I finally was privileged to meet Mary, whose sister Anna I've enjoyed working with over the years. Mary and her family were in town and took the opportunity to get some updated family photos. I met them essentially immediately after they arrived at the airport, and we worked as quickly as we could before their little man was thoroughly done with the session having been taken well out of his typical schedule. But I think it all worked out quite well.
Earlier this summer I had the pleasure of working with a large group of friends here in Whitefish. Much to my delight it led to me working with Renee's family, because her cousin was in that first group. Renee had some friends along for the ride as well and we had a great time where they were staying, and then on the way up to Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Reunited and it feels so good. I once again had the pleasure of meeting up with the Ewens here in Whitefish before the end of summer. If you've got a good memory, you'll recognize this family of three—though soon to be four!—from an engagement session many moons ago, and a portrait session last year. They were in town again and wanted one more chance to get some family photos before becoming a family of four, and I was overjoyed to oblige. We started at Whitefish City Beach and explored a newish trailhead on the Whitefish Trail system on the way up to Whitefish Mountain Resort.
I've said this before—on social media for sure, if not here on this very blog—but one of the biggest compliments I feel you can give a photographer is inviting them back into your life after you've worked with them before. I had one such honor recently after I received a message from Kate and Benjamin. I photographed their intimate, backyard wedding at Ben's parent's house.
I got to return to that very same location to photograph them as a relatively new family of three, and it was so great to see them again.
Lauren, the eldest of the Hamilton daughters, was fortunate to be working as a seasonal employee at Glacier Raft Co., and even more fortunate that her family was able to come to visit her here! They spent time traipsing around Glacier National Park, and naturally—since you're seeing this on my website—took the opportunity to get some family photos in the Last Best Place.
This large group portrait session was such a joy to be a part of. I large group of college friends had gotten together here in Whitefish and wanted to commemorate the occasion with some big group photos, some individual family photos, and some couples photos. Large family reunions are of course a joy, but when that large family is people who have chosen to be 'family' it's truly unique. And frankly, all of the little children running around, inside jokes, and just general camaraderie is a blast.
Sara contacted me about some extended-family family portraits while they were all spending some time here in Whitefish at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. However, her request was a little out of the ordinary in that she insisted they wouldn't need my normal two-hour coverage time because they were all seasoned picture takers because after all, she is a photographer herself! I'll admit I was a little skeptical about really being able to get all the photos I like to get of such a large group in an abbreviated amount of time, but they nailed it, and were in fact all absolute pros at getting their pictures taken.
It's always great to be able to capture stages of life for friends of ours. My family met the Mordis family several years ago through our daughter who shared an art camp at Stumptown Art Studio with their youngest daughter. Since then they've returned to Whitefish every summer and we've watched Whitefish Theatre Company acting camps together and had pool parties. This year their visit, unfortunately, coincided with my wife and daughter being on a vacation of their own, but I still managed to meet up with them at City Beach for some long-overdue family portraits.
It's a bit of a cliché that the weather here in the mountains can be unpredictable. But sometimes clichés are created for a reason. My evening with the Newman family was a perfect illustration of that. Mid-June temperatures in the 40s? Why not?! It was a bit of a shock for these wonderful folks from Louisiana where the heat index was well into the 100s this past week. They braved the chill though, and the clouds, sun, and sky couldn't have been more cooperative for some truly amazing evening light.
Spent a lovely evening with the Cisnado family at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake for a quick family portrait session this week. Mom just wanted some photos while they were vacationing here in Whitefish, and the boys and dad didn't want to make too much of a fuss about it. So I simply met them where they were staying and used the wonderful view available just steps from the back of The Lodge. Just more proof that family photos don't need to be stressful, or overly fussy, so don't let that discourage you if that's what is preventing you from getting family portraits taken, here or anywhere else.
