Why photographers and the families we photograph should be open to whatever will happen during a session

After so many years, things still surprise me in my work.  When I started doing Bonding Sessions, I thought the most important relationship I could focus on would be the mama and her babe.  

Photographers need to have a specific offering -- it doesn't really work to just say that we offer everything in the book.  If we do, our work becomes watered-down and uninteresting.  We're not taking a perspective, we're just trying to fit ourselves into every situation possible.  I took this task of finding my niche very seriously.  I created Bonding Sessions as a way to focus incredibly singularly on the bond between a mother and her child.

I started with a very narrow concept of what a Bonding Session would be.  At first I just wanted to just do babies and their moms.  Little babies.  I wanted to do pure skin to skin.  Nursing.  Early bonding.  I didn't think it would work to have more than one child in a session at a time.  I wanted everything totally simple and pure. 

​But as I got more into the work, my scope naturally widened a bit.  I realized that I could capture those beautiful bonding moments with toddlers and their mothers too.  And then I started welcoming more than one child at a time, and my vision of what my work could be kept expanding.

Sort of by accident one day, I ended up with a 12 year old in the studio with his mom and newborn sister.  So I told him to join.  And then those photographs turned into some of my all-time favorites.

I couldn't have imagined how tender this young man would be.  I couldn't have predicted the joy he showed at being with his young sister, and the pride he'd take in getting to hold her.  It was really touching.  It affected me as an artist, and as a person.  To see this love.  This was something I wanted to welcome in more.  Whenever I could.

One of the most important things I've learned through all of this work is not to close myself off.  To stay curious.  To let myself believe that I really don't know what might come of the time in the studio.  Because I just don't know.  Love and bonding is a mystery.  That's part of what's so completely stunning about it.

​Another surprise for me in this work was realizing that inviting the mother-of-the-mother into the studio with us has been a deeply touching addition as well.  Yes, you may bring your mom or mother-in-law.  Yes Grandma can join.  The beauty here is its own brand of perfection.

During the Pandemic, this mama's (below) mom came to visit for the first time since her granddaughter was born.  And the grandmother was only staying in Denver for a few days.  So we met outside to photograph the three generations together for the first time.  It was emotional and really beautiful.

(Note the difference in the background in these images: because of the Pandemic, we were outside in the yard.)

Not only did I think session this was a great use of my skill and design for Bonding Sessions, I thought it was a beautiful expansion of my concept.  Mothers bonding with children bonding with children.  What a gift that I got to be a part of it.