I went over to my friend D’s house late morning for a relaxed at-home photo session with no pre-conceived expectations. I went in with an open mind and heart, leading with my presence instead of the camera, open to what would present itself before me. Just hanging out, catching up and grabbing images along the way sort of feel. Here is a sampling of that session…I really had to edit down for this post!
Normally, I’d be obsessive about wrist hair ties and couch clutter, but letting all of that go in the moment and embracing reality made this one of my favorite (and first) shots of the session. This is also when I was finishing my coffee and saying hellos.
She especially wanted some breast feeding shots, so I wanted to capture some additional angles and details showing that special connection.
I love a good black and white. I’ll always include the color version too though.
I asked, “What do you guys normally do?” and she mentioned that they like to sit on the porch and watch people, cars and trucks go by, so we did that.
The day was so nice that we decided to touch some grass…
…And get a blanket and relax.
I am trying to get more shots that don’t include the baby or child’s face, but still show the moment, emotion and connection. More people are opting to not include their child’s face on social media and the internet, but they may still want to post some beautiful photos of their family to share.
This was such a lovely session. It was relaxed, candid and authentic. I think as the years go by, this approach to family photography can really bring back the feeling of the earlier years as opposed to just seeing what everyone looked like at that time. Embracing the real moment, letting go of ‘imperfection’ and certainly not stressing out over making kids look at the camera and smile. Just relax, hang out, enjoy the experience and the moment, and let me do the rest.