Family sessions! The perfect time for family bonding. The most important part for me is to capture connections all while portraying the family in their current season of life. My formal training began with controlled, systematic posing. Try that with twin toddlers!! Aye, aye, aye! When I give up preconceived notions, a great experience and joyful photos happen naturally. 

Ally, Sterling, Cutter and Charlie welcomed Sterling Ford Cromwell on Aug 26th. Family photos were planned as well as a newborn shoot. One of my strategies for photographing young ones is motion. I knew the boys would need to move so we decided to use Ally and Sterling’s bed. One reason, there is great light in their bedroom. The other, ever since the boys could crawl, Ally and Sterling have had a nightly ritual of letting the boys jump on the bed for about 10 minutes before they head to their room. Wiggles shake out joyfully.

With the help of Sterling’s parents, the boys jumped and crawled on and off the bed all while getting great family shots. When the boys were ready to take a break, we focused on Sterling. At 12 days old he was an angel, awake for much of the morning. We chose a light swaddle and several backgrounds which included a neutral blanket and a Navajo rug, a special gift from Sterling to Ally when baby Sterling was born. Ally’s dad, Cutter, fell in love with Jerry Jeff Walker’s rendition of Navajo Rug when he attended a concert at 18 years old. As the story goes, Cutter met Jerry Jeff and became a lifelong fan.

Family shoots can be a little chaotic. Challenge yourself to give up control and a planned strategy to end up with happier clients, a great experience, and timeless memories. As Jerry Jeff sang, you don’t find things that last anymore like a handwoven Navajo Rug. The same goes for this precious family! Please enjoy a few of my favorites from the day.

Thanks for stopping by,
Roberta