Just hang out and shoot something.

I don't normally post images from my clients here. For two reasons really 1:)there's not too much to say and 2:)I always seem to have something else I want to share with guys. But I couldn't help myself. I wanted to share with you these images not because I want you to see how wonderfully talented I am *no laughing* but mostly because I wanted you to see how lovely this family is.

When Johanna (the mommy) first contacted me the first words out her mouth were "you just seem to capture their personalities so well." Which is and will always be my goal as a photographer. She was talking of course about the school photos I took for Little Bird's class last year at her preschool. Johanna's daughter Mila was one of those students....one of my favorites I must confess. She was a soft spoken, somewhat shy little girl who always seemed to smile. She is tiny for her age I would say but full to the brim with spunk. Loving Mila is not hard to do.

So when Mila's mom called me up asking if I could do a family shoot I didn't hesitate to say yes. Now normally I book a family for one day and if the weather isn't good I'll book them again when I have time open. But this was not going to be possible as 3/4's of the family doesn't live here and they weren't going to be here long. The pictures were going to be a surprise birthday gift for Johanna's father, Mila's Grandpa who they called "Babba" I believe it's a German word for grandfather but I only draw to that conclusion because they called Grandma "Omi" which is a German word for Grandma similar to how we would say Nana....but I am unsure.

Knowing that this was so very important to them and knowing that our weather last week was well shitty, I booked them for the whole weekend at no extra charge...bad business...perhaps...worth it....totally. I can not put into words how much love this family has for each other. It was overflowing. It is no wonder that Mila smiles all the time...how could you not.

There was so much love and respect between them. It was so very neat to be part of it. But half the reason I share this with you. Is to let you in on a little photography secret......portraits are not easy. Moving lifestyle portraits are even harder. People blink, kids turn their heads, a cloud flies over. So you take 1000 photos and walk away with 10-20 really good one. On an even better day maybe a little more. I got 59 completely usable a photos here. No Photoshopping. Not airbrushing and color fixing. Just photos. Just them. It was exhausting.

You scan the photos take out what doesn't work and edit the ones that do.....but they just kept working. Photo after photo. My Photoshop loaded up to the point of telling me there was just too much going on. My normal one CD disc turned into two. I mean this family was amazing. Sure I could have set a limit and maybe I should have.....but I never will. Because they're not my photos. These moments belong to this family. How could I turn them down photo 916 just because I had reached my set limit at number 403. I think this is why I do what I do. Because I get to go into these people's lives and for a brief moment I get to see what no one else has time for and then I get to lock into a photo that they can have for the rest of their lives.......how awesome is that?

Comments

[Sammie]

You are so SO very talented! :) Maybe one day we will be stationed close and you can help capture memories for my family as well!