I’ve been photographing children and their parents since 2004, and every year I have even more fun than the last. ? As a former kindergarten teacher at the Polaris Program at Ebert Elementary school in Denver, I had 22 children around to snap portraits of for 3 years, and I made the most of that (oh, we learned some reading and writing too, but recess and field trips were?probably?everyone’s favorite times!) I’m now getting my kid fix by creating Portraits with Pizzazz (not your typical school portraits) at about 10 area schools.
To your portrait session, I bring my dad-skills. ?With 3 kids: Naomi - 8, Leah - 5, and Kieran - 1 1/2, I’ve been raising and?photographing?kids for quite a while now. ?Between the hundreds of children I’ve worked with, and my own three, there isn’t an atrocious behavior or silly face I haven’t seen. ?It makes a difference. ?I remember a session this spring where a four-year-old had just about had it and was finished. ?She threw herself on the ground and began to pout. ?I did what any sane dad would do, I dove onto the grass next to her and began trying out a few angles…want to race? ?Want to splash me by the fountain? ?Want to hop like a bunny? ?She took me up on the running race and we were able to get back to a few more portraits.
I look back on all the portraits I’ve created (Last year alone I clicked the shutter about 75,000 times) I can see that the conversations and connections that I create between myself and a child make the portrait full of life. ?Don’t be surprised if, when I come over to your home for a portrait session, I am soon in deep conversation with your children about everything from rollercosters to bike riding to what teacher they want to have next year.
Here’s some pictures of my kids…
