Driving through Wrightsville beach on a Sunday at 6pm, I thought to myself, “hey it’s not going to be crowded at this point in time”.  Boy, was I wrong. I had planned for an evening shoot with a mom and her children this particular evening.

I had a vision of fine art black and whites that captured the soul of all three participants. I wanted something that evoked emotion and also evoked your senses. I wanted essentially something she could treasure forever…

Photographing children in family portraits is completely different from what I got to do with this family. I isolated just her and her two kids, in a setting that was definitely their norm, especially for the summer time. When we finally reached our destination we set up near Shell Island Resort.

This area is really pretty and distinctive in Wrightsville Beach. You have the luxury of sitting by the ocean and you have the option to stroll near the sound. The sound is filled with lush greens, and on a bright day, nice clear water.

We strolled near the sound at about two hours before sunset would start. The light was so magical and invigorating for a photographer. I watched Cat play with her two kids Gage and Charlotte and just photographed them being in their element.

The water was calm, and the sun was warm on their skin. This was a beautiful setting to produce the quality of images that I wanted and also to get those beautiful moments that a mom would want to look back upon.

 They splashed, they laughed, we saw some fish, they felt the mud between their toes, and we ended the session with some pouts that we got as the kids did not want to leave the water.

Who wouldn’t just want to just float around all afternoon into the sunset.

I have already shown Catherine “Cat” some of her images, and I was so delighted by her reaction and her want for these images to be printed. Not only did I get the reaction I wanted, but I was able to hand her something that will bring her back to the days of when her kids were smaller, life was a little easier, and the innocence of childhood was there.

I know kids grow up super fast, being a past kid myself, so I know that these images will be held to a high regard and will definitely be kept for many years to come.

I look back at the work of this session, and am so excited that I got to photograph such a special bond between mom and their kids. I only wish that my own mom and I had these types of photographs of each other.

So, don’t let yourself become the I WISH I Had, but the ones that take the leap and just do it. Don’t wait till your smaller, or feel prettier, or let life’s obstacles stop you from photographing yourself with your kids.

The time is too precious and too short, and at the end of the day, all that matters is how you felt that day, and what you can feel and remember when looking back at those photos.

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