Let’s talk about our families for a moment, you know those people we love the most yet somehow never get the time to spend as much time with as we would like.
If you’ve got young kids, you’re no doubt very familiar with the morning daily grind. Get up before sunrise, make school lunches, plead with Mr 5 year old to eat his toast just a little bit faster, hang out a load of washing, feed the dog, do hair and make up in a flurry, make sure everyones school bag has everything needed, navigate the school drop off zone, get stuck in the traffic, head off to work for that early client meeting…. and this is just the morning! And then there is the afternoon and evening daily grind that starts at 3pm!
After the kids are safely tucked in bed and there is a moment for yourself, how was your day? Is tomorrow going to be any different?
What do our kids really want? is it the latest computer game, electronic device or toys? is it being ferried from dancing to piano classes? According to Erin Kurt’s research, no, not at all. It’s the simple things kids want, it’s us. They want time to talk, cuddle, hear stories about when you were little, have time to play outside, spend special time with just mum and dad without their siblings.
What kids want is all about feeling valued, loved, special and understood by the most important people in their life, their parents.
Everyday, we are making childhood memories for our kids. These are moments in time that will become legend and a story to share with their own children in 25 – 40 years time. Heck, they are building an arsenal of “back in my day…” anecdotes to be unleashed on their own unsuspecting children.
What childhood memories do you have?
What memories do you want your children to have?
What if there was a way your kids could be reminded everyday of the love you share and the moments that make you a family?
Did you know that family photos we see everyday in our homes and walk past everyday can take us back to significant moments and reinforce how we feel about people we love.
In the world we live in, wall space is is valuable. Businesses pay big bucks for billboards, signage, TV ads. The wall space in our own homes is valuable too. Have a look around your home. What do you have on your walls? Are your walls showing how special your kids are to you? Can your kids see photos of moments you have had together as a family?
Yes, I’m a professional photographer. As you can imagine, we have family portraits on the our walls at home. I love having images of moments we have shared. One favourite is a collage from when my own son was small. It’s near our kitchen so we walk past it countless times a day. I remember Alex looking at it one day and pointing to a photo of me and him mucking about on a beach and asking “When can we do that again Daddy?”
Our approach to photographing your family is to take a step back and photograph the simple things, real moments that can quickly become precious childhood memories. Over the years, I’ve found photographing kids is a lesson in patience, observation and opportunity. You have to work with them be at their level, earn their trust.
Before your portrait sitting, we’ll chat about your family, the relationships you have, what makes your kids and your family tick. We’ll find that activity that is just you, the things that you want to become childhood memories.
We’ll give guidance on timing, location, styling, accessories, what to wear.
Our Gallery and Lounge in Coorparoo has examples of the beautiful canvas prints, art prints, print boxes and albums you could own. We also include electronic versions of the images you order for social media use.
After your portrait sitting, we’ll show you the images from your shoot and give you all the guidance and advice you need as you choose artworks for you home. After all, these artworks will represent childhood memories.
It’s a sunny Friday afternoon, the weekend beckons. Why not make plans to spend some time with your kids. Do simple things, just have time together to listen, chat, play and cuddle. Your kids will feel their bed is even more snugly and safe as you tuck them in, they will know their parents absolutely love them.
by John Reyment