How to Make a Warm Spring Break with Star Dust and Magic…
Spring break. A camping trip to the beach with Nana and Daddy…complete with a photo shoot in spring outfits - to capture the family moments. What could possibly go wrong, given the beautiful, blue skies? How about 49 degrees, 15 mph winds, and sand blowing in every imaginable direction? Although these were the conditions on the originally scheduled evening for the session, I was able to reschedule for somewhat warmer temperatures, just a bit of wind, and to a creative plan for the session that included trying to keep the children toasty (well…maybe not exactly toasty…) with strategically placed location moves in the car to warm up.
I knew these were going to be challenging conditions, especially for five-year-old cutie pie, Micah, and the eight-year-old, Miss Madi – with personality for days. Challenges or not, I love capturing joy, and that is what I set out to do for their Nana, Donna, who wanted a beach session with her precious family. I wanted Donna’s grandchildren to look at the images and to know, as Karen Gibbs said, “A Grandmother thinks of her grandchildren day and night, even when they are not with her. She will always love them more than anyone would understand.” I also wanted her son, Mike, to see in the images what I saw in his mother’s interactions with him and in her reactions to watching him with his children. The sentiment is expressed so eloquently by Maya Angelou, “I have a son, who is my heart. A wonderful young man, daring and loving and strong and kind.”
Now…on the beach…in the low 50’s…in spring outfits…how did I capture joy? I started with my go-to smile generating trick – “fuzzy pickles” – which was not at all approved by Micah, who preferred the more substantial chorus of “fuzzy hamburgers” and “fuzzy French fries”, which made us all laugh! Miss Madi, the very pretty little model, just came alive with huge smiles as the poses became more professional! Dances and airplanes with Daddy had their own star dust, as did Nana’s gentle hands on their faces and - tickles. Of course, there was nothing like the magic created by hugs and kisses….and we captured it all!
This was a special session. I am so thankful for the family’s faith in me. I only hope that they will look back at the precious images from their three-generation session and consider the words of Pam Brown, “It's good when we're out walking to hold your hand and to know that this same hand held Daddy's, when he was the same age as me.” What a gift for them to have this time together. I am sure that Donna’s husband was there - in spirit, too. Their “Pop”, who loved them all so much was, I am certain, sprinkling down his own bit of magic and star dust on all of them. I hope they will see those twinkles in the images, as well…
Blessings ~
Lisa