This was a very relaxed session with the picking up of leaves, the running through the grass and the obtaining of ice cream. Jenny did not want posed and cheesy photos of her, Paul and her little one so she talked to me about what I offered. I told her about my documentary (candid) approach and she was game.
I learned really quickly that little Caitlin loved to run.
I recall Jenny telling me this was one of her favourites. There was no posing or direction from me to “go hug Mommy” or anything like that. This was spontaneous.
Sessions like these are bit more relaxed. As much as it is partly my clients learning about me and how I work, it is also a process of me learning about them and their family and how they operate together… and whether ice cream makes all things better (note: it usually does).
Kids run, kids tumble. In my years of documenting families, I’ve found that these tumbles and ensuing tears usually allow me to document a side of things that you don’t normally see in family photos. It’s the rough stuff where families are made but it’s also in the rough stuff where families are brought together.
I learned really quickly that Caitlin loves to run. With the freedom of her legs, she sprints to anywhere and everywhere, keeping both me and her parents very active (note: heart rate levels up) as we attempt to chase her down. At one point, she did take a tumble but her parents soothed her and made it all better … with ice cream.
Moral of the story is: Ice cream.
Ice Cream!
