Family comes in all sorts of combinations, and cousins are one of the best! I met this joyful trio on a December day at the request of their Grandmom. She reached out to me when she found out they would all be in town visiting on the same day. This would be the perfect opportunity for a Christmas-time cousins photo shoot at my Bucks County studio.
EXTENDED FAMILY TOGETHER
Grandmom knew these three darlings had a special bond. And capturing their vibrant personalities in extended family photos while they were all together in Philadelphia would be a great idea. She was right. The kids had a blast, and they made it so easy for me to do my job.
We started our session inside with some lovely shots featuring the radiant light coming in through the window. Their smiles were aglow. We then moved outside for some front porch shots that twinkled with the cozy warmth of home at Christmas. Finally, we moved into the yard to bring in a bit of winter-time nature. December weather can be unpredictable, but it was on our side for this session and allowed us the opportunity for some beautiful portraits.
GETTING THE RIGHT LOOK
Choosing the right outfits is a big part of what made our cousins photo shoot in Bucks County such a success. In fact, deciding on clothing is a big part of any photo session. And without any experience in this area, it can be quite a challenge! That’s why I offer support to my clients as they make choices on how to coordinate their outfits. Not every photographer offers this service. But I like to include it as a part of the package because the right colors and accessories can really add magic to the portraits. And the clients are always thrilled with the end results.
We chose a theme of navy and white (with a bright pop of red) for the cousins photo shoot. It pulls the trio shots together, but allows the focus to stay on the kids and their connection. The red also gives the images a little bit of that Christmas joy — and works well with the holiday props we used.
THE PORTRAITS YOU WANT
People have various different objectives when scheduling a portrait session. But most often, they simply want photos that will capture a moment in time. Images that display the bond and connection of the people they adore the most. Portraits they will cherish for a lifetime.
That was the goal for this cousins photo shoot. And our Bucks County session accomplished just that. These three will always remember the carefree laugher and cheerful fun they had at this age. Grandmom now has gorgeous photos of them all together and as individuals. She chose a wonderful collection of prints for herself and her children, and upon receiving them, she said: “Thank you Heather for checking in! The picture are a big hit with everyone and I have been able to share the video with my family!”
Heather Thomas is an award-winning family and newborn photographer serving Philadelphia and Ocean City, NJ. She holds a Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in newborn, children and family photography. Known for her organic and simple style, Heather’s work has been featured in magazines and online publications around the country.
