st. stephen (awkward) family portraits: the fitch family

when your children live all over the country it is a big deal to have them all together in one place. celebrations often provoke the far away members to come home, as was the case for the fitch family. their youngest son, isaac, recently graduated from st. stephen's university, and son noah and daughter zoe with her husband dave all flew in from the west coast for the blessed event. the last time they were together was at zoe and dave's wedding nearly three years ago!

while at the fitch family house some weeks ago mary ellen showed me the last family portrait they had taken... it was some 15 years ago, maybe more so it was definitely time for some new shots, especially since the family has grown to include a couple of grandkids and son-in-laws (as perhaps some daughter-in-laws-to-be?)!!

the fitch family is not your typical family. somehow, they have made being "awkward" really really cool, and they made it a point to create some really, really awkward poses for the camera!! i have joked about submitting some of the images to awkwardfamilyphotos.com and different fitch family members have said i should! perhaps that was their goal along? or perhaps it was simply to have fun! and fun was had by all. when we were hanging out a little bit after the photos were taken, will asked me what i was doing for the rest of the day because perhaps they could just pay me to stay and keep taking pictures. i would totally be up for that too because i was killing myself laughing throughout the entire shoot as my friends had fun in front of my camera and did what they do: loved, laughed and joked together!

here are a few photos...

this was a stretching photo session for me in a few different ways: the lighting was not ideal (i have since ordered a flash, a light stand and a reflecting umbrella for future shoots when the rain forces me indoors) and the the crazy antics each person suggested and performed was so not anything i could have (or would have) envisioned! i think little sophie's expression in some of the group family shots can give you an idea about where my head was at!! however, that they all had fun, and if having me there to take photos created a space for this family to be together and to be silly together... well that is all that matters, regardless of my personal style and vision as a photographer!!! my goal is always to give families photos that reflect who they really are!

love & sunshine,

shannon-may