A portrait session with 6 year old Greyson

He wanted his own portrait session. He wanted to pick his outfit and do his own hair “handsome”. For me it was a personal challenge. I have a VERY hard time photographing my own kids. There must be something about being in “mom mode” vs. “work mode” that I get in a zone and turn all photographer on them and suddenly Mommy is just taking another picture of them and suddenly I’m making them crazy. So trying to photograph a distinguished portrait of my very active 6 year old son was almost laughable. I was curious if he would actually take direction and sit still long enough to get more than just a quick snap. But an actual portrait.

Thankfully, we worked it all out (quickly). There is something about being able to look into your child’s eyes in a portrait that you just aren’t able to see in person. When I was editing these portraits I didn’t see my 6 year old son, but I saw this teenage boy/ young man (almost) staring back at me and it was very surreal. Almost mature somewhere in there.

People ask me all the time if I buy school photos or if I just take my own. I actually do buy all of the school photos because I feel like those are for them. The day they lined up with all of their classmates using that dreaded comb and standing in that awkward pose. That is a memory for them more than it’s a picture for me.

 

These portraits…… these are for me. For our family’s keepsake. These are the portraits of him that will tell the story of our family.

 

These are the portraits I will print and frame and cherish and show his wife one day. The one they will whip out when his own daughter has a child and everyone is trying to determine who’s eyes the baby has.

 

This is that portrait. And I pray I get to be there when that conversation happens. To tell them the story of the day that Greyson wanted his own portrait session. To pick out his own outfit and do his own hair “handsome”.

 

My handsome little mister is growing up. And if I don’t stop typing now, I’ll never be able to hit publish. GAH! Where’s the tissues?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interested in booking a session for your family this summer? Be sure to contact us before spots are completely full! ONLY a LIMITED number of appointments left for summer!

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East Coast Fine Art Lifestyle Family Portrait Photographer Angelsea Urban 

Angelsea Urban is a photographer and entrepreneur helping women use their creative gifts to nourish their homes and cultivate their businesses through practical stewardship. Her unique photography work focuses on Redefining the Family Portrait Experience by telling the story of  family through personalized foundations while creating a space to strengthen family bonds throughout the experience. Angelsea has helped the careers of photographers, restaurateurs, musicians and general small business owners through teaching, workshops and consulting. Her ministry work focuses on fostering creative gifts in women entrepreneurs to prioritize family and discipleship. She has photographed for families, brides, Bravo TV, NFL Films, and more and has been featured on multiple blogs and magazine print for her work in photography and in business. Angelsea teaches and photographs the United States, and resides with her husband of 17 years, their two children, and their barely 3 pound Yorkie near Long Beach Island, New Jersey.  

To book your session with Angelsea Urban, please visit www.angelseaurban.com

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