Low pressure, beautiful family photos for parents that need an easy win.
I had my daughter and a lightbulb went off. I don't want 10 framed, copy/paste, perfect portraits, hanging side-by-side on our living room wall. It lacks context around my life and doesn't make me want to relive any part of the session. So, I started taking photos of moments I do want to relive of my life. Photos at Cosmic Brewery, hiking Enchanted Rock, tubing the Guadalupe, chasing birds in Santa Fe Plaza, having a meltdown on the floor of Best Buy. If you book me, that's the perspective you want of your family too. And you want it done easily. Without fanfare. Without spending 10,000 hours and dollars prepping for it. Without mood boards. Without pretending you and your family are from some ad you once saw on Pinterest or waiting for the sun to shine, the germs to clear, and everything to finally feel schedulably perfect.
I'll make you feel beautiful in sweatpants
Maybe you don't feel like you've ever known how to naturally "human." You just want photos that make your life look as beautiful as it feels, but those seem reserved for stereotypical Barbie who wakes up picture perfect. Traditional portrait sessions make you feel caught wearing a mask. You're not alone. Portrait sessions aren't real life. My sessions and portfolio don't look hyper curated, because they're for people who find joy in their ordinary life and ordinary hair, makeup, clothes and home. I can photograph your whole family in sweats and make you wonder why you ever bothered with family outfit mood boards.
Photographing your actual life might mean we plan a session around:
Gardening and chasing butterflies, feeding crickets to your spiny lizard that hangs out on your window screen
- First tooth session- a day in the life of your big kid with one-less tooth!
- Raking and drinking cider while breastfeeding in a pile of leaves
- Watching sea turtles be released into the ocean and spending the day collecting shells
- Surprising grandparents at their home with a picnic
- Taking your oldest to that Italian restaurant across the street, dressed up in your fanciest jackets
- Playing duets on the terminally out-of-tune piano you inherited from your great grandmother
I'll just happen to be there! Documenting, directing and making slight adjustments. It'll be amazing. And it won't feel like a "photo session." I want you to, 95% of the time, entirely forget I'm even there. Just live.
What's my process?
We'll make a plan
You and I will spend as much or as little time as you want coming up with a game plan for an As You Are session. I love the brainstorming process for these. The goal is to plan a session around your answer to the question "what would a pretty solid, stress free, memorable day look like for me?" We'll pick a day on the calendar, you'll pay a deposit, and you can feel free to text me as much as ya want leading up to it.
I'll come make photos
I like to come over in the middle of something happening. It seems to help everyone not feel like they have to perform. Ideally you'll be getting ready or just starting lunch or whatever! We'll start a conversation, and I'll also be photographing at the same time. It's real simple. The most important thing to bring is a grateful heart.
You'll get a gallery
I typically shoot a lot of film at sessions. Film has to be developed and scanned which takes a few weeks. You can expect to receive a digital gallery within 3 weeks of your session most of the time.
A note for Dads
There is this strange truism about photographs of your family: there are lots of smart phone photos of Dad and professional photos emphasize Mom. Most of my personal images, however, are truly a story of Fatherhood since my favorite subjects are my own family. I try to take this experience forward and make a concerted effort in every family session to document a balanced representation of your family and involve you to whatever level you're comfortable. I want you to feel good in the process. You are not an extra in the story.
My favorite human
This is me and my favorite muse. Her name is Eve, and she is living sunshine. I had no idea the world was filled with this much promise and color and the beauty of ordinary days until I had her. She's the reason I remember the good things, and why I'm happy today. Also, practice what you preach, this photo was taken in my yard one sunny Mother's Day.
Here's another photo of us together
Because she's amazing, I can't help myself, and she's so big now! This was taken by talented friend, Blue Betty Photography, during a foggy morning walk in Port Aransas. I'd like to point out that I am not wearing a flowy $500 dress from some boutique online (been there, felt awkward doing it). I'm wearing a sweatsuit and a jacket. My daughter is also wearing clothes that made her feel good (Mickey Mouse, head-to-toe). We enjoyed our time so much more in what made us feel comfortable, and I love looking at the images largely because of how comfortable we felt during the session.
