Deats/Tice Family- February 2018
Let me introduce you to my friend Erin. She did the sweetest thing for her family. She gifted them a photo shoot! Her family is everything to her and she wanted to get them all together to capture this particular season of life.
We met on a beautiful and rare warm February morning. With snow still on the ground (from a quick storm a few days ago), we wandered around in the warm rays of sunshine as if 60 degree days are normal this time of year. The weather here is unpredictable and can change in an instant… at least that is the rational explanation for snow one day, sunshine the next. But on this day, I think it was more luck than anything.
We gathered the whole family under the giant willow. A tree that has so much presence. And if you’re from here (and especially if you do portrait photography) you know about that tree. The magical way the branches cascade from the sky. How you can stand on the north side of the tree at a higher elevation and get the beautiful landscape, the reaching branches, and your subjects all in one frame… it’s a perfect place to start.
After a few warm up shots of the whole family, I decided it was time to give the “kids” a break and pull mom and dad aside. You know I love to bring couples together and let them have a moment to themselves during shoots.
Steve and Cynthia, were there with their grown children and 2 teenage grandchildren. So I knew that when I asked them how long they’d been married, that the answer would be a higher number than the younger families I am used to photographing. But it was higher than I expected. I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s their youthful and active appearance. Maybe it’s the way they still wrap up in each other. Maybe it’s the way he looks at her when she laughs--in a way that gives me all the feels. When they said, “44 years” I stopped. Lowered my camera and literally had my mouth open in astonishment. 44 years people!
I am only 34. I think about all the hard times I’ve had, the long days and even longer nights worrying about things… like my family, my kids, my marriage, my friends, my career. Thinking that my husband and I have been through so much in our almost 17 years together. Nope. We are just at the beginning.
When I look at a couple who has been married for 44 years, surrounded by their adult children, one of which has given them 2 grandchildren, I know that they have seen way more than me. They have gone through this crazy life together side by side and in this particular season, are still smiling at each other! That is a powerful testament to marriage. I love that I can look at them and know that as the saying goes, 'the days are long but the years are short.'
As we continued on, walking around, stopping for snapshots here and there, they told me the only photo shoot they’d ever had was for their church directory many years ago. I knew in an instant what those kind of photos probably look like and couldn't help but laugh. I was even more energized by this nugget of information because that meant that this was the first time they had ever experienced a real family photo shoot! Not to say studio pictures aren’t real but I mean...come on let’s be real. If you have any of those relics with the boring grey background, hair that’s too big, clothes that are a bit too fancy and your sibling has his or her hand resting on your shoulder (when in all reality they would've probably never willingly touched you unless the photographer made them) then you know what I’m talking about!! All of which this family does in fact have...Erin sent me a picture to prove it!
But don’t get me wrong, those pictures are special too. They have a place in history and they documented a time in life that was worth documenting. It’s just very exciting for me that I am growing my business in an age where family photo shoots are a lot more authentic-and to be totally honest- fun!
Erin knew the benefit in having this style of family photography from a shoot we did a couple of years ago. So when she wanted to do an extended family session as a gift to her family, I was pumped! I was excited to be with them again because they are really fun to be around. She is one of those cool moms that have children that totally adore her even though they are in their teen years. They love on each other, tease each other, laugh a lot and are genuinely happy to be spending time together. Cuddles flow freely and usually result in a rib poke… you know, family stuff.
What Erin did for her family was more than a gift of pictures. It was a gift of time. Time spent getting ready, driving in the car, talking, laughing, hugging, smiling, remembering, slowing down, catching up, going for a bite to eat afterwards and just being together. And since we don’t know how much time we have left on this Earth together, what a wonderful way to spend a uniquely warm & sunny morning.
