Briana, Stephen, Ari & Demi | an at home family session
Playing favourites is not something I like to do, but I will be totally honest when I say, this session is one of my most favourites ever. Like ever, ever.
Hilariously enough it was also one we had to reschedule what felt like a million times over — for weather, for illness, you name it. But sometimes when things don’t work out the first time around (or the first few), they turn out so fabulously when the timing is right. If we hadn’t rescheduled all those other times, we wouldn’t have ended up with these juicy photos and memories because things line up in a way you can’t explain (like moods (mine, theirs, the kids), lighting, etc).
I think the reason for this shoot ending up as one of my favourites is that Briana was very clear about me being up for anything and everything I wanted to do. She told me she loved black and white, loved grain, loved movement and play, (all words I use to describe how I like to capture family sessions) and then said, “I want you to just create.”
How special is that?!
This session lives in a special place in my heart because I had that freedom, and felt completely held in this safe space by my couple where they were just like, “we’re just going to be us, and you just do you and capture us as we are.” And I feel like that trust in a relationship is so important in capturing these really unique, beautiful images — not just posed photos but the actual raw realness between parents and their children, or each other. The playfulness and sweetness of this session just melts my heart. I go through these images over and over (I told you, I don’t like to play favourites but I just couldn’t help it with these four!) and I just love the little connective moments between the family members.
In my family sessions, I encourage snack breaks (adults need them too, sometimes …wink wink) and even sometimes a change of environment, which all helps to keep the shoot moving on the high of the fun together. It’s kind of neat too to see through the photos where those moments were had giving who ever needed a little break, a snack and it all led to this beautiful flow. It’s so special to have a shoot where the images aren’t necessarily “perfect” (but perfect isn’t fun unless it’s perfectly imperfect) but instead they feel like art, and they are candid and beautiful, and there are so many layers to what the kids are doing. I kind of wish every shoot could be like this! (So if you want to book in a shoot like this…take this as your sign. I’m game!)
Every photo in this session when you scroll through depicts a moment; a moment of playfulness, of affection, of love, of hilariousness. It’s giggles. It’s sweetness. It’s bright lighting, moody lighting, a dog sticking his bum into the shot…overall, it’s connection. And that is just so special to me.
There were so many adorably sweet little moments in this session that melt my heart and I just LOVE the trust I have with this couple and their sweet babes. Thank you, Briana, Stephen, Ari & Demi for letting me into your lives and giving me the honour of capturing you exactly as you are.
Big love XO
