Thoele Family Photo Session in Avondale

Most of the leaves have fallen in Atlanta, the cold has arrived, and the busy fall family photo season is coming to an end. It was a fun one, for sure, with too many awesome families to do a blog post on every single one. But the Thoele family's session was one of my favorites. A great example of documentary family photography, as I didn’t direct or pose them, but instead I simply hung out with them as they went for a walk around the neighborhood, and I made pictures out of their personalities and connections.

I've been doing family photos for these guys for many years now, watching the kids grow from newborn babies to super fun and sweet kids. This year we found this gorgeous tree in their Atlanta neighborhood, and I love the photos we got!

I think the most important thing that makes a family photo session with me successful is if everyone has fun. I know that most people don't enjoy having their pictures taken, but if you can relax, have fun, and most importantly let the kids have fun, we will get amazing photos. This family gets it--and we always get great photos!

I’m able to make good pictures when I can blend into the background as much as possible. For most people the best way to help this happen is to have an activity or two in mind for our time together. But this doesn’t need to be a thoroughly thought out activity—the family walk you take after dinner most nights is perfect!

Sometimes parents get upset with their kids "misbehaving" during a session, but that just hurts our cause. I'm totally fine with kids being themselves during our session, and I think it makes for better pictures. I’m looking to make art out of your real, authentic life—and if your kids are wild then great! Let’s celebrate the wild messy parts of life, too. Sometimes sessions can feel a little chaotic if that’s what your life is like right now, and that’s totally ok. As long as you and your family are enjoying ech other and showing the love that’s between you, I will make gorgeous and authentic photos.

In a sense the photos you will receive are pictures of memories, but they also create memories. I think most Moms, like me, want their memories of parenting to be of loving moments full of laughter--not memories of yelling at our kids to behave! That's why it i so important to let me do the work, and you just enjoy your babies.

We will also try to get a few portraits during our session, but rather than posing your family I will likely help you find a nice spot to sit together in. I think portraits are important pieces of history but they interest me the least. So I often try to get a few portraits at the beginning of our session to check it off the list (and your kids might still be warming up to me and are therefore most likely to sit still!)