I almost don’t want to tell the true story of this session. I want to preserve the revisionist history. Can we simply say that it was a beautiful day and everyone was totally happy?
No? Not buying it?
OK, I’ll tell you the truth. This family are beloved previous clients and when some of them were returning to town from far flung locations, Ann smartly wanted to make a record of their togetherness. We had one day. One shot at documenting these guys together. But on that one day, there were flukey gale force winds and 30 degree temperatures. I offered my studio but I think childhood memories of tortuous studio portraiture made that option seem, well, yucky. So, we decided to try going outside in some of the rottenest weather in which I have ever made family portraits. We tried to distract the kids. As you know, adults are MUCH better at pretending things are optimal. Kids, not so much. If it sucks, most often, kids will understandably let you know. So we coaxed them for a while but pretty soon, it was time to quit. Time to stop torturing everyone with the arctic blast.
Honestly, I left the session thinking, YIKES. I was unsure of what we were able to get, a (thankfully) unusual feeling for me. I truly hoped that I wouldn’t disappoint them. But after editing the session images, wonderful moments emerged! Whew! Thank goodness. Somehow, this awesome family transcended the circumstances. Everyone did a stellar job and there are so many portraits I love, but my heart especially warmed to see Ann’s relationship with her granddaughter, Sophie. They are just absolutely precious together.
And now, we should erase the chilly memories and believe what the images seem to convey. It was a beautiful day and everyone was totally happy!
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
