family photos

Family photo sessions for me are a blessed experience and this session was no exception. For that hour, I got to be a part of their family. I find out which child is the climber, who loves to run from the camera, and how much they love each other - even if everything isn't as perfect as it should be.

Getting your photos taken are a stressful experience - between making sure everyone's clothes, hair and smiles are perfect - I mean adaquate - for one hour, it makes for some craziness. There is messed up hair, holes in the jeans, and the spit up on shirts. But with all that comes kisses, smiles, funny faces . . . Each moment frozen in time to remember.

The other day I found an old cell phone and I looked through the photos before I got rid of it. Honestly, I didn't remember using the camera on that phone excessivey. After all, it was old and a cellphone - why use that when I had a choice of 2 DLSR's and a decent point and shoot? Let's just say my expectations for these photos weren't high. Then I saw the photos - all of moments when I was either bored, or getting a shot that wasn't expected (so I didn't have a better camera option). There were photos of my kids hanging outside in their swimsuits, one of my daughter's sweet smile and a fake grouchy face from my son (I'm sure I had asked him to smile) - all moments that I want to remember. Photos of who my kids really are; real expressions, real life. And that is what I try to do for each of the families I get to have a photo session with - just with the better camera. Create photos of who they are right now - holey jeans and all.

Enjoy the slideshow.