Bret and Katie and their ADORABLE kids just naturally fall into what I love to call a family storytelling session. Gone are the days where mom tries to keep everyone “just so” while they pile into a studio for a very posed family picture. Storytelling sessions are less about the pose and more about the connection, and I absolutely love the freedom and authenticity of family sessions where there is a beautiful space to just be together and have some fun. This time we met at The River’s Edge in Chesterfield, and I had the complete joy of checking off my fourth session with this beautiful family. I told Katie I wanted to blog their session as an example of how a family session can go because they seem to nail it every single time.
Just so you know it’s never perfect, let me back up about a year and a half to one of their previous sessions. They had no sooner gotten out of the car when Theodore planted a nice muddy footprint on Bret’s khaki pants. I hadn’t even snapped a single picture yet. But no stress. That is exactly what photoshop is for, so off we went to have a great time!
And so it goes with my family sessions. They come out to love on each other and enjoy their kiddos–mud, sticks, water–all of it. My job is to deliver a stunning gallery that will remind them for years to come that these moments matter and are more beautiful than they would ever know while they are playing and I am snapping pictures. Never mind the one-year-old decided to chuck her diaper in the middle of the session. Never mind the kids had a few extra snacks. We played games, they snuggled up, Bret did his usual crazy jumps in the air, Katie loved on her people as only Katie can. And the kids? Well, they were just as darling as ever and loved every minute of being right in the middle of the love from their mom and dad. In fact, Theodore informed me his little sister is his very best friend–and I have no doubt. Love grows here. And it always has.