As parents, one of the most wonderful things we get to do is watch our children interact with the world around them. Children find wonder in things that we have come to regard as mundane. Children are enchanted by the world around them, especially the natural world.
Yet much of children’s portraiture is done in an artificial environment, complete with props, “Sunday” clothes, artificial backgrounds and awkward-seeming poses. There’s nothing wrong with a formal portrait, but you need something else to capture the magic of childhood.
I do the same thing for portraits of children that I do for weddings. We go to a park, playground, or their very own back yard, wearing cute but comfortable clothing. We usually take a few posed portraits so the children can relax with me. Then they do what comes naturally to kids: they play. And I follow. I capture the moments, expression, wonder and joy of childhood through artistic photos that portray childhood the way childhood really is: in action!
