Osterville, Cape Cod candid portraits – family and children

What a beautiful evening it was last night for family portraits in Osterville on Cape Cod. And what a picture perfect family!

Here are a few favorites captured entirely by natural light during our hour of exploring and having fun on the beach.

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Falmouth Art Center Fall Juried Show – Best Photograph

The Falmouth Art Center’s Fall Juried Show opened last Friday. Both of my photographs, along with 10 others, were selected to be part of this competitive show of 88 works of art. And I’m delighted that “Wave Catcher” was awarded “Best Photograph!”

“Wave Catcher” is one of many images selected by the little girl’s mother from her extended family’s portrait session held at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth, Cape Cod last summer. She especially adored this one since it so aptly reflected the free and adventurous spirit of her beautiful daughter.

During the visit to the center, I also discovered that “Afternoon Fog” – my other entry – is one of a handful of pieces selected by the Falmouth Garden Club. A club member will create a floral interpretation to be unveiled at the “Petals and Palettes” awards reception held Sunday, October 9 from 2 to 4 PM at the Falmouth Art Center . I hope that many of my friends and fans will be able to attend.

Falmouth on Dwellable

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Triplets family portrait North Falmouth beach

Romping on the beach with 4-year-old triplet boys at a North Falmouth beach was a fun challenge earlier this week. What delightful cutie pies. Not surprisingly, the boys had little interest in sitting or standing poses. But their personalities came alive whenever they were asked to hug or jump or run… especially into Mom and Dad’s arms. Thanks Krista and John for asking me to capture memories of your family’s fun times on Cape Cod!

North Falmouth on Dwellable

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Nobska Beach Portrait, Woods Hole

A favorite portrait “pose” is the beach jump… for kids of all ages!  We all had fun this morning at a large family reunion portrait session at Nobska Beach in Woods Hole. I captured close to 20 wonderful poses, with many variation of each to choose from – from the whole family of 29 to smaller family groups. I couldn’t wait to share this jumping series as Debbie, Mike and their family had a ball!  Which jump do you like best?

JUMP #1

JUMP #2

JUMP #3

Recovering…

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Large Family Reunion Portraits

After creating a family portrait at an extended family reunion this weekend, it dawned on me why I especially love doing these.

First, families that hold reunions are the nicest people. Here are a few images of Linda and Art’s lovely 3-generation family of 17 that celebrated grandmother’s birthday at their Marstons Mills, Cape Cod waterfront home this Saturday.

Besides the entire family, I capture images of smaller family groupings, whatever is most important to each client. During our portrait planning session, Art let me know that a portrait of their ten grandchildren was a top priority.

But more than nice people… creating portraits that clients will be thrilled with demands skills that I really like to do. Abilities I’ve developed in a variety of professional roles over the years. Camera and equipment skills.  Digital darkroom and retouching.  Artistry. Management and planning (my MBA came in handy after all).  People and communication.  And a sense of humor.

When it all comes together, artistic portraits with natural smiles and everyone looking their best is the result.

Here’s the beautiful 4-generation family of 29 that came together from all parts of the country to celebrate great-grandmother’s 90th birthday a few weeks ago at the Yarmouth Port Inn on Cape Cod – the first of many images I captured that day for their family.

Of course, the ultimate goal is happy clients who can’t wait to decorate their walls with their commissioned portrait art… to cherish forever!

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Family portrait in Sippewissett

One of my portrait sessions last week was capturing images of Gisela, Pierre, and their grandchildren at their favorite Falmouth beach. Wood Neck Beach – one of Cape Cod’s scenic treasures – is an enjoyable place for children of all ages. On one side of the dunes its beach stretches out into Buzzard Bay. And on the other side, the shallow tidal pools of Little Sippewissett marsh entice children with squirming fiddler crabs and a natural “water park.”

Here we found a cozy spot overlooking the marsh.

Wading across the warm tidal waters to this tiny sand dune island was refreshing for all of us on this humid evening.

Gisela was interested in a photograph of her grandchildren jumping at the water’s edge. So when they didn’t jump high enough, she showed them how!

And after the sun disappeared over the horizon,  with an ethereal blue glow enveloping the marsh,  it was time to capture a few quiet images of Gisela and Pierre alone.

Well beyond sunset, I continued shooting as the sky came alive with color and drama – another glorious day on Cape Cod coming to a close.

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Natural poses to candids

Some clients are surprised to discover that my family portrait sessions include a variety of naturally posed and candid or lifestyle images to choose from – at no additional charge. And they’re relieved to hear that my style of “posing” is simply to offer guidance so that each individual looks their very best, within an artistically pleasing composition. (Stiff, artificial looking portraits are definitely not my thing!)

I typically begin by posing the entire family – standing or sitting. For example, we began last Saturday’s portrait session at the Sea Crest Resort’s beach in North Falmouth with Gary and Pam’s 3-generation family tucked into a grassy sand dune – all so photogenic!

Then I capture images of smaller groupings based on what each client has told me is important during our portrait consultation call. Besides each family unit, popular choices are siblings, cousins, grandparents with grandchildren and with adult children, and couples.

I move on to capture candids, with everyone participating in the fun. I chose this spot for Todd and Linda’s twins for its ideal backdrop and lighting, and the girls happily played as I captured real life memories. This image will be featured in the 6-image collage for their parents’ wall.

As her siblings and cousins became sleepy, one of the girls was still full of steam as the waves crashed ashore. Here’s one of four photographs from this series that her mom chose to display as a wall collection.

As the sun was about to set, Gary and Pam asked me to capture an image of themselves. Such a lovely couple, it’s hard to believe they’re the grandparents of this 12-member clan!

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Having Fun with Video

While still photography is “my thing,” I’m beginning to enjoy creating videos of favorite places, people and pets. Here’s a one-minute video of  Trunk River which connects Oyster Pond (on which we reside) with the Vineyard Sound. While the river is tiny, its role is huge since it ensures the health of the pond and makes it possible for herring to return and spawn each year.

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Indian Summer Portrait in Woods Hole

Decades ago, when I was living in Michigan, autumn was our favorite time to escape to the east coast and enjoy a week on Old Cape Cod. It’s really the very best time to be here. The warm breezes of Indian Summer beckon nature lovers and four-legged friends to the shore to enjoy the warm tones of the season before the cold sets in.

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Welcome to my blog

I bit the bullet and joined the blogging world. Stay tuned for occasional postings from my experiences as a professional portrait and fine art photographer on Cape Cod.

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