My 'favorites' Session
Time moves fast. Babies become toddlers who quickly move into adolescents and teens ...like a freight train! As a mom, in the thick of it, I was oblivious to the fast but gradual change that was happening with my kiddos. It would show up to shock me mostly in photographs, but also in milestones. Sometimes it would look like pants that I just bought becoming high waters months later or shoes worn out in weeks at the toes. But my biggest realizations of time passing came with photos. No more baby fat on those pinch-able cheeks. Their smile showing more teeth. Have they always been this tall?? Their laugh changing tone. The annunciation in their speech becoming more refined. Holy cow, when did that facial hair show up?! From threatening consequences for not showering or brushing teeth to smelling cologne in the air as they pass by. You don't want toys for your birthday?? Things change. Children grow. Interests change. Goals shift. Nothing we can do but sit back and take it in. Milestones.
The mentality behind the "My 'favorites' Session" is to stop time with a series of candid captures. I pulled my littlest, Davis, into the studio one day and just started snapping and talking. I asked him what his favorite color was, what the best dinosaur is, what he wants to be when he grows up, and so much more. I had the feel that I was interviewing a celebrity. And in a way I was...one of the most famous in my personal world. He laughed and smiled and became so very animated. It made me want to record him and his voice in that moment....I knew it would be fleeting. I decided to put together this session option for all of the parents who may miss this. I can see it being an annual sit-down for Davis and myself and it occurred to me that other parents may want to do the same thing. The printing company I use is incredible and I chose to include one important product with this session: the lay-flat press book as the means to keep this time stamp for years. I am also including 10 high resolution downloadable digitals because you may find a use for stirring them up in the future. I also record the interview (low quality phone recording) to serve as 'notes' to make their book. But I know this little nugget of a video timestamps their voice & mannerisms too so I will gladly send that to you following the shoot. This session can be indoors (studio or coffee shop) or outdoors (park).
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These sessions I feel are best scheduled during times of transition for your kiddo.... their birthday, their first day of school, their last day of school, the new year, or any other calendar marker. There's no obligation to book every year, but I can imagine a beautiful collection of 5x7 albums lining a shelf in your living room; a time-stamp of each year of growth. Here's the details:
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My 'favorites' Session $300 (ages 3-18 yrs)
20-30 minutes of a relaxed interactive candid shoot
can bring interactive props to help reveal interests (but not required)
5x7 lay-flat keepsake photo book (includes candids & creatively written answers to the interview)
10 high-resolution edited candid digitals for download
No minimum product purchase (but products will be made available for purchase if you choose)
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NOTE: I can see parents of multiple littles wanting to combine them into one book. I would be happy to do that and can alter the # of images to up to 20 high-resolution total and include up to 10 total pages (20 sides) in the book for an additional $100. This change can include as many children as you have and can include some images of them together.
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A video showing the keepsake photo book that comes with this session COMING SOON. For now, take a look below at some of the sample images and interview excerpts from recent sessions.
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Excerpts from Davis' interview: Davis is 7, in 2nd grade and cute as ever. It was easy for him to name his favorite move (Minions) and he whipped out his top dino (hypo indominis rex) in a split second. But he had to think a bit when asked about his favorite snake (red pit cobra). Whether or not these are real, doesn't matter. To Davis, he is all in when it comes to imagination. Collin is his bestest bud and he loves smarties and grilled cheese. Davis sees himself as an animal saver when he grows up and will probably wear a lot of orange & gray as those are his favorite colors. It was a 'favorites' kind of talk we had... More favorites include football & baseball for sports and hist top animal is the koala. But my favorite 'favorite' of his is when he named "You are my sunshine" as his favorite song his momma sings to him.
