About that "hot vaxxed summer"...
Well, I guess none us of had quite the summer we expected. Again.
After “the winter of our discontent”, I for one was really ready for a break, in literally every way. While it didn’t quite pan out like I hoped, I still had some beautiful moments - family trips that were almost more peaceful than usual due to paring back on activities. And in my business, I enjoyed some really terrific family photo sessions that were, more than ever, celebrations of those most basic joys: a new hammock in the backyard, the chance to get the kids out to the pool, a getaway in the nature.
As August winds down, leaving our “hot vaxxed summer” in its wake, I look ahead to another autumn. Kids back in school, schedules filling up, and I want to pause for a moment, to let a cool breath of joy refresh me through the photos that mark my passage through this strange summer.
And if you need to bolster your own storehouse of refreshing memories (in other words, get some photos to keep those good times top of mind) get in touch with me about it. I’d love to help!
My own family spent a lot of time around water this summer. Rivers in West Virginia, the ocean along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and a peaceful little lake in the Pennsylvania mountains - I love being in and near the water.
Backyards and neighborhood playgrounds have taken on new importance in these days of spending more time close to home. Some families transformed their backyards, and others explored new playground spaces.
Some families found adventure in their neighborhood pools, and on nature walks in the beautiful wooded spaces tucked between the bustling burbs of the DMV.
One family session stood out from the rest for me, partly because it included a two hour drive over the Bay Bridge and out to the Eastern Shore. And partly because the setting was completely breathtaking, complete with sunset over the Bay. But most importantly, this family, who've been working with me for many years, never fail to leave me feeling creatively free and a little bit wild - and that led to some photographs I feel really excited about.
And that’s a photo tour through my summer! Many great artists have admitted that constraints are like fertilizer for creativity. Maybe that’s true, and all the time spent “on hold” has loosened me up and freshened my eye. I hope that you too have found some new ways to think and be in the midst of constraints.
I would love to see you this fall and find some creative ways to bring your family story alive in photographs. If you’re a fan of Brene Brown, read my thoughts on how to bring Brene’s perspective to your family photos.
XO,
Katie