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Recently, I was talking to a potential client. She was telling me, as people often do, that she has been wanting to get professional photos taken of her family for a long time, but that between their busy schedules and energetic kids, she just never seemed to get around to it. I nodded my understanding. She leaned in, touched my arm, and said gravely, “You would have to be very patient. VERY patient.” I smiled confidently, “I am.”

Funny how I had to remind myself of this last night. I’d been wanting to have a quick photo session with my girls for the last couple of weeks, but there was always a reason not to. On this night I decided it was now or never. For many reasons, I knew that if I didn’t put my foot down, it may be months before I was willing to try to again. Yes, I love to capture images of my family going about the ordinary chaos of our lives; but sometimes I want some dedicated photography time. For me, this means a tiny window where the task at hand is clear: get some good photos of the family. No guilt about why do I have a camera in my face when I should be on the floor playing, or starting dinner, or making sure the baby doesn’t endanger herself while I’m looking through the viewfinder.

The key terms in the last paragraphs are patient and tiny window. The patience came in when T came home later than expected and thoroughly distracted by a crazy day at work. Meanwhile, the oldest child insisted on matching her sister’s outfit. (This is not my favorite choice, and I could expound, but I wonder if anyone is still reading at this point anyway.) I had not even thought about dinner, and then the middle child launched into one of her epic and uncontrollable fits of madness.

When I thought all was lost, I remembered that if this were someone else’s family, I would step back and wait it out. I give my clients a short guide before our sessions; where I tell them that I’ve seen it all, that tired cranky kids (and dads) don’t phase me, and that if we need to take a break, for whatever reason, we will. I stress flexibility.

What is it about doctors making the worst patients? For a moment, I was the mom whose rigid expectations were going to be the ultimate downfall of this photo session. I needed my own medicine. I took a breath. I let the oldest put on her outfit but took a change of clothes with us, T took some calls that allowed him to tie up some loose ends at work (at least for a little while), and meanwhile the tantrum burned itself out and my three year old was herself again.

Here is where the tiny window comes in. By the time we’d settled down, dinner time was looming. My husband often says that it is playing with fire to let the Mendoza girls get hungry. There were potentially more tantrums coming if we did not eat very soon. We packed up the van to get some dinner, and on the way stopped in a green space a couple blocks from our house. I checked the time stamps on my images, and I literally spent one second shy of 20 minutes getting the images you see here, and then some; with cars zooming by, bugs everywhere, a wardrobe change, and a random kitty who decided to join us.

All this is to remind myself: Don’t sweat it. Don’t think you have to be the perfect family on the perfect day or else it is hopeless. In art and in life, what I tell my clients is true. Flexibility is key. You can’t know exactly how it will go, or exactly what you will get from it, but often that is when the results will delight you the most.

Like this one.

 

First a little business…

ATLANTA DATES: I will be available for sessions in and around Atlanta from June 14 to 18, and again from July 5 to 11. Call or message me if you are interested in discussing or reserving a time slot!

MOTHER’S DAY is THIS Sunday. Do you have a present yet? Gift certificates are available in any denomination and can used towards session fees, or prints (for future or past sessions).

This grandmother called me a few weeks ago in anticipation of her daughter’s visit and her two grandchildren being together at her Ponte Vedra home. I’m always thrilled to get to photograph not just one, but several branches of a family’s tree. Lots of family means lots of pictures, here are a few of my favorites.

Lately I’ve been working mostly with families with boys. It’s made me realize that if I ever were to have a son, there would be whole new learning curve to endure, but also a lot of fun to be had. This guy was quite the charmer. Did not need a second to warm up. In fact, he was less than thrilled when Mom and Dad wanted to get in on his shots.

Love this father-son moment. I must say that it’s not uncommon for dads to be the most reluctant member of the family when it comes to picture time. It’s amazing how the kids relax when Dad lets his guard down. And I guarantee that Mom will be so happy to get this shot.

He took the old “watch closely and my big lens will wink at you” trick very seriously.

What a cutie.

“Barcada” is a word in tagalog (Filipino) that means “a group of friends,” but for me, and the barcada that I was fortunate to grow up with, it means family. The family you see here is a special part of that larger group.

One of the reasons I love to photograph multiple and older generations of family is that respect for the eldest members is something that was ingrained in me. Lolo A was a great buddy of my own grandfather. All of my grandparents have been gone for several years now. I so wish that I had been able to spend more time with all of them, done a little better job of being appreciative and respectful (youth is my poor excuse), and that I could have captured some portraits like these for my family.

And I mean quick. I just have a few minutes to share some shots from the last few days in Atlanta. Full posts to come AFTER my vacation. Families, I will be racing to get your galleries to you as soon as I get back!

If you are in Atlanta and missed me this time around, please join me on Facebook or check back here to see upcoming return trips. I will be posting travel dates in the next couple of weeks.

Miss “Inependent” is turning one this week, and although I heard she was walking, I was surprised by how mobile she already is. Not just walking, but running! This bitty thing made me work! I had so much fun chasing her around in Ortega and Avondale. While I love going into a family’s home to photograph them on their turf, I also have enjoyed exploring our historic neighborhoods on recent sessions.

Many thanks to Let Them Eat Cake! for letting us make a bit of a mess!

I love how you can glimpse Mom and Dad watching attentively from inside and outside the bakery window.

Share this…   …and a few more pics from this session will be on the JMP Facebook page ().

When you give someone the gift of a portrait session you are

…giving them an opportunity to record, preserve, and CELEBRATE themselves and their families.

…giving a gift that they will have and cherish for years to come.

…giving them the experience of a photo session where they get to be themselves and then see how beautiful that really is.

Gift Certificates can be purchased in any denomination and can be sent either to you or directly to the recipient.

This is also something you could register for if you are expecting a baby.

Contact me to register or purchase a gift certificate today!

I love my job. I love getting to spend time with families spending time with each other. The B family was so sweet. It’s always even better when dads (in this case, aka JB2) are willing participants as this dad was.  And JB3 (see his shirt)? He didn’t even need a second to warm up. He had his own shots, even wardrobe changes, planned before I arrived!

Everything about this family – the way they spoke to each other, the way they cuddled and played, and the way they looked at each other was so warm and comfortable.

Thanks, guys, for letting me in on your Sunday morning. I really enjoyed getting to know you a little. I’m excited to hear what the next week brings for you!

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JACKSONVILLE – Just a few slots left for Holiday Mini Sessions! See Investment page for details.

If the image above looks familiar, it might be because you saw it here. Mom wasn’t kidding when she told me that really captured her son the first time around! This time we were on the beach and at their home in Fort Lauderdale.

Baby M is not saying much with words yet, but those eyes are definitely talking.

And they could be saying, “have you heard I’m going to be a big sister?! I’m not sure what to think about that yet.”

Congrats to the whole W family! Thank you for being such generous hosts and friends to me and my girls. Next time, really, we have to get A in there…along with the new baby!

I have too many favorites of these guys to post here. Check out the JMP Facebook page to see more!

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JACKSONVILLE – Just a few slots left for Holiday Mini Sessions! See Investment page for details.

I met the M family on a recent muggy morning when we got together to do a quick mini shoot at their new home.

I love this series of father and son.

But don’t forget baby sis.

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JACKSONVILLE – Just a few slots left for Holiday Mini Sessions! See Investment page for details.

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