Some parents don't want a "traditional" portrait session. You know the one. The family is wearing matching clothes and everyone is grinning wide-eyed as if they were plucked directly from heaven and inserted into a pastoral scene. Serbian natives Ivan and Tamara were very clear that they did not want anything remotely close to THAT archetypical family session.
Several times the couple expressed their desire for me to just "focus on the kids." When I hear these kind of directives, I do my best to empathize. What I hear is, "Please help us get some wicked shots of the kids while we just, for once, just watch them play." The Atanaskovic family is not odd. In fact, their wish is quite commonplace. Many families simply do not have the energy for a full-blown-over-the-top photo session. Moreover, some families do indeed just want photos of their kids doing what kids do best. Many clients assume that a family photo session in Tokyo will involve the purchase of matching outfits, a trek to some out of reach location, packing snacks, hauling strollers, etc, To me, that just seems like too much work. I can understand why so many families just want to enjoy a day out with the kids without any added pressure. Believing that portrait sessions should be relaxed and enjoyable, I did my best to keep our location close to the family's home and full of kid-friendly entertainment. I had a great time "focusing on the kids" and look forward to my next outing with this beautiful family. Fashion Family PortraitureI chatted with Susan for a couple of months. Her family was going to take a trip and wanted a highlight of their time together to be a family photoshoot. The point of our conversation was to get to know each other and to hammer out the details for our portrait session. Though, after a productive thread of communication, I felt like Susan was more of a friend than a client.
Reading between the lines. I realized that the family from Kuala Lumpur did not want flowery scenery or a cityscape for a background. They didn't wish to be led through gardens or stroll by a waterway making cheesy faces at each other. It was obvious to me that the Hengs wanted portraits, not travel photos. I could gather from our conversations that, though they were young, Susan and her siblings were refined. I wanted to give this young family a set of photographs that showed just how put together they seemed. A fashion inspired photoshoot would not only be classy, but would also accentuate the family's taste and demeanor. When our session date arrived, I was thrilled to finally meet the Hengs. I could tell immediately that I was right. The family has a tremendous amount of style and class. Now the Heng family has the portraits to prove it. The HolbrooksEvery time I photograph a person, couple or family, it just seems like I need to write a Craigslist "missed connections" notice. It would go something like this: You were there, smiling and giggling. Then you looked shy for a minute but I liked that too. I came close to you and I was surprised that you let me. We made eye contact for a couple of hours and then you paid me and left. I understood you had to go. If you still have my number, call me. Last year, I had the opportunity to photograph the Holbrook family. At that point, little Cora wasn't very old at all. Jeff and Sophie were just starting their journey as parents. Now, Cora can walk a bit and is a great deal more active than our last portrait session. I was happy to see the family coming into their own, relating to one another. Thanks for another great session Holbrook family! I Until our next date... Thinking of a family portrait session of your own? If so, please do check out my family portfolio and then contact me to reserve your session today!
Introducing the Brodheads
"Three years ago to the day?" I asked. Taking a second to process the information, I realized that it was Sara and Peter's actual anniversary. It is hard to believe that lives can change so much in three short years. The couple had gotten hitched, left their jobs, moved to a new country and had a one of the cutest kids in existence. It was here, the date that sparked all of that wild progression.
Internally I shifted and immediately felt a bit nervous about our shoot. I didn't want to botch a couple's anniversary portraits. The nervousness mutated into flattery. I acknowledged that the Brodhead family allowed me to be a part of their special day, to document a milestone in their constantly changing lives.
Spending just a brief time with the Brodheads, I could see that their journey as a family was just beginning. Otto is becoming his own man. Sara is young, beautiful and talented. Peter is not as beautiful, but equally as talented as Sara. Considering all of this, I am extremely excited to see what the next three years have in store for this amazing family.
Happy anniversary Peter and Sara! Thank you (and Otto) for including me in your special day. ​
Photographing KidsThe more I use my camera, the more I realize how much I love being a photographer. It doesn't matter what the subject is, I am always inspired by something when I look through the viewfinder. It is hard not to be inspired, especially when your subject is a group of twenty, five year olds.
I was thrilled to load up the gear for my client, a prestigious international school. The assignment was to make portraits of some kindergarten students celebrating the books of a very special author. Thanks to Seoul International School for having me out. Happy birthday Dr. Suess! Family Portraits and Cherry BlossomsMy smile really returns when the cherry blossoms come out. Each year the little white and pink flowers let me know that the Tokyo winter is over. The blooms tell me to put up the coat and the pack away the winter grumps. I always look forward to seeing the cherry blossoms because of their symbolic nature. Rebirth. Second chances. Speaking of second chances... The last time I had the opportunity to work with the Clabots family, the twins were less than a year old. At the time, the girls were, well,... Let's just say they weren't the most willing of subjects. Now, with the spring sun and a new sleep schedule, the twins were new little people. The girls are no longer a hot mess of tears. They have personalities. They have spunk. I will go ahead and say it. They are adorable. I enjoyed having the Clabots ladies out for a spring family session and look forward to our next 'girls only' outing.
All Good Things Come To An EndLiving as an expat in Tokyo or Seoul or Prague (or anywhere), you come to learn certain things. You figure out what ingredient to substitute to make one of your favorite dishes taste right (almost). You learn to navigate your new surroundings. You begin to understand how to communicate in another's language. You also learn that people come into and out of your life. Because of this, many expats harden their hearts and do not allow themselves to get truly close to many people. When you first become an expat, you scramble to find friends. At first, almost anyone will do. If they speak your language, they have pretty much passed the friendship test. But, if you actually invest in those quickly formed unions, you can discover that those "fauxships" can actually turn out to be much, much more. In fact, what can seem like a convenient friend group can mutate into a surrogate family. When my wife and I arrived in Asia five years ago, we quickly latched on to Manon and Jeff Harrison. As couple who had already been in Seoul a year, Manon and Jeff were kind enough to give us advice about Korea and to invite us into their home. Year after year, friends were made and friends left Seoul. Yet, Manon and Jeff remained. Our bond grew closer and as I realized that people come and go, I began to realize that (metaphorically) people come and stay. In this sense, we had found real friends, not just ones of convenience due to location or language similarities. We had found friends who we could confide in and count on. We found friends that we could have a fight with and then work through it, instead of abandoning the bond. We found forever friends. Yet, inevitably, one of the expat truths revealed itself again. It came time for the Harrison family to leave Korea to pursue their next adventure. I was an incredibly lucky photographer to have one last chance to work for some of the best friends (and clients) that I have ever had. What a bitter sweet family portrait session it was. Best of luck to you Jeff, Manon and Kieran! Japan is lucky to have you. I, will miss you!
Introducing the MinsWhen the Min family invited me to their home in Yongin, I was more than happy to accept the invitation. Though the family portrait session was short, it was easy shooting with the family. The Mins were both agreeable and gregarious. I was happy to provide the Mins with a few decent images and look forward to another session.
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