Jessica met me for the first time on the day of our styled shoot at Mountain Magnolia Inn in Hot Springs, North Carolina. She had driven 4 hours just to be a part of this shoot, bringing her entire family with her and even spending the weekend at a hotel. I knew I couldn’t let her drive those four hours back home without a family photo session for her! These kids were such good sports while their mama worked hard, making our models look absolutely divine. They were also lovely to photograph themselves. The oldest gave me the sweetest, crinkled nose shy smile I think I’ve ever captured, and younger brother was such a snuggly little guy! He was definitely a mama’s boy and it made me melt just to see the way he loved on her.

The day was overcast and a little gray but it made for soft, muted colors and also meant we could shoot pretty much anywhere we wanted without having to worry about dark shadows and deep contrast. I had rented the Contax (a film camera I have been dying to try out for awhile) for my styled shoot, but of course I LOVE shooting my families on film, too. This is such a beautiful gallery with a great mix of digital and film images that blend well together, and that made me so happy!

Sometimes my clients send me the sweetest messages and I have to save them to reread when I get down. Jessica’s response to getting her gallery from me was definitely one of those ones I’ve saved. She told me that these images are by far the best and most beautiful photos they have as a family, and hearing that just made me feel like I do make a difference in people’s lives, in their relationships with each other, and in boosting a mother’s confidence and love for her family!

 

Meghan is a Hot Springs Family Photographer based in Sylva, North Carolina. She also photographs families in Asheville, Franklin, Canton, Highlands, Cashiers, and even into Georgia, Tennesee, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.