Unlike most first time senior parents, Liz got the jump on scheduling senior portraits for her son for one primary reason. She knew that in a global pandemic that was hitting small businesses hard, and it would help our little family run studio if she booked earlier rather than later. That thoughtfulness is SO Liz, but I was moved that she’d even thought of it. They were overdue for family portraits as well, so we scheduled that too.
Now on a mild, gorgeous fall day, I stood there in the forest, amidst the golden glory of the changing aspens. Fiddling with my camera gear, I could hear them. The four of them were discussing how they should stand in anticipation of me coming over and making our next portrait. As a portrait photographer, I am privy to a variety of family dynamics, and to be truthful, they’re not all pretty! So, I was entertained to hear them deliberating about who should stand where. What order would be best? “He was on the left last time, so maybe…” And they seemed to each listen to each other’s input, trying on each idea in turn.
I considered letting them go on like this for a while, as it was pretty amusing, but ultimately interrupted to make the portrait in question. Ordinarily, I’d make changes, requesting a change or two, but these guys had done a stellar job without my direction, AND without any conflict! Completely consistent with the light-hearted family personality I’ve witnessed as I’ve photographed them for close to 2 decades.
Flagstaff Family Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography
Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona
