The Hall Family in Tucson

I can’t quite explain how special it is to document people through different stages of their lives. I shot Chris and Amber’s engagement and wedding a few years ago, and now we got to mark their time moving into parenthood with this family photoshoot.

Family Photoshoot in the Garage

This session felt so good because we didn’t do anything special. Chris and Amber spend a lot of hours in their garage while Chris rebuilds motorcycles (he’s so talented.) Amber helps him or is always in there with their son Waylon as he is doing it. They are both very hands-on people. So it made sense that we start the family photoshoot there,  in an environment they are familiar with.

We didn’t mess with styling. Their home is so much of who they are, and this family photoshoot was about capturing that. The simple white shirts, blue denim and boots that they wore for the first part of the session were the clothes that they feel comfortable to live life in.

Spotting Unexpected Art

For the next part of the session, we wanted to get the desert in the backdrop, but before we left their house I noticed this chair across the street… and we all know it takes very little to inspire me. The backdrop, the harsh light, the color of the chair. All of it was just perfect. Training your eye to see art in all surroundings is a skill I challenge you to try!

We also made sure that Chris brought his guitar out for the session. He plays music and is so good at it. It's one of Amber's favorite things about him, and something they enjoy together as a family. After photographing their engagement and their wedding, watching Chris and Amber play for their son was particularly moving. Then I got to wrap up this family photoshoot with some flash photography, which you know I love. 

If you’ve been inspired by this family photoshoot, be sure to take a look at some of the other family sessions I’ve done: this floral family session and Minhee’s motherhood shoot are great places to start.