.Bonded.

 I meet all kinds of people every day. As a photographer, my days and weekends are booked with families, graduating seniors, engaged couples, wedding celebrations, children hitting milestones, and parents grasping at every opportunity to freeze moments in time. I have often described myself and my style as natural and organic—sometimes the moments just come to me and, let’s be honest, there is always that toddler who has a hissy fit and that teenager who thinks you’re stupid and what you’re doing is even more stupid. It’s those very children that make me thankful for every brave and cooperating senior and every couple that I don’t need to make animal noises or play peek-a-boo with to smile.

All that aside, it’s the families that really get me—that beautiful and dynamic bond that they share. Each of them is so different—none of them have ever been the same—and each of them brings me a different kind of child and a different kind of feeling. I have never thought out a shoot ahead of time. I simply meet you, get to know you, and go with my gut. Some of it works and some of it doesn’t, such is life. I recently had one of my favorite family sessions. I say favorite because they were a challenge but the end result made me smile through the entire editing process. This sweet couple, their two daughters, and their young dog met me on a Saturday evening for some fun on the beach. I had met the mom a few times and she had raved about my work so when she finally booked a session, I was nervous. I felt like she had studied my photos for so long and had seen so many of her friends that I had done that I had no idea how I would ever live up to her expectations. The first five minutes were amazing—the dog sat, the children smiled, the dog even looked right at me as I howled at him. The next thing I know, we’re changing directions and the whole thing turned into this crazy chaotic fiasco. The dog wouldn’t stay, the kids were getting stepped on and crabby and I wondered how on Earth I was going to turn this ship around. So I did the only thing I know to do with kids and families who are getting anxious that their session isn’t playing out the way it had in their heads—we changed directions. We walked through the sand and I worked with the parents while the girls played in the sand. As I would ask their children to do some things, I noticed they were visibly coming back to me. I saw it in their expressions, their interactions, and their general moods.

As I began to finish their session, their attention spans were fading but I hadn’t gotten that shot yet—you know—the one that you know is in them but you just haven’t gotten there quite yet. I asked each parent to take a child and love on them, gave some pointers and direction, and got exactly what I was hoping for—that photo that you’re going to blow up and put on every wall in your home. This photo still makes my heart so happy.

 On top of that, we still weren’t finished with their session. I still had one last idea. The sun was just over the trees and I remember looking at them and asking how adventurous they were. Quickly, both parents responded that their family was brave and loved adventures. I asked them what I’d never asked a family to do before—please, run in the lake.  I also feel like it is important to mention how brave I was since I cannot swim and getting in any large body of water with a piece of equipment that is like another appendage scares me to death. When the girls heard about it, one began to cry, the other was not on board at all and after much coaxing, they were holding hands, promising their parents they would at least give it a try. I counted to three and they began to ran and before I knew it, these two little girls who we were trying to bribe and convince that they would really be okay were asking to do it again. I didn’t get what I wanted the first time so we tried again…the girls excitement and joy came out in these loud shrill cries that made my whole face light up. The end result is below:

These are the moments that give me clarity and remind myself why I do what I do. This piece of time will never again happen for them and they will never be able to replicate this moment or the way the sun came through the trees or that their girls jumped into Lake Michigan in their beautiful dresses. I look at that photo and it is like a slice of Heaven. This family, imperfections and all, is made up of this unconditional love that you don’t find just anywhere. It is created with mistakes and honesty…good intentions and failed attempts. This bond is woven together with hugs and kisses and dreams that you only get when you can be your true self with the people you love and I can’t think of a single thing that could be better than that.