Dani and Denise's Candid Family Session
- Nov 14, 2019
- 1 min read
Updated: May 18, 2021
Back in the day, my family sessions were heavily posed, poorly lit, and when client's said, "What if all 17 of us wore matching outfits?" I eagerly said, "Sure!"
No longer.
I work now to capture moments that are real. I have families plan activities that they enjoy doing and let the rest unfold. For Dani and Denise, those activities included carving pumpkins with their two young children and canning home made applesauce - something they used to do often when it was just the two of them and only recently rediscovered now that their children could be entrusted with knives.
And towards the end of the session? Their son made a blanket fort and commandeered the living room for adventure.
The family gathers around as Dani caves a pumpkin.
Denise as a college professor who spends each day teaching women in STEM. Dani is a brilliant realtor who oversees community development. She has an eye for sustainability, restoration, and ethical construction. She designed the brilliant and fully custom kitchen that we shot in, an 8 month project initially forecasted for just the summer. Denise, Dani, and the children made 'temporary' living arrangements in the back yard, camping as construction was underway as the live site was too dangerous for the children. From cooking to sleeping, they moved most of their day-to-day activities outside.
The whole family hides under a blanket fort. The children await updating their heights, an annual tradition. Denise measures her son's height, an annual tradition. Denise measures her daughter's height, an annual tradition. Her son photo bombs. Her daughter proudly stands near her measurement and makes a goofy smile. Queer female couple and daughter cook together prepping apple sauce. Lesbian couple Dani and Denise cook food together Denise and the two kids peal apples. Denise, Dani, and their son carve apples as her daughter snacks. Dani smiles off to the side as her son focuses on cooking. Denise and her son cut apples. Denise and her son cut apples. Close up of decoring and apple Close up on a pot Denise slices apples over a pot Dani listens to her daughter tell a tall tale. Denise and her son cut apples. Young boy pours homemade apple sauce into a jar Young boy grabs lid for jarred homemade apple sauce Young girl pours homemade apple sauce into a jar Young boy pours homemade apple sauce into a jar Lesbian couple, Dani and Denise finish canning apple sauce jars. Finished canned of apple sauce Lesbian couple tries homemade apple sauce. Paper outlines and stencils for pumpkin carving. Daughter looks quizzically at different carving stencils Daughter sits on floor and smiles Mother and daughter carve a pumpkin Overhead shot of pumpkin carving Son hugs his mother as she carves pumpkins. Cat walks by licking lips Family caves pumpkin Photo journalistic queer family portrait as children look to see the pumpkin that their mothers carved Son's pumpkin carved with scary eyes Son drapes over Denise's shoulders Son drapes over Denise's shoulders as she carves a pumpkin Denise smiles as she carves a pumpkin Son drapes his arms over his mother Wife kisses wife Family carves pumpkin together Son drapes over Denise's shoulders as she carves a pumpkin. He points to a part of the pumpkin Family carves pumpkin together Whole family looks at the pumpkins they've carved. Their son sits at the bottom of their stairs and plays guitar Dani holds her daughter tight and they laugh Dani holds her daughter in her arms Dani puts her daughter down after holding her
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