Kids will be kids - let them!

One of my favorite but most challenging sessions is taking photographs with children involved. Challenging because well, read first part of the title for this post. Children have such imaginations and a whole different outlook on life. It happens to be one of my favorites because who wouldn't want to either take of have a picture like that?

My family is huge and with that comes several children. I'm also at the age where a lot of friends may be having or have children. In other words, people want these moments captured!

One of my most memorable photo sessions was when my friend asked me to take some family photos for their Christmas cards and to have some updated family photos. A beautiful mid November day was scheduled and the family of five arrived for some picture taking!

These pictures came out great. However, you know me and my love for candids, plus the kids started getting antsy. The weather was beautiful out, sun shining, mid 50s, leaves in the yard, and they could see it all through the window while they were inside posing for me. Finally, after a good portion of indoor shots I told the kids to just go have fun. Let them be kids! They only get to be this age once. And so I bring you the kids being kids! (Not before we had the youngest get a picture with the stuffed Santa that caught her eye and let the two older ones have a moment to be silly...)

Then we proceeded outside where the kids and parents had a blast playing games, chasing one another, enjoying the outdoors! (The photographer did as well.)

Needless to say, I was thrilled when a good majority of the candids made it into my friend's top picks. The kids were awesome, they just had fun! The staged ones came out great as well, but look what can happen with candids.

Fast forward some months to the christening the friends of the family's newest addition. Now when a child is 2 months old, all you really can capture are the candids:

The cutest ever!

That pretty much sums up my photographs of children and families (for now!) I can't wait to photograph more! And just my little life lesson for all of you readers out there, I'm sure everyone has at least one child in their life. Capture the moments whether it be professionally or just on your phone. The camera only assists with the photo, you need to create it.

After all, who wouldn't want a photo of their child singing and dancing their heart out and just having a good time making people laugh? Those memories are the best!

Enjoy!

~ C

Weddings are captured with a photograph, marriage is captured from the heart. My greeting card moment for you all...

Once upon a time there was a wedding (actually there are several weddings in this world but that’s besides the point.) It was the wedding of my cousin to her now husband, which occured during the beginning of my freshman year of college. Some things that you may or may not know about me: A) I LOVE WEDDINGS!!! B) My camera was NOT staying home from the wedding, especially with it being a family member's big day. However, as much as I love taking pictures, I figured this would be a point and shoot camera event. After all, they had a professional photographer booked, I would want to dance and spend time with the family, and I would just want to enjoy the party. Not to mention, I didn't own a professional camera at that time and would have had to rent one. Not necessary.

Back to the wedding. The wedding was beautiful and I took TONS of pictures. My cousin loved them but two really stuck out:

I could point out so many things wrong with these photos from a photographer's point a view, however, I need to remind myself that I was just starting out when I took these. At first, I honestly had no idea why people seemed to like these two photographs the best. My aunt happened to mention that "It's pictures of them." Pictures of them? What was that supposed to mean? Duh, of course it's pictures of them! It puzzled me for a while of what my aunt meant but one day, while looking through them again it hit me. They were candid, I was able to capture the moment. I was able to capture the love for one another. I was able to capture the happiness that those two shared. The quality of the picture didn't matter. I was able to capture something that those two could cherish for the rest of their lives, and I couldn't have felt more satisfied. I loved what I was able to accomplish!

Fast forward a few years. My godmother's son (my "Godbrother" we'll call him, seeing as he and his brother are practically other brothers to me) got married to his wife. By now I had a more professional camera and about six photography courses behind me. Once again, I was not the primary photographer at this wedding but a guest. The professional camera and a point and shoot did come with me to this wedding though. I wanted to get some great photos of their special day. Here are some, AND JUST SOME, of the 300+ photographs I took of that day. ***Please remember, I was not their wedding photographer. I was merely a guest at their wedding, so please excuse some of the corner of pews, half of people, arm, etc. that may come into view of the images.***

I LOVED how these came out, and so did the bride and groom. I was so honored when the couple asked me if they could use my photos for their wedding album, as well as some photos to be framed! Apparently their photographer didn't capture a lot of candid photos. Most of them were staged photographs (which are fine) but didn't even out the photos with some candids. They wanted to see people have a good time at the party and not having people be told to look and smile for the camera. Every time I go to their house and see my photos up on their wall, I am touched and once again, honored, to have been able to give one of my favorite couples an amazing gift (on top of what I got them from their registry :-P)

And so, my wedding photography took off. I have done a few events since then (weddings, vow renewals, etc.) but can't wait to shoot more weddings in the near future! I can't wait to capture the memories of more wonderful couples and bring them the happiness in a photograph.

Oh, and both couples are currently living happily ever after! (Had to back up my "Once upon a time" at the beginning of the blog.)
~ C