Why an in-home photoshoot? • storytelling family session in Princeton, NJ
I recently realized that a good chunk of my clients are foreigners (maybe 80%?).
They come from Brazil, Germany, France, Australia... or they have traveled the world, or lived in a different country, another culture. This always leads to interesting conversations about raising bilingual kids, traveling back to your native country or how to raise kids in a different culture.
If you are in that situation (well first hola, bonjour, guten tag, ciao, Asalaam alaikum, ni hau...) I highly recommend reading the book "Third Culture Kid (TCK), growing up among worlds" which explains the challenges of kids who live parts in their parents' culture like at home or through the school, and parts in the culture in which they are living. They develop a third culture that is a mix of everything but they make it their own. They have to deal with specific challenges like identity and how to cope with grief. The worst question you could ask a TCK is: Where are you from?
The Third Culture Kid concept now broadens to include cross-cultural situations like ethnic minority parents, immigrant parents, mixed-race parents, parents who move often from one region of the U.S. to another...
For me, after 10 years in the U.S., home is everywhere and nowhere.
This is probably one of the reasons why I shoot what I shoot: I feel like a foreigner when I wander the streets of Paris and I will never perfectly fit in America. But I love the sense of belonging and reassurance that HOME provides.
Your house is an intimate place where LIFE happens. It is the epicenter of family life and why I love to capture families in their natural habitat. Everyone is more relaxed and your place brings another dimension to the photoshoot. Like an added member to the family.
This family below is no exception as the mom is American but the dad is German and they navigate between families here in the States and across the pond in Europe. We bonded over "vacationing for weeks at your in-laws".... because seriously... who is looking forward to that? :) As they say, you are happy when you arrive and happy when you leave!
This is a favorite topic of mine so share your thoughts, readings, and tips anytime. I'm all ears.
You can see another in-home family session here (with twin boys!).
I am a documentary family photographer. I love to photograph families at home, the epicenter of family life, where childhood memories are formed. I will capture your story when you are fearlessly you: when you do the things you love to do in the places you love to be. I catch glimpses of your family's personality when you are in the moment enjoying the simple fact of being together.
I love to document the love (and tears) that goes into family life, or during a sweet reunion, or when you are managing your small business. My style is far from standard posing and cheesy smiles. Instead I capture a feeling, an emotion, a connection. My clients demand something different, something honest and true to real life. Let's get in touch.
