Los Angeles Family Photographer: Keeping it in Context

Every year I donate a few sessions to local non-profits.  One such donation was to the Larchmont Charter School, a local school with a great reputation.  The family that won the bid couldn’t have been more delightful and their lovely home in Hancock Park was the perfect backdrop for the session. Most of the kids I shoot are younger than five years old, so it was fun to shoot older kids who could take a little more direction.  But my rule of thumb of taking the family portrait up front still applies since kids whether little or big are usually on best behavior in the beginning, as they loosen up I like to shoot them more casually and individually.

I also love the picture of the siblings together.  Prior to this shot they were literally trying to keep as far away from each other as possible.  They’re at that funny age when being close to your brother or sister is not fun or cool, but from the picture you wouldn’t know it.  I like that it foretells what will likely be their closeness in years to come.

But my absolute favorite shots are of the kids each in their own little worlds, each in context. It’s that special moment in your childhood that’s captured and frozen.

I have a picture taken of me when I was about five years old, quietly drawing (which I did all the time), and to this day it is one of my most prized.