A few times in life, it seems like everything just falls into place, even when the odds are against you. These family photos were one of those times. We were so excited when Megan contacted us for their portraits. We had seen her beautiful family photos taken by other photographers and they were stunning.
But here’s another interesting part of the story: A few months ago, a beloved local business owner lost her wedding ring during a festival. Many looked for it to no avail. But Megan and her little pup went out searching after everyone had given up…and she found it! She has such a heart to serve and this moment will forever be remembered by everyone involved. But she didn’t want the reward. She was just happy to help.
We’ve all heard the phrase “pay it forward”. Someone who was touched by the story contacted us and asked if they could gift Megan’s family session that she had already booked. My answer was “absolutely!” Sometimes we feel like we have to always take care of others. This was a beautiful way to be taken care of, however, to feel appreciated.
Doesn’t she look amazing?! But just like any good mom, she doesn’t want the focus to be on her, so let’s look at the children. Life happens so fast. Blink and you feel like you’ve missed it. So this was an opportunity to freeze this moment in time. They all looked like they stepped off the pages of a catalog. We started with some of them just walking. We know that kids are kids. They have LOTS of energy! So we tried to use that to our advantage and let them go for a little walk.
Aren’t these outfits adorable?! I loved watching the kids interact. I came from a large family (seven kids if you count my niece that my parents raised). There’s something special about families with more children. They seem closer. You can feel a special bond. But you also see all the shenanigans. Some of the faces that kids make are just hilarious! We have a few of those in an outtakes folder for mama to laugh at later. But here are their individual photos in classic black and white:
You know what I love about family photos? I get to see how amazing each member of the family is as an individual. They each get to have their moment to shine and be seen. Then we can see that an amazing family is made up of amazing individuals. Now it was time to get some of mom and dad each with the kids.
I loved seeing the interactions between each parent and their children. The way the girls couldn’t help but giggle when they looked at their father. And how proud mama is of her little men. They are growing up so fast! Now it was time for “just the guys”.
From the infectious grins to the inquisitive eyes, everything about this photo makes me smile. There’s so much vitality in these boys. So much fun they have yet to experience. They have so much laughter yet to come. And now it was time for the mother-daughter portraits.
Pure beauties is what these girls are. They have the quiet dignity and sweet demeanor that is rarely found these days. I was pleasantly surprised at the kindness, patience and respect that they showed, even when the littles were literally running circles around us. The wind was blowing their hair all over but it didn’t phase them at all. They handled the entire session with grace. I had to do a photo of just the two of them together. Sisters have such a special relationship. I want them to be able to look back and remember how they’ve always had a best friend at their side.
This was the end of the smaller groups. The boys had taken a long enough break. It was time for a few family photos. This was what we came here for. To capture this season of life for this wonderful family. The sun was was shining brightly and backlit the family, creating a dreamy haze as they were getting set up for their family portrait.
Sometimes everything comes together for the perfect photo. Everyone looked at the camera. Everyone was smiling. The wind was under control. There was no sun flare. I absolutely love this family portrait!
The basis for an amazing family is a strong relationship between the parents. We took a moment for the parents to have alone time. You can see the spark between these two. They aren’t just parents. They’re husband and wife first. They have been through so much together and have grown closer in the process.
With these photos, we wrapped up our session. However, their story is far from over. They will spend the next several years watching their children grow. There are so many milestones coming soon. The oldest will start college classes. The boys will have their football games. There will be volleyball and track. When you have a family, there is always so much to do.
But with this photo session, they will be able to look back and remember this time in their lives. They will get to see the love they have for each other in everyday life. I love this quote: “Life isn’t measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.” We were grateful to witness several of these moments during this session. Thank you, Megan, for this session. We know you’ll love the photos as much as we do!
Love, Kevin and Reneé
