Cloudy Day Family Photoshoot
This past spring wasn’t generous in warm sunny days. Just the opposite, rain and clouds were the usual and predictable attributes of all days, especially week-ends :/; temperatures barely climbed into mid-sixties only to drop back to 50F. Trees and bushes didn’t start blooming till the very end of April, making it quite a long, dreary, and dull beginning of the spring. First week of May is when things finally started to look spring-y and cheerful, and that’s when I had a family photoshoot scheduled with this fun and silly family.
As usual, we agreed to meet about 1.5hr before the sunset to catch the blush and golden rays of the descending sun. I was excited and anxious to make the light the theme of this shoot. But…, the capricious spring decided otherwise. The day started with the even, pale, and boring light of an overcast day and reminded that way till the evening, despite my crossed fingers, shaking fists, all pleas and threats. Well, there was nothing better to do than get the most of it. And so we did!
On my way to the client’s home to check out their living room in need of wall art, I spotted a blooming garden in front of a local school. The idea quickly became the reality; that’s where we took a good chunk of photos before heading to the previously agreed upon location. The blooming trees in the garden certainly created this bright, fresh and airy feel to the portraits.
I always try to help clients relax to let their true nature surface to the top. Luckily, it was easy enough with this family – dad cracking jokes, the son attempting to direct the shoot, and mom and girls being easy-going and fun. We ended up doing both formal portraits, and some silly shots which caught the jolly nature of this family. And what’s cool, both types of portraits ended up on their living room wall, giving it both conventional and expressive feel!
In the end, family photography is not only about catching beautiful light, it’s also (and probably even more so!) about catching the family spirit, the personalities, smiles, and lives!
