In-Home Photo Session by Asheville’s Best Family Photographer
Behold the family with the most beautiful hair in the world. I photographed this family at their home in West Asheville, North Carolina, near the Malvern Hills neighborhood. I used to live in West Asheville when Dave and I were first together. We had Olive in that house (well, we took her home from the hospital to that house, anyway.) I am quite partial to Woodfin, where we live now, because it’s scrappy and weird and kind of uncool in a cool way, if that makes any sense. But this family photography session made me pine for West Asheville just a little. After all, there was this whole plot of land by the river with a swing, a trampoline, a treehouse and a fairy garden that’s just….open to the public! That does not happen in Woodfin, I must admit.
While I’ve been leaning lately into doing some more posing and directing, for this family I took a completely hands off, purely documentary family photography (DFP) session. Simply put, these four just did not need any directing! The kids are young and free and have no problem finding entertaining things to do around the house and the yard. I was only with this family for about ninety minutes, yet they covered so much territory! They had a picnic in the front yard, colored a treasure map, scootered down to the park by the river and then things really went off. They bounced, swung on one of the biggest swings I have ever seen and picked peonies. Then back to the house for toothbrushing, a bath, playing on the piano, cereal and books and bedtime.
The images from this family photography session in West Asheville turned out beautifully, and one of the reasons for that is that I was using my speedlight flash! I have been studying how to make crisper images, which can be tricky during evening with it’s heavy amber light and floaty, glowy backlight. Earlier in the day, I spent a few hours outside in full sun with my own daughters, just giving the flash a try. I got exactly what I was hoping: crisp, bright images filled with even light. So I boldly brought the flash along to my session and….what can I say? It worked. Flash can be so fickle and so complicated but for this evening, it just worked beautifully.
Rear-synced flash gives this image the feeling of movement while the subjects remain crisp.
I am so excited that my rear-synced flash images worked out so beautifully, as I typically only utilize it for weddings and dance parties. I am very intrigued about using this more during my family work, particularly when the images involve movement. And because I photograph kids without telling them to pause and be still, almost all of my family work involves a lot of movement. Good thing to, it makes for some interesting and dynamic images. And that is ultimate my goal: to deliver you a gallery that is dynamic and varied.
I have been playing around lately with blown-out highlights. I don’t think photographers should be scared of such bright highlights, so long as they’re done with intention.
Are you interested in an in-home family session in Asheville? Are you searching for the best family photographer in Western North Carolina? Are you hoping to visit Asheville and want your trip documented beautifully by a skilled and experienced photographer? Or….are you hoping for the top documentary family photographer in the world to travel to your home for a full Day in the Life unposed family session? Well congratulations, you artful and discerning human being, you have come to the right place!