This Maybury State Park family session has taken me much longer to edit than it probably should have. If you saw my Instagram post earlier today, then you’ll know it was a culling issue. I have found that the more I get to know a client over the years, the harder time I have culling their session. I get to know the changing facial expressions of the kids, I can see every changing movement in the images means something to the people in them, and I start to look at it like it’s my own gallery of family images… and I want to have all of them. Which, of course, means that these client galleries seemingly get a little bigger each time.

So when you photograph friends, people you know well and have known for a long time, it gets even harder. I’ve known some of these little people since they were born (and met the third for the first time at this session!), and I’ve known their parents for the better half of my adult life so far. I’ve seen each of these momma’s through their weddings and they’ve been there for me through some of the best and hardest parts of the last 15 years. So here I am, chugging along through what is likely the largest family gallery I’ve ever delivered and finally wrapping it up today.

I found myself earlier this fall feeling like my work was becoming too stationary and started incorporating more movement back into my images. Granted, I work with kids, so my work is never really stationary, but I forgot how much I love to photograph play and movement. I’ve never been drawn to posed images where everyone is looking at the camera, and while I can certainly shoot them for the families who want them, I’m really just here for the little moments – the changing expressions on your kids’ faces, their little hands playing with your hair or holding onto a finger, that real smile that comes out when you play games and run and sing and dance and jump at a session. Lucky for me, this group is as energetic as they come (and I’m not just talking about the kids (ahem, Leah… and Scott)) so it was the most perfectly chaotic night I could have ever asked for. Sending all of these beautiful humans lots of love. There will never be enough words to really tell the world how much I love you all.

casey and her camera is an Indianapolis photographer specializing in couple, lifestyle, and family photography for Indianapolis, Indiana and the surrounding areas. She also serves southeast Michigan several times a year including the Dexter, Saline, and Ann Arbor areas.