moment I received their inquiry that I was going to have a great time photographing this family. They were looking for “a photographer that captures the in-between, genuine, non posed moments” and said “We see this in your work. We see your ability to capture life that jumps from the frame.” Their vision was perfectly aligned with what I strive to create: photographs that document the overwhelming love of family and fleeting smallness of a child.
Our session was at Rockledge Park on a particularly warm Fall evening. The cool, refreshing waves made for the perfect spot to splash around and document their love.
This vacation session in Turks and Caicos was magical! We spent an evening on the beach and swam around as the sun set over the clear blue water. The next morning we woke up early for a sunrise hike and found ourselves in a taxi in the pouring rain. Luckily, the weather let up just as we arrived at our destination, and we had a beautiful hike under cloudy skies with a refreshing drizzle of rain.
I love the portraits I was able to create for these two, vacation sessions are such a beautiful way to have your favorite memories preserved.
“How do I find the right photographer? How do I know I’ve made the best choice when choosing someone to photograph my family?” - I’ve seen these questions asked time and time again so I’ve put together a list of must-ask questions to consider before you book a photographer. These are so useful whether you’re searching for a great fit in a wedding, family, engagement, or adventure photographer. Regardless of your session needs, it’s important to…
Since this post features my first ever couples session (this is vintage guys!), I want to share with you a bit more about what goes into creating these photographs. Many of the best moments during a session will happen naturally, but often, it's asking the right questions that create those intense moments of intimacy. It's one of the ways we put feeling into your pictures.
I've heard these myths from friends, and, at one point I may have believed one or two of them myself, so I want to get right to it and debunk a few of the common beliefs that cause us to wait way too long before booking a couples photography session.
So jump right in if you've been wanting to document your love, but you're waiting because...
Not true. Not even a little. Life can be pretty awesome and sometimes pretty rough, but it's all worth savoring.
Eating pizza in your underwear surrounded by a mountain of boxes in your first home. Rainy days spent exploring a new city. Watching the sunset at your favorite beach or dancing by the tide as night falls.
The time goes too quickly and, in my opinion, it's the little moments and the day to day details that seem to be the most fleeting. Really think about it, you've found your person... the face that you search for in every crowd, your first thought every morning, the one you want next to you for the rest of your life, does it really have to be a "special occasion" to celebrate that? I don't think so. I think it should be celebrated as often as possible, so if you want to document that, go for it. You don't need to wait for an engagement, a wedding, or an anniversary. Document it whenever you feel the urge, because it is so worthy of preserving.
“We're so awkward. I don't know what to do with my hands. I'll be focused too much on how I look.”
No, no. You'll actually have fun. Again, this comes down to finding the right photographer for you. Guess what? I'm think I'm awkward in front of the camera too, but that’s where finding the right photographer comes into play. When you're photographer is the perfect fit, it all works out.
When you arrive at your session with me I’m not just standing behind my camera waiting for you to turn into Tyra Banks. In fact, I don’t expect my couples to do anything at all. That's my job. I will direct you, give you prompts, ease your nerves and guide the entire thing. You'll have so much fun you might even forget I'm there for a minute. Couples have been known to leave our sessions reminiscing on an evening full of adventure and laughter.
It's not awkward, I promise.
Actually, I'd be willing to bet they do, and here's why:
The session planning. You're going to be really excited, and you know your partner loves seeing you beaming with happiness, even if you're asking for opinions on seventeen different dresses.
The session itself. This one’s pretty basic. You're going to cozy up to each other, you're going to kiss, and you're going to laugh - usually a lot of that last one. If you're outside there might be some running, maybe some spinning, some dancing too (if that’s your thing, of course). Each session caters directly to your unique vibe. If you're really chill people who just want to hang, perhaps you'll just sit on the sand all wrapped up together whispering sweet nothings and enjoying the sun at your backs. Are you full of energy? Cool, maybe you’ll dance around, chase each other toward the tide, tell some inappropriatejokes (by all means, pay no mind to me). Your session is pretty much an enhanced date night - there’ll be a ton of those moments where time seems to stand still and you remember why you fell in love to begin with.
Lastly, the photos. Need I say more? You’ll get photographs that will serve as daily reminders of how loved you are and how deeply you love. The joy, the intimacy, wind in your hair and adoration in your eyes - all of it preserved. It's pretty much impossible not to be excited about that.
This time in your life is so worthy of documenting.
