My favorite part of a family shoot is sending the parents off and photographing the kids. I'm a mom, and I love kids, and I know how hard it is to get a genuine smile. Staring at a huge lens makes a lot of kids uncomfortable, so I try to go with the flow and make them feel at ease. And, I never tell them to "say cheese!"
Photographing family connections is my absolute favorite, especially when families are willing to get silly, relax and have fun. I'm always up for an adventure, so if you want to head up to a mountain lake, go for a hike, or have me meet you at the top of Mt. Bachelor, I'm in! And of course, furry family members are always welcome so bring them along, too!
I just started shooting teens and high school seniors two years ago, and I have a blast doing it! It's so much fun to collaborate and hear what they want to do and how they want to present themselves to the world.
I always recommend bringing a friend or family member along on these sessions to keep the kids animated and natural. I offer a "short and sweet" session for seniors who aren't interested in multiple locations and multiple outfits. We'll spend 30 minutes together, I'll send them on their way, and you'll get ten digital files for graduation announcements, etc.
For those kids who are really into it, (and let's face it that's usually the girls) I offer longer sessions with multiple locations and outfit changes. It's so much fun, especially when 2 or 3 girls book their sessions together. Lots of laughs and creativity come out of these shoots, and I highly recommend it and offer a discount for these types of sessions!
I shoot a couple of weddings a year and like to stick with small ceremonies. Mostly elopements, 2nd marriages and family ceremonies are what I like to shoot. If you are planning a small wedding and would like a photographer for just the ceremony and a few photos afterwards, please give me a shout and we can chat!
I work on a couple personal projects every year. Recently, I have been photographing women who are athletic and outdoorsy, as I believe it's important to debunk the stereotypical image of an athletic woman that the media puts out there. Athletic women come in all shapes and sizes, with different motivation and goals. I had a bike shop owner tell me I didn't look like a mountain biker. That comment left me perplexed, and inspired me down this path.