Once upon a time, the 3 Griffin children were young, cute and amenable. Hair brushed, finest attire washed, ironed and ordered into, we were shipped off to a studio to have our portraits taken.
I’m looking at them now and wondering why the baby, my sister, got the full on special fake treatment whilst me and my older brother made do with a plain backdrop. (Yes, I have heard of middle child syndrome.) You see, they’ve placed her on a fake tree stump in front of a rural farmyard scene. There must have been something about her smock dress on the day that screamed little cowgirl to the photographer.
She seems very happy but all I see is the fake set-up. And it reminds me how happy I am to be able to offer my own clients today the real thing. Gorgeous, natural backdrops and stunning scenery to shoot in.
I love planning family sessions on location – spending time picking the right spot and choosing the best time of day to get great light. And when you work with a fabulous family, who are so much fun and up for something special then I can be sure I’m going to enjoy a brilliant session and capture something beautiful for them.
This session took us along a country lane and up a steep sandy hill in the (still quite) hot early evening sun. I’m not complaining though – I suggested it! On the top of a beautiful hill in the middle of Surrey, what better way is there to start a session than with cupcakes and strawberries?
She brought her own teddy bear to the picnic and enjoyed our adventure in the woods. Her Mum told me she was full of energy and into everything and she didn’t disappoint on the day. Curious about whatever she saw or found, happy to explore, quck to spot an opportunity to have fun – little V was such a fun character to photograph. She is why I love to work outside on location – why keep her sitting still in a studio? I can’t imagine her sat on a fake tree trunk and happy about it. Instead, our session was full of running, smiling, eating cakes, playing football and riding on her Daddy’s shoulders.
And even after all that running about, all those cheeky faces, she still found time to pause for a moment, look up and wonder what was going on with me.
With a gorgeous smile, beautiful unruly curls, she is so free-spirited and brave beyond her years – but she loves her Mummy and Daddy and would always return for a cuddle or three.
No fake tree stump for this one. She had the real thing – plus a Daddy to hold her hand along the way and a Mummy to cheer encouragement. She is brave, but I love the tenderness of her whole hand wrapped around Daddy’s finger.
She’s nearly there, almost at the top. But finds it too funny, all this climbing about business. Best stop for a little giggle and a short rest before the push to the top.
Thank you gorgeous girl for being so full of fun and adventure. I’ll try harder to keep up with you next time. Maybe I won’t start the session with a hike up a hill!
This session I was fed blueberry muffins. Next time, I’ve been promised a bacon sandwich on the beach. No sand thanks, just butter and ketchup in mine.
1 comment
Brilliant!