Of all the memories we hold dear to our hearts, the ones we can all agree are the most precious, are those of our family.
While the regular family portrait is probably good enough, I am an active advocate for a more relaxed, journalistic approach to family portraits. For me, there is nothing better than capturing the every day moments.
The precious Saturday morning where you are all still in your PJs at noon making waffles with your 3 year old. The Sunday adventures in the park or on a hike or simply a lazy day in the back yard. Those moments to me, hold your family story. There is so much more that can be captured in a adventure session as opposed to a traditional one.
When I was little I had a lake in my life. A wonderful place filled with memories... My grandfather, who played a huge role in my life, loved it there. We went bbq-ing and swimming every weekend. Our whole family would get together and we would spend the whole day in the sun. I wish I had more pictures of those days. As vivid as they are in my mind, I wish I could flip through a book and relive them everyday. I found a couple of older pictures of my family at the lake that I would love to share with you. They make me smile every time I see them.
These are my people.
Captured as they are.
Beautiful, relaxed, happy.
This is my mom at our "shared" childhood lake. Shared, simply because we grew up in the same neighborhood. This lake was in her childhood just as much as it was in mine.
She was pregnant with me here even though you would not even be able to tell. Isn't she just beautiful?!
My mom again :) She has the most infectious laugh... She could light up a million rooms with it <3 ( My grandma looks so giddy in this picture!)
This picture of my grandma was taken by my talented grandfather. I love the light he captured. She looks like a Queen- -So beautiful, so proud, so loved and adored. He had a true passion for photography and used to develop most of our family pictures in a makeshift darkroom in the bathroom. He gave me my first camera, a Smena 8M, and thought me how to use it.
My grandfather was the moving force behind the lake gatherings. He loved it there. He loved walking through the woods, with a skip in his walk and whistling. He loved BBQ and watermelon and teaching us things. I miss him dearly.
So I feel like it's my turn to take as many pictures as I can of the everyday. This beautiful lake that is now so close to us, smells like childhood memories to me.
Enso enjoying Lake Shaftsbury, a little peace of heaven <3 He calls it " the beach" :)
On this particular trip, he couldn't help but jump in the water, even though, I thought it was way too cold and we were completely unprepared, hence all the clothing... (If you know me, you know I usually just wing it and not plan too much). Oh the joy! I could watch him for hours... It was a struggle getting him to leave.
His little soul is so happy and content there! I wish I could bottle it all up for him- the smell, the beauty, the freedom...
Where is your happy place? Lets get together and take pictures of your every day adventures.