Cousins ~ Michigan
Went on an extended family trip to the upper peninsula of Michigan in early August. My two nieces were there with their kiddos and so, of course, I brought my camera and had to take some "cousin" portraits! I mean, they are the cutest subjects ever and I couldn't stop clicking away. I took so many pics, and these are just a small sampling of them. Sometimes kids don't want their photos taken or can tire quickly, but my three great nieces and nephew let me snap to my heart's content. They were wonderful, patient, and so expressive. I captured photos, but these four captured my heart! I love them so much and was grateful for not only the opportunity to take their photos, but to spend quality time with them for a good part of the week. There was lots of laughter, games of tag (their favorite) and shared meals. It was heavenly.
I was greeted by a cloudy day when I had my camera in hand, which meant I didn't have any squinting or shadows to contend with. Always a plus. And it created a bit of a moody atmosphere which contrasted nicely with the colorful bursts from the kids' outfits. We started at the little beach area in front of the cottages my husband's family own on a bay in Lake Huron. Then we took some poses on a little set of steps at the back of their grandparents' place and had to include the family dog for one set of siblings, too! I actually caught a smile from their silly little dachshund buddy--ha! After that, I took a few individual portraits off to the side with them sitting on a rock. Once that was done, one niece had to skedaddle off to make the long road trip home with her kids, but my other niece wanted a few family portraits and I was only too happy to oblige! The session finally ended with some especially sweet mother/daughter poses. I should have gotten some father/son ones, too, but my nephew was off playing tag with my daughter, her boyfriend, and my husband I think! I will get some next time we are all together! I hope to continue to take photos of my cutie-patootie great nieces and nephew as they grow up.
For the past six years I have dedicated myself to taking senior pictures. My camera and prime 85mm lens were chosen specifically for individual portraits. But I have recently added a new mirrorless camera. With an adapter, I can still use my trusty 85mm lens, but I also now have a 24-70mm lens that is much more suitable to kid and family portraits! This combo works well as it gives me quicker focus and a bit of zoom to work with. Kids move around a lot, so that helps! I had so much fun with my younger family members that I am now ready to open up my business to family and children's portraiture. You can find info. about family sessions on the "About" page of my website.
A huge thanks to my nieces, Ruthie and Sue, for allowing me to catch these precious moments of their beautiful children. Michigan memories that will now last a lifetime--and perhaps even longer. I so enjoyed my time with you and your family--with my camera in hand and also all the time spent together without! What a happy, lovely trip! We don't get to see each other often, but I cherish our time together! I hope there are many more Michigan memories to come!
