I taught for the first time! I photographed a real family in their actual home in front of over 20 other photographers. To say I felt nervous is an understatement. As a traveling family photographer from Chicago, I usually work in intimate settings. However, having a crowd of peers watching my every move added a new level of pressure. I even gave the mama, Cate, the wrong date!
Specifically, this mistake could have caused a catastrophe. Cate had cleaners over to prepare for the next day. Despite my error, she handled the situation with incredible grace. Ultimately, mistakes happen in life. I pride myself on rolling with the punches. As fate would have it, my snafu worked out perfectly. Cate’s grandfather fell ill that weekend. By shooting early, she gained the freedom to be with her family during a tough time. I feel beyond grateful for the time they gave us.
The Heart of a Traveling Family Photographer from Chicago
During this session, I kept calling my work “hybrid”—a mix of documentary and lifestyle. However, I have since officially added the title of Rhythmic Storytelling to my work. Because I need my images to make sense to me, I look for the natural cadence of a family’s love. Whether I am teaching a workshop or working as a traveling family photographer from Chicago, that rhythm is what I’m sticking to.
Consequently, even when the light is “all over the place” and the ISO is set to 5000, the soul of the session remains intact. It was chaos, and I probably forgot a million things I wanted to say as a teacher, but it was an enlightening experience. They were beautiful, and their love could be felt in every corner of their home. Such a beautiful example about what it means to be a Chicago Family photographer who travels.
Mentoring and Traveling for Storytelling
Basically, choosing to have your session at home allows for a level of honesty that a studio simply cannot replicate. As a result, the images become a visual legacy of your actual daily life. If you are looking for a traveling family photographer from Chicago to capture your family’s unique rhythm—or if you are a photographer looking for mentoring and education—I would love to chat.
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