I have a great deal of empathy for parents. Looking in from the outside, since I haven’t been lucky enough to have children myself, the job seems very rewarding, yet challenging on a million levels. It’s tricky business trying to get kids to go along with what you have in mind, especially when it involves dressing up, smiling on command, and following a stranger’s instructions when she has a huge machine pointing in their faces. Frankly, I’m in awe of these children and their families, and I find kids beautiful no matter what their emotional state during our time together. I have learned from experience that a moody face can make for an even better picture than one with a perfect smile. These sweet emotions capture a specific moment in time. These children will never be this age again.
For the second summer in a row, I was lucky enough to work with Helena and her family, Claire and TJ. This year, TJ’s lovely parents visiting from Canada joined us for our shoot. What a difference a year makes! I didn’t think it could be possible, but Helena was even cuter this year. Closing in on two, Helena was far more interested in playing in the sand and water than having her picture taken, and I could hardly blame her. Despite her reluctance, we were able to get some sweet shots of her having fun in Hoboken with her adoring family.
Want to see more? You can find Helena’s entire gallery at: smu.gs/MNkkk1