Before you even begin reading this post, grab a cup of coffee and get comfy. Not kidding! This is by far the longest blog post I've ever written!! I couldn't help it. This session inspired me so much and truly opened my eyes to the importance of creating and capturing wonderful childhood memories. It also marks something completely new for me as a photographer.
Earlier this summer, I was approached to write for Around the Corner magazine. It's a new local publication coming out soon that includes anything and everything Southwest Lower Michigan related. As a columnist for this magazine, my assignment is to tell a story with a picture. Something powerful. Something meaningful. And that got my juices flowing.
As I began to brainstorm ideas, one of them I came up with was a little girl and a vintage lemonade stand. Then this got my juices flowing even more. What if I were to create scenes for children? Let them live out some of their best memories in front of my camera. Hey, it wouldn't hurt to try. Afterall, a flower or bubbles only spark their attention for about 2 minutes.
As a photographer of children, one of the hardest things to do is keep their attention, especially when there is nothing for them to be interested in. I mean, lets face it, they have your attention for 15 minutes during a session, then they're over it. I wanted to stop this. I wanted to do something fun. Something they would get excited about. Something that isn't done in this area. And something that would grab their attention for more than just 15 minutes. And I found it.
The Huff family were the perfect candidates for this session. Earlier this summer, I met up with them, and a group of their family members, at Lake Michigan for a photo shoot. It didn't go as well as planned. It was a cold, windy, dreary day and the kids were not having it one bit. They were cold, they were crying, and they just wanted to go home. I knew I had to make up for this, especially since I got maybe 4 good pictures of Frank, Katie and their two kids.
Around the time my idea sparked, Katie contacted me about rescheduling another session and I knew this would be PERFECT for her family. She agreed to let that she liked my lemonade stand idea and she even went as far as making her daughter's dress for this session, which was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! Seriously Katie, you could make these things for a living and they would sell like hotcakes.
I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was in the weeks before this session. I had so many ideas racing through my head about what I wanted to do. I was even able to score a cool rowboat from my Grandmother (ok, actually, my mom scored it, but it's still in the family) so with the boat and the lemonade stand, I knew this was going to be a one-of-a-kind session...which is what I strive for.
Everything went perfect during this shoot. Everything!! During the first 5-10 minutes of the session, little Morgan was a bit unsure of her lemonade stand, so we shot her brother by the boat first. After that, we were golden. She loved the stand! She played with the lemons, her "fake" blueberries, she collected money and she even had a glass of lemonade. Even when we walked away to do different pictures, she kept asking to go back to her lemonade stand. BINGO. Child photography problem solved.
So, I'm proud to annoounce that in 2012, I will begin offering custom themed sessions. Most of these will be in a vinatge style, but I'll have more modern themes as well. And they don't have to be used just for children - they can be for anyone!! Some of the scenes I'll be creating for next year include: a camping scene, an old gas station theme, a vegetable stand theme and a few more, which I don't want to spill just yet :)
So, after my long-winded blog post, lets get on with this
oh-so-incredible session....As the final week of summer is upon us, this session reminds me that during this crazy, busy life we all live, it's important to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures it has to offer. I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed creating them and I hope it takes you all back to a time when life was so care free.
I have to thank my mom for helping me create this scene. It was actually so easy, and so much fun. And the best part - it only cost $14 to make!!! Yes, fourteen dollars!! Most of these items my mom already had and let me borrow for this scene. The other odds and ends I didn't have (like real and fake lemons, the table clothes and the lemon pictures on the front of the stand...which are actually pot holders) I found on clearance at local stores. Score!!!
This is exactly how I visioned this scene. To. The. T.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the boots with the dress!!!
This picture, and the very first pic at the top of the page, have my vote for 16x20's on the living room wall :)
Hahaha, hey Frank, you do realize I tend to catch pretty much EVERYTHING, right?? ;)
Frank and Katie - thank you so much for allowing me to share this idea with you!! You both have so much to be thankful for and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect family to share this experience with. Thank you!
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