I am so excited to share some images from a recent family session with friend and fellow photographer Raya Carlisle. Last year, if you remember, we did some just-for-fun portraits of each other (she took my profile shots on my website).
Now, with a new little addition to her family (are you kidding me with cuteness?), we decided to do a family session. We had so much fun and her family is beyond beautiful.
A couple before we really started...Baker keeping an eye on little Evie (Genevieve)
Evie's cheeks are to die for.
Baker knows how to make her laugh too.
Leave it to another photographer to suggest a family session near sunset on a field near the beach.
Love the moment above of Baker with his Dad. There is something so fun, so timeless in this kind of moment. I think I have a similar photo with my dad going into the ocean. It implies some sort of playful adventure mixed with absolute trust.
serious cuteness happening.
I'm infatuated with these images, with this family. Whatever they would want to sell, I would buy it. The love is there and it oozes into all the photos until it is almost tangible.
I titled this The Value in a Family Shoot because as Raya and I were chatting about photography, business and such, we talked a bit about the value of a family shoot. Sometimes clients want a family shoot, but one parent may have a harder time seeing it as an investment. A lot of us own some really nice cameras and take plenty of photos of our family ourselves-- which of course you absolutely can and should. However, I will say that allowing a professional photographer to see your family can be really special. We see it differentley than how you see it. He or she (I) can capture moments that you didn't know happened or highlight real authentic relationships between all members of the family (which can't be done if mom or dad are pushing the shutter).
I know family photos are an investment, but if I may be perfectly honest, I have never heard of a client of mine (or anyone else's) say "gosh, I wish we didn't have those pictures" or "gee, I wish we had waited until the kids were older".
Your family is beautiful as it is and it will change and grow very quickly. Not to run too much with this idea, but your family is contsantly growing, constantly evolving and will never be the way it is right at this moment.
Raya's family is stunning, and next year it will be completely different. If you love your life and your family, you'll want to remember these moments.
Thank you Raya for sharing your family with me for an afternoon and for being a beautiful photographer and friend.
