We all have different ideas of what “The Perfect Family Photo” is.  I know I do.  Some people want to play with their kids, others want everyone in matching outfits and smiling at the camera.  But here’s the truth…  Sometimes it is what it is.  Kids aren’t perfect, families aren’t perfect.  Sometimes on photo day, your kid is grumpy, or gets a giant scratch on their face, or doesn’t want to listen.

I deal with these situations all the time.  I tell parents to relax, let me deal with the kids and it will always work out.  And it always does.  Sometimes it’s in a different form than “The Perfect Family Photo”, but it’s still real and it’s still YOUR family 🙂

This family session was challenging.  The baby only wanted to be in the water, period.  The little boy was running all over like little boys do, and not listening that well.  So what I do is try to be silly, try lots of different things, and just take LOTS of photos.  Some pictures will suck, but many will be just perfect.  That is how photo sessions often go.  I love what we ended up with during this family’s portrait session, it captures how their family is right now.  Be sure and check out the last two photos to see how we accidentally ended the session 🙂

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This is the closest we got to a posed family photo:00020003000400050006000700080009

Mom letting the baby play in the water when a big wave took them all down:0010

Luckily they took it all in stride:0011

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  • Steve

    Wow what a great session and a great looking family !

  • Marsha

    Chelsea, its always a pleasure to look at your blog. Your humor and professional ability makes an amazing combination. Of course, its all in the family!!!!

Another beautiful wedding at The Wild Animal Park.  It’s one of my favorite venues.  And I love that all the money you spend on your wedding venue goes to animal conservation.  Cynthia and Chris are my perfect clients, kind, easy going, and fun.  And they treat each other with love and respect.  Cynthia’s kids were awesome, which must make her a fabulous mom 🙂

Congratulations Cynthia and Chis, enjoy your photos!

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This Wild Animal Park tourist will transform into Father of the groom:00020003000400050006000700080009

When you are the photographer, you always have to pay attention or you might miss a moment like this:001000110012001300140015

The Robot:00160017001800190020

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I truly can’t believe my little boy is 6 years old and about to be a first grader.  It seems like just yesterday that I spent hours staring at his every sweet baby twitch.  But now he’s a confident, smart, funny little boy.  We must be doing something right 🙂

Every year I do balloon photos.  1 year equals 1 balloon.  This year I had planned on doing them in Guatemala, but for some crazy reason, they didn’t have any helium balloons.  So we did them at home.  This was a quick session, and it didn’t turn out exactly how I had envisioned it, but it’s still cute.

And the best part about Gabriel…  he still loves to snuggle with his mama!

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  • Rebecca Hurst

    You’re doing a lot right. He’s a wonderful boy (and a cooperative-appearing model!)

We are packing up the kiddos and heading to La Antigua, Guatemala for a little family vacation.  I won’t have an phone access, but I might have a little email access.  I will answer all calls and emails when we get back on August 9th.  Thanks for your patience.

Here are a couple of pictures from our last visit, a year and a half ago:

00400082I’m hoping this year might be a little easier with Maya!  She was only 13 months on the last trip.  Wish us luck!

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Rachel and Jake are awesome and here are a few reasons why:

1. I put them on a big rock for a photo and a wave got them (a little) wet.  This could have been a big deal, but it wasn’t.  They dried 🙂

2. My shoes were stolen at the beach.  This was kind of a major problem because I had to go to the reception at Il Fornaio.  This fancy restaurant does not allow bare feet.  So Rachel lent me her wedding shoes and I wore them.  she had a long dress, so no one would notice her bare feet.  Seriously, do you know many brides who would do that?  I know!

3.  Their wedding was beautiful and sweet and I totally felt their love.

Congratulations Rachel and Jake!  Thanks for having me there, and for the shoes!

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  • Jess McCann

    OMG what an awesome bride to have given you her shoes!!! that is a great story though lol

  • Kathleen Bagley

    What a beautiful Bride and Groom and your photos are amazing! Well Done Chelsea!

  • Erin

    Congratulations Rachel and Jake! You both looked beautiful on your wedding day and Chelsea did a fantastic job letting your love shine through the lens! Best wishes!

  • greg

    what a beautifull day wish i could have been there

  • Rachel

    The pictures turned out absolutely amazing!! You did such a great job Chelsea!! We love them! Thanks -Rach & Jake

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