Family Spotlight

The Hanlon's are clients that are not new to STPhotography. Family is everything to them and having Professional Portraits are as important to them as having electricity in the house. Kim (mom) phoned me with an idea to surprise her husband Matt for Father's Day with a Portrait of their five children together. Kim is familiar with our Portrait Park from other visits to the studio so we started the planning together. You can see from this first image two things.

First, we based the clothing for the children on Kim's choice of scenery for the image. Second, it's no longer a surprise because you can see Mom and Dad are in the photograph. No worries, dad was thrilled to hear what was being planned but wanted to take it a step further and have that long over due Family Portrait. It all worked out and just about the time Matthew was losing his interest, we changed gears and gave him some room to express himself.

Now, we are excited again and each child is thinking up their own spot to be photographed. Mom wanted these images to show the individualized child in their own space and element. She gave them free reign to have their portrait wherever they wanted. So on our way to the pond, we come across these Forget-Me-Nots and add Emilee. She's smiling because this is fun.

Why is Kati in the tree? Because that is what she likes to do! She climbed this willow and posed with a real smile and we got it. It's easy to smile when you are having fun.

My husband Brock recently built this dock because every pond needs a dock to run and jump from. Okay, we also wanted some place nice for our clients to sit. Here we have the icing on the cake, all the children together having fun and looking like it. Little Michael liked the feel of the dock, so he stuck around for his own happy portrait. Don't worry, he can swim. Nah, his mom is nearby just out of the frame. Promise.

So, one daughter left....Sarah knows we have a creek running behind the property and that's where she wants to play. We all get our feet wet and find this close by spot for Sarah's portrait. Very natural

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What about mom and dad ? you ask...I mean they are the ones footing the bill and isn't usually them that we have the least photographs of ?  Plus, if you know Matt and Kim, you know they are a very good looking couple, I'd be silly to not suggest some time of their own for photography.  That Matt had a hard time keeping his eyes on the camera :)

 

               

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I can tell you what happened next but I won't. (hint: notice everyone's wet bottoms)  You'll have to ask the Hanlon's. Here is the family leaving Walnut Creek but not for the last time. They'll be back, we probably just won't have the camera with us.

Thank you, Kim and Matt for choosing STPhotography over and over again! We appreciate it and yes, we are coming over to hang your portraits with you. We'll bring the wine.

Suzette,
I just wanted to send you a quick note saying what a pleasant experience it was for our family photos. Our experience with pictures in the past, which I don't want to mention any names, but sounds just like "The Picture People" (ha ha) has been very frustrating. It seems one child always ends up crying or mad or even both, in turn, we end up with a frustrated photographer and pictures I haven't been overly excited about, so I wasn't sure I even wanted to go through another portrait session any time soon. I completely changed my mind after we recieved our dance pictures which you had take, which are just wonderful. So we decided it was time for a family portrait. I have to tell you, all five of our children had a very happy experience with our family pictures and also their individual pictures. And the settings in which their pictures were taken were just beautiful. The freedom my children had playing and laughing in your "park like settings" and the privacy your yard and studio offer are above and beyond any other place we've had pictures done. I am so happy with the outcome of the portraits. They truly are a portal in time and you captured them beautifully. I am so pleased and know we'll see you for future sports pictures, dance pictures, family portraits etc. and know I'll be more than pleased with the outcome.
Kim Hanlon