Belmont Family Photographer: Small world
Do you want to hear a small world story? Ok! Background: We started teaching our kids how to swim from just about the time they got their polio vaccines. I’m a crummy swimmer, and have declared my kids will feel comfortable in the water and will get themselves out of a jam, if they need to. BTW — our youngest will smile ALL the way sinking to the bottom now. He’s a little too excited about being in a pool, and forgets to paddle. But I digress…
Our youngest son has a very unique name. I’m willing to bet that he is the only one with this name in the nearest 20 miles. At Kinds Swim Academy (my favorite swim school) we start and end the Parent & Me class with a Hello and Good Bye song, going over each kid in attendance. So my kiddo’s name sticks on you.
Fast forward to a few years later, when my oldest meets one of his best buddies in his pre-K class. It took us some time, as parents to get to know each other too, only to discover that we’ve known each other from that same swim class. Pretty cool eh? Our oldest kids are the same age and our youngest too. They both’ve shared pre-school classes over the past few years, and the oldest now to camps together during breaks (they bond over their love for all things Sport).
I’m super happy to have the opportunity to photograph them this year. They joined me in the mini session event I held for a few families in our pre-school, and it worked out great. This Belmont family photographer might have to do the same again next year 🙂
Palo Alto Family Photographer: B.C. and A.C
I think of my life as BC and AC. You know… “before children” and “after children”. Everything since our oldest son was born has come on with new considerations, and of course a new outlook on things.
This is pretty obvious with the families I photograph too. There are the romantic shots I take of two partners together, as they embrace and live in their own world… and then there’s the romantic shots I take once children enter the picture. Those photos usually involve a little one (or two… or three) hiding somewhere behind, or a lovey poking out of a back-pocket. The sense of intimacy previously shared by what feels like a world just for two is less private, but also lighter, more flexible, forgiving and willing to accept a little humor at the expense of those involved.
A & R live in that world well. Their life since R is certainly adding humor in a new way. When we were done with the primary family photos, I asked for R to be my helper while I take some photos of Mom & Dad. It gives kids “something” to do, keeps them in reasonable proximity, and I get to give the parents a photo of them together… that isn’t a selfie. R took his job as “helper” very seriously though, and had some ideas of his own on how to pose and contribute to the photos. They may or may not have involved Woof Woof (R’s lovey, which I’m so glad still joins us in his family photos). When a kid is that invested, I go with it. I asked A to put Woof Woof over Dad’s head and said “Life it like a veil, and kiss the bride!” It was awesome! I couldn’t have gotten more genuine laughter and smiles if I’d tried.
Belmont Mini Session Photographer: Back at school
I really get a kick when a get to photograph family at a location they have a connection to. In this case, it just so happens that this mini session shoot took place where J works. It wasn’t why I had picked it, but it just worked out that way. As much as I hate to make someone come to work on a week-end, I think in this case it was for a good reason, and I hope he didn’t mind waking up early… again… on a week-end 😉
I met J and J through mutual friends, who I have been photographing for the past 5 years. My business has grown so much through my past client referrals. I thank you all for that! So much!!! Seeing your faces return, photographing your families as you grow and meeting your friends is so special to me.
J and J’s two young sons (I think I’m going to have to start referring to them as young men pretty soon) are so awesome to be around. As my client base is maturing, I’m starting to experience something relatively new to me: working with kids that can really follow direction. It’s kinda great, though I do have to work a little harder to add some spontaneity in those family portraits. Still, I love how comfortable these guys were with me and how willing they were to be goofy. I need to practice more with this age group, for sure.
I have learned so much through this business. I feel like I wear so many different hats, and I’m touching in to areas I never expected. Honestly, when I started, I thought “I’ll take some great pictures, it will be fun”. In turn I have learned that to be successful, I have had to learn about and gain competency in 1) the art of photography; 2) business operations; 3) marketing; 4) writing; 5) SEO strategy, 6) social media strategy; 7) finance; 8) human psychology. I can probably keep expanding on that list. This are the many hats I get to wear, and depending on the time of day you reach me I’m wearing one of those… but that’s probably another post for another day.
Belmont Family Portrait: I can totally see it!
Do you ever look at photos of yourself as a child, or maybe your own kids as babies and marvel at how many of the (current) features in the mirror were present even then? I was looking through my family portrait photos with these guys the other day. Yes, photographers get nostalgic too!, and came across a session I did with them when little M was about six months old. See, I see her face from back then and totally see the her of today in it. Don’t you? Sure, her hair is lighter, and those baby cheeks have melted, but it’s all there. E feels like she just keeps getting taller too… well, and has been bribing the tooth fairy with a few more visits. I’m super excited to see these ladies grow!
L and G came out with the girls for another mini session. I continued being able to play with the grounds of Carlmont High School. It’s just a super fun campus, and I think it’s perfect for a set of minis because there are so many different “sets”, if you will, in such a close by space. And for what you see, there’s a whole 75% more awesome campus to explore too, and I haven’t even gotten to it yet.
I used the narrow, stair passageway for them, because I really wanted to do something on the stairs with them. Plus between the various railings, the girls got to show of their monkey skills to me. Sorry E, but your baby sister won out on this one (but just a tad). Next time we can check again, though!
Menlo Park Family Portraits: Brotherly love
You know what question I ask myself often as a parent: do my children get along? I have friends that have young children that are just so smitten with one another. So …. there for each other. My boys aren’t like that. They get along as often as they don’t. They play along nicely to the same degree as they can push each other’s buttons. It makes me wonder if they would chose one another if my husband and I were not there to enforce their bond. I’d like to think “Yes”, but the only relationship I can draw from is that with my sister. Like my sons we got along as well as the days that we didn’t. Now she and I are very close — we talk every day. I DO chose her; enjoy and seek out her company. I hope that will be true for my boys down the line too. Honestly, I wish that for every family.
A and P graciously allowed me to invade their life six years ago as I was starting my photographer journey. They were one of the first few families I photographed for my portfolio, and I got to watch A’s baby belly turn into an adorable wee peanut, and her two littles turn into these handsome kids before you. I can’t believe how lucky I am to see them over the years.
This was my first return to Bayfront Bedwell Park in a full year. I love coming here so much. Even though the tall grass was been cut down for fire prevention, I continue to find new spaces to work. It’s one of the reasons I chose it for doing some mini session Menlo Park family portraits. Just lots of versatility, and fun things for young ones to interact and climb over.
I was SO impressed these two were able to get and stay on the posts : you gotta admit — that just takes some serious balancing skill, especially as they were trying to poke each other off their perch. Like I said… brotherly love.
