We often do family portrait sessions, what we call “Lifestyle Sessions,” but it’s still not uncommon for people to see our wedding photos and ask if we do family pictures at all. It seems the family photos are perhaps overshadowed by the weddings, and we’re out to change that a little bit. The truth is, we get one shot at good wedding photos–it’s ONE day. But it’s just the first day of the rest of your lives together.
Some of our wedding clients return later for family and lifestyle sessions, and we couldn’t be more proud of that. Just how our clients say they’re looking for candid, genuine moments from their wedding, it’s the “normal” days of life that sometimes come to mean the most. The everyday moments, sometimes those you don’t even notice while you’re in it, are the ones that will continue to speak to you years from now. Tuesday nights playing in the backyard. Washing the dog. Changing your daughter’s diaper while she’s still too little to squirm around, thankfully, because you’re still getting the hang of all this. Why not immortalize it?
We have done several lifestyle sessions lately that we want to share, but each of these shows the different types of sessions we do. Our lifestyle sessions range in price, depending on the number of people in your group, location, and what you’re looking for exactly, so for a customized quote and booking information, email us at torrencephotography@gmail.com.
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Speaking of returning wedding clients, we recently caught up with Josh and Elyse in Belmont, NC for their maternity session.
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For these, we’re blending sweet interactions and posed photos of the couple, but detail shots really hit home, too.
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PINIMAGEIt doesn’t take much to get some really intimate and beautiful photos of a mama-to-be. We’re open to ideas from the clients, but this time is so precious and sacred anyway, we hate to dress it up with a funky pose. In this case, we feel creative can easily go over the top; it’s a fine line, and we do our best to keep it simple, while giving our clients plenty to choose from. Elyse was absolutely glowing, and their joy really showed through their photos. We can’t wait to meet this little guy!
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Sometimes, clients want photos of their children only (or mostly). Well, when they’re this cute, we get it. 🙂
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Austin and Ashton are the cutest little brother and sister ever. It was EASY-PEASY to get photos of them holding hands, hugging, or giving kisses on the cheek. We met them at a park where the lake and swings gave them plenty to look and talk over. It was a place they could’ve played in the afternoon, photographer or not.
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As Mother’s Day surprise for their grandmother, we met Emma and Ethan at their grandparent’s house where their families meet frequently. They were in their element. This is so important, especially for children who may be intimidated by cameras and big flashes. If we can catch them playing and keep them happy, the photos will follow suit.
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For situations like this, we are looking for interactions, expressions, and blending that with head shots and little details.
PINIMAGEPINIMAGE The bowtie. Really. We may put this one on our own refrigerator.
And we absolutely love this shot of Emma with her mom (Two Buds and a Blossom‘s Kimberly! We love this family!). It’s one of our favorites–a candid moment, great smiles, and sort of an action shot all in one. Those things just kind of happen.
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For the times families trust us enough to really get inside the home and watch a weekday evening play out, we are thankful. Here are a few of our favorites from lifestyle sessions that allowed us into their “everyday.”
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Emery’s family wanted family portraits, but we started a little early. We caught them right after they woke her up from a nap and while they dressed her for photos. Cake and eat it too. It was just right.
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#tinyuggs
Speaking of babies, our favorite way to photograph them is with a lifestyle session. There are a lot of ways to pose, dress up, etc., and you can’t take the precious out of a baby, any way you do it. But, to snap a few photos of bath time, like we did for Caleb—
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Or when Emmi got a little fussy and needed to strip and get cooled off–
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There’s just nothing better than real life.
Also, you don’t need naked babies to complete a lifestyle session.
These brothers were ALL BOY–sports, running, competing, and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Lifestyle sessions work well for wrestling brothers who may look a little less natural posed and poised in a more formal setting. This helped capture who they really are.
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There are also times when families want something completely out of the box and unique. Just like a good vacation, destination lifestyle shoots change up the “background,” giving you a variety and spice. We limit our destination shoots during the year to allow us time for travel, but it truly is a special thing. We love doing them, and it gives us a different perspective, too.
Just last weekend, we met with Greg and Amber and Amber’s family in Sullivan’s Island, SC, just outside of Charleston for photos on the beach. Little Harper couldn’t have been more enamored with the wind and waves. Instead of trying too hard to push her for certain photos, we followed her lead. The purpose of lifestyle sessions is to create an atmosphere for interactions to take place to get good, honest, and beautiful photos, while maintaining a client-centered approach. We look at these photos and we don’t think of our work or our photography style; we think of Harper, her “beach waves” and her innocent excitement over the beach. That’s what it’s all about.PINIMAGE
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Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. –Dr. Seuss
Ann Waddle Edwards - Perfect wedding memories………..and they lived happily ever after
Jane Mitchell Horn - so pretty—-everything looked perfect