Any adventurer will tell you that even the most rewarding of expeditions were not without their challenges. In fact, many will tell you that the difficult moments made their destinations all the sweeter.
I think the same can be said when it comes to family portrait sessions.
Don’t get me wrong, I love these experiences! So much so that I built my entire business around creating meaningful art with the Anchorage families. But I realize how hard these sessions can be, especially on those in front of the lens.
You see, I have a wall of images featuring my sons and I over the years. I love seeing the progression of their growth, and that gallery connects me to my bond with them that never wanes as they age.
Now that they’re off at college, it’s getting harder and harder to find time when we’re all together to keep this portrait tradition going. Earlier this month, on the night before my boys went back to school, we finally had an opportunity! Problem was, it had been raining all afternoon and the wind was blowing wildly. Not only that, but my kids were absolutely ambivalent and I was so tired from work. The couch was calling my name, and an evening cuddling with my dogs sounded way more relaxing than getting in front of the camera.
But we did it, and a familiar thing happened: as we got to the park and started setting up the scene, we started laughing.
We started hugging.
We started being silly and having fun with our tradition.
And as a mom, I loved seeing the brotherly bickering replaced by brotherly love.
As my boys and I flipped through the images on the camera screen, we were thrilled with the results. And not long after, I was back on the couch in my sweats with my pups, feeling so grateful that we’d made the effort.
Does my story sound familiar to you? It did for one of my clients, who had this to say about her family session:
“Family photos … yes we love them, but they are work! The toddler needs to be bribed with treats; the teenager has to be rounded up; the husband is reluctant to change out of his Carhart in the middle of the afternoon; it's cold, the wind is blowing; and you're navigating wild rose bushes, just smiling and trying to keep your head tilted the perfect direction.
And then, just when you think you will never do this again ... Wendi does her MAGIC and voila! She somehow has created the most special images that capture the love and caring between all of the people in your family in a way that tells a story beyond just the photos.
The years are fleeting and our kids change so fast, and this is why we keep coming back to Family Art Photo.”
Family portrait sessions are not always easy, but they ARE always worth it. Get in touch with me today to start mapping out your needs for a summer or fall session: 907-248-2484 familyartphoto@gci.net