What others are saying

“Let me start off by saying that getting family pictures done was never a big deal to me, call it only child syndrome if you will, but being an only child meant that getting your picture taken OFTEN was part of the deal.

My husband on the other hand is a whole different story. He would rather go to the dentist then have his picture taken and my children have unfortunately inherited that gene. He finds it uncomfortable, awkward, and frankly unnecessary.

Going into family photos this year I was met with “do we have to” “what do I get for it” and of course “how long will it take” but that’s where the complaining stopped.

Natalie did things different then we had done before, taking us to various locations that worked for us and what we wanted in our photos, and had us do things that came naturally, and because of this it didn’t seem like work.

She took photos of my husband helping my daughter to walk in the tall grass, of my kids playing on the playground, and of my son and I telling secrets. She would suggest some posed images, however was always willing to try ideas we had as well, guided us in our interactions to get the best shots but never hassled us to re-position for the camera, and really just spent 2 hours with us, creating beautiful images from our family time together.

It was a very different experience than ever before, and I admit I was a little nervous about how the photos would turn out, but we all walked away without tears or frustration so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

Less than a week later Natalie sent me a preview or our session, and I was overjoyed to see that she not only captured beautiful posed images, but that my favorites were in fact the ones we didn’t know she was taking in the first place. I wish I could say she converted my husband into someone who now loves getting his picture taken, but I cannot. She is after all a photographer not a miracle worker.

I will say though, that after the session with Natalie was over, and after he saw the pictures she took, he acknowledged they were the best family photos we have ever taken and “if” we have to family photos on a regular basis he will only have them done by her. Baby steps…”