There’s nothing quite like capturing families in their element – the genuine laughter, spontaneous moments and natural connections make each session unique. Don’t just take my word for it – here’s what a past client is saying:
“Family photos are important, but I never understood the true value of them until I had children, and until I found the right photographer! The first time we ever did a family shoot, my son was 9 months old. We hired a random photographer and decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best experience. My husband, my son and I weren’t given any direction and we had no idea what to do, so we all just stood together kind of awkwardly and smiled. The pictures didn’t turn out great because we looked uncomfortable and unnatural. It was a bit of a bummer, and I remember laughing with my husband because we were like, did we need to study how to pose prior to this meeting? Overall, it wasn’t the best experience and we knew we probably wouldn’t be having fun the next time we tried getting photos again.
Fast forward two years later, we were a family of four and my husband bought me a family photography session as a Christmas present! It was such a thoughtful gift, but we both shared a nervous laugh because we knew we were up for a huge challenge if this would be anything like the first time. We had a 1 year old and a 2 year old who at the time were unpredictable, silly and squirmy beings. My husband assured me that he booked a NEW photographer named Claire and he had a good feeling that this would be a much different experience. She had great reviews and her website displayed so much of her amazing work and artistic style! Right away, Claire was so helpful through text. She suggested the location, Hamilton Greenbelt, and even gave us color pallet ideas for our outfits! When photo day came around, I was excited but anxious. I was so worried that we would be running after the boys the whole time in an open field and the pictures would basically just capture us sweating and stressing out.
When we arrived and met Claire, she was so sweet – such a warm smile and gentle demeanor. Our introductions were quick and then BAM …the kids were already running and scrambling. My husband and I looked at each other with big nervous eyes like okay buckle up here we go. But almost immediately, Claire dialed in and put us at ease. She got down on the kids eye level and connected with them just by using her kind tone of voice and asking them a few fun questions. I remember she said something to us like, yes these cute little boys are wild and free and they are going to lead the way – so let’s keep up and get our workout in – but I will get the magic of it. The anxiety faded away as we just lived in the moment with our kids. Claire gave us the direction that we needed along the way and it felt effortless. She has a cute and natural way of getting the boys attention when she needed it, and everyone was so happy! There was lots of laughter and exploring, and she captured such sweet and playful candids – which is amazing because those photos were an exact representation of our family dynamic during this phase/chapter of our lives.
We’re unpredictable and a bit chaotic, but with the help of a fantastic photographer like Claire – you get to see the beauty in it. We were so impressed with her confidence and ease – it was actually an enjoyable experience!
Our gallery came back to us a week or two later and I was blown away! I cherish every image we received and I so appreciate Claire’s artistic eye!
Another year has flown by and we recently wrapped up another family photo shoot with Claire at Commons Ford Ranch, she suggested this place and it was stunning – golden hour, tall grass, dirt road, lake views, lush woods, old farmhouse, amazing sunset – all the ingredients for great results. The boys, now 3 and 2, aren’t quite as wild as last year, but still a handful.
Once again, Claire really connected with them right away by getting down on their level, asking them engaging questions, sparking their curiosity with the nature around them, and she effortlessly orchestrated all the magic. Any anxiety you may have about booking a photo session, especially with little kids – trust me that Claire dissolves all the worry, helps plan, provides natural and easy going direction, sprinkles in some good laughs and delivers the most stunning results.
I will be getting family photos with Claire every year for as long as possible because of how lovely and meaningful they are. She also provides a variety of printing and display options!
The cost is fair and affordable – it is worth every single penny. But no matter the cost – good family photos are priceless and I’ll explain my reason why. Not only are you getting beautiful images to decorate the walls of your home.. you’re getting history and legacy. Each year it’s capturing a new version, a new age, a new chapter of our family and our dynamic. Claire recognizes and appreciates that, and it’s one of the reasons why her work is so extraordinary. Sometimes when I look back on the photos of the past, I get a little bit of an ache and a somber feeling in my heart because I’m faced with the realization of how quickly time passes and how fast my children are growing and changing. When I look at our family photos, it allows me to travel back in time and notice the sweet little ordinary things that I adored so much about my kids at that time – the little things that slowly slip through your fingers without even really noticing. For instance, the little dimples on the knuckles of baby hands, a soft natural curl, a chubby cheek, tiny teeth, freckles, the ability to scoop them up and toss them in the air for a laugh, the way the sunlight outlines a precious little silhouette, the way they look up at you while holding your hand on a walk.. a wobbly run.. the list goes on and on. Claire captures the beautiful little ordinary things like this – and that’s what makes her so great.
As time carries our children forward, I can hear the echos through the photos that we hang on our walls. Our pictures make our house a home, and at each passing glance, I’m filled with gratitude and love for my family. That is what warms up my heart, and that is what priceless photography means to me!”
Brittany Landers – Spicewood
