Adventures in Family Photography

Photographing children and families with children is one of the best parts of what I do…and a great workout; trying to keep up with youngsters is no joke!  Not long ago, I once again had the lovely experience of photographing Shannon, Rachelle, and their growing family — one of the sweetest you could ever meet. And just like all my returning family clients, I am truly honored to know them, watch their family grow, and capture their most important moments for them.  I love these sessions because they feel like a reunion with old friends.

I first had the pleasure of photographing Shannon and Rachelle at their wedding in 2008. Then came pregnancy and newborn photos with darling boy Dylan and, recently, the same with darling girl Ellie. Ellie was still in mama’s belly at the time of this shoot, but she arrived happy and healthy soon afterwards and was absolutely precious in her recent newborn portraits. (Stay tuned for more on Ellie.)

Notice how happy everyone looks in these images, especially little Dylan? Well, there’s a bit more to the story. See that beautiful stone stairway? The minute Dylan saw it, all he wanted to do was climb, and climb, and climb some more. He was on a mission and simply had no time for photos. It would be an understatement to say Dylan was unhappy when we suggested a break from climbing. And he wasn’t shy about sharing his feelings.

 

So how did we get from that state of mind to these happy images?  With a little patience and a lot of fun. Through years of experience, I have learned to quickly build a rapport with young kids and redirect if things start to go awry. For starters, I first spend time just connecting — without cameras and other equipment. I gauge whether a child is in a shy or outgoing mood in order to match their energy. I might even enlist them as “assistants”, asking them what we need to get done and how they think we should do it.

In Dylan’s case, something as simple as a silly face contest did the trick. Before you could say “stairway”, he was all ready to smile for the camera!

Parents often worry that their shoot won’t go well if their children aren’t perfect angels at all times. But no one’s are, and that’s okay. This is supposed to be fun!  Kids don’t have to be perfect to have a perfect family portrait photo shoot. They just have to be themselves, have fun, and we get to make it great!

– Nancy

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My First Year: Bay Area Children’s Portraits

Josephine-0005RT-WebTime flies.  I realize now that it’s been over three years since I met Kerry, when she reached out to me for new headshots.  Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of photographing her as she and Chris were expecting their first child, and we’ve captured each phase of their darling girl’s first year.  Kerry has an amazing eye for design, and her clean aesthetic comes through in her home and wardrobe.  It’s always calming and inspiring to be in her home.  But, of course, the star of the show is this amazing little girl, whose smile lights up the room.  Every time I get to photograph her she absolutely wins my heart.

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We had our first session when Josephine was a mere three weeks old, and I was delighted to bear witness to just how much her charm had blossomed six months later.  I love how the warm, neutral tones in their home help to accentuate Josephine’s beautiful blue eyes.

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We met for our third session just last month, before Josephine’s first birthday, when she and Kerry joined me for a mother-daughter session. It’s always such a blessing to be invited along on a family’s journey to capture these landmark moments.

I am so excited to see what the future has in store for this winsome, young family.

Bon anniversaire, Josephine!

– Nancy

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877-881-7221 | nancyrothstein.comnancy@nancyrothstein.com

Bay Area Children’s Portraits: Happy Birthday Haedan!

I absolutely love having the opportunity to photograph children as they grow. I’ve had the honor of photographing this little one when he was still in his Mama’s belly, and again as a newborn. He’s now celebrating his first birthday; amazing how the time flies!

In the photo below, little Haedan is he’s wearing a hanbok, the traditional Korean dress clothes worn during traditional festivals and celebrations. I think the saturated colors of his outfit set against this verdant landscape is truly a stunning combination.

We did the photo shoot at one of my favorite locations, Mills College in Oakland, which also happens to be my alma mater. It’s like a photo playground for me, with so many great backdrops full of interesting color and texture. These long summer days are the perfect time to be out capturing images. Plus, giving kids some nature to interact with always keeps them interested!

-Nancy

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877-881-7221 | nancyrothstein.comnancy@nancyrothstein.com

Cute in Pink: Studio Portrait Session

I confess…. I never had an outfit like this as a child.  I lived on a farm and played with sheep when I was this age.  But these two rocked the pink ruffles like no one else could.  All I wanna know is, where do you get an outfit like that?

877-881-7221 | nancyrothstein.comnancy@nancyrothstein.com