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Seattle/Tacoma
Photographer
Filmmaker
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SEATTLE/Tacoma
Photographer
Filmmaker
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Not sure what it is, but I have some serious baby fever right now. And the strangest part is I have my own baby to snuggle with right now. I think it’s knowing this baby could be are last. So when I’m witth babies teenier than mine, I melt. Baby Theodore did that to me. He was so sweet and laid back. This is a dangerous job, it makes me want five more babies.
I met with the Swanson family the day after Christmas. When you have eight kids (plus spouses and grandkids) it’s hard getting the entire family together. But this year was just right. They had me laughing most of the time. The banter amongst a family of ten was so fun to be in the middle of.
If you look at the last two photos they wanted to recreate a photo they took for Christmas a long time ago. Enjoy!
I thought I would have so many more photos of Louisa as a baby than the boys since I wasn’t a photographer when I had them. But it seems to be the other way around. I have a lot of pictures of them, but with her I have very little time to pick up my camera. I’m either on the couch feeding her or tending to my boys. So today while Benjamin was at preschool and Gilbert was listening to nursery songs on youtube I grabbed my camera. I wanted to be in the photos some how so I just sat by the window and put her in my lap. I have a lot of favorites but these are my favorite five. I’m just going to try to do this from time to time. Ten minutes and I can capture all those details that I often forget. The drool sliding down her chin, her big glass eyes, fingernails that need a trim, that sweet smile and the way she grips my finger…all things I want to freeze in time.
This has been a long time coming. The minute my photography journey began I really fell in love with capturing real life. Capturing kids, families, people, doing what they do…living life, with all the highs, lows and imperfections. No one’s posed, no one is saying “cheese.” They are just doing those things that you’ll remember the most about them. And when it comes to kids, it’s those little things they do that you want to freeze in time. Those things that make you say, “stop growing!” If you have seen the Pixar movie “Inside Out” there is a scene where Joy is in the pit where forgotten memories are dissipating. And as she is holding a memory of the little girl she said tearfully, “remember how she used to stick out her tongue while she colored?” The first time I saw that I started bawling. All I could think of were my little boys who were growing up way too fast, and I just couldn’t stop them. I know I can’t stop them from growing, but capturing them in beautiful photos is one way I can preserve that.
With all that said I am now offering Family Documentary Sessions. I still offer Lifestyle photos, but if you are a person who wants to preserve those everyday moments I would love to do that for you. These sessions will look a little different. They will be in and around your home and you get me for three hours. I’ll capture your family doing what you do, as if I were a fly on the wall. Maybe you make pancakes every Saturday morning, take walks to a nearby park, garden together, or spend your days chasing around toddlers, I can capture that for you. And the beauty of it, is you’ll be in those photos, in those memories for your kids to see.
One of the main reasons I am now offering documentary sessions is my own love for capturing my little ones doing what they do. Below are shots of my kiddos, to give you a sample of what my documentary style work looks like. If you like what you see and you want to capture your family this way please email me at elspethloves@gmail.com. If you want to see more of my work you can also follow me on Instagram @elspeth_loves.
This little guy holds a special place in my heart. When I agreed to do his newborn photos I was aware that Alyssa and my due dates were only a day apart. But I knew there was a chance I would be induced early and I knew this was her first baby, and first babies are often late. But the thing I love about babies is they run the show and get to decide how things go. So even though Louisa was two weeks early, little Sawyer was born the following day. Thankfully Alyssa and Mike were totally fine with me bringing Louisa along. This is a session I won’t forget. I loved chatting with Alyssa as we are both in the thick of newborn land. And watching Sawyer make those same newborn sounds and movements Louisa makes. And yes newborn land is a place, and I am loving it.
