This is a photo of me (left) and my cousin at my Nana and Pop Pop's house circa... a long, long time ago. Though we are out of focus and blown out completely, this picture makes me so happy because every single detail brings back a flood of memories. Pop Pop sitting on the couch behind us, the red carpet in their living room, the tomato sliced up on the table was likely from Nana's garden, the mail stuffed in the china cabinet, the sliding door behind it leading to the basement we were forbidden to go in, the Snoopy Snow Cone maker squeeze bottle on the table (my favorite toy ever)... everything brings me back to that time and the feeling of being in a place filled with love and family. It's magic.
I have two points in showing you this photo. First, I urge you...wherever you are, whatever you're doing, just take the photo. Take your phone out and take the photo (even I have to remind myself this all the time).
Second, if and when you want professional photos, consider adding some YOU in there. A place where you've created memories, or anything that represents this time in your life.
Recently I did an at-home session for the Cox family. I wanted to grab a photo of their daughter Lillie, and they had a little chair just her size hanging out in the living room. I suggested using that chair for the portrait, and Kelly said, "Yeah that would be a good one. That belonged to my Dad when he was in preschool."
My head almost exploded. Immediately their photos had a story behind them and a little extra touch of MAGIC.
It can be the smallest detail that triggers those memories. During another at-home session I got to take photos of the Hoke Family on their front porch (which will inevitably look different as years go by). Amy is wearing her Grandmother's necklace. When she looks back on this photo, the memory of her Grandmother will be there too. Magic.
This revelation made me run home to take photos of my mom in her garden. See the tree behind her? She thought it was a weed but when she pulled it, a pecan nut was attached. She planted it again and now it's grown so tall! Magic.
And my dad in his garage where he's made half the furniture in our house, taken cars apart and put them back together, and fixed everything/anything we ask him to. Magic.
Malcom by the lake in his backyard where he learned to ride his scooter. Magic.
My kitty Neko passed away when I was 6 months pregnant and I was completely crushed. She was my best friend of 14 years and my baby. I made a little felt kitty with her same markings for this shoot. This was my tribute to her. My babies in the same picture. Magic.
Everywhere we go, a Care Bear comes with us. So the crowd gathered in this photo is actually made up of Alice's best snuggle buddies. Magic.
You get the idea.
No time like the present. Call me. Let's make some MAGIC.
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