I LOVE the challenge of a new photo shoot, and this shoot photographing newborn twins was no exception. It cleanses me from all my preconceived notions. I show up with grand ideas of what I will capture, and I can’t wait to pull out my camera and start shooting. I did a special photo shoot for a family in Denver, Colorado who were blessed with twin boys. As I started shooting, the newborn twins started crying and the toddler wanted to run around naked, and no one wanted to give up their binkies. I couldn’t help but start laughing at how all my “grand” ideas needed to be set aside. I paused for a moment, the in-between space of realizing that your initial ideas may not work to not knowing where to go. Instead of panic, I decided to step back and pause. My subjects were beckoning me to create a new thing.
Here is a series of photos to show you what I mean. (The Photo-Recipe for photographing newborn twins is at the end!)
The twins are mirroring twins which is something I’ve never seen before. It’s the craziest thing, whatever one is doing–the other will mirror it. It’s like you could fold the photo in half, and it’d be the exact same on both sides! Without me prompting them, they naturally move their bodies to mirror each other.
::: melting! :::
so achingly sweet!
Beautiful story via your photos – the last one got me… yep, I teared up.
Freaking amazing! Laughed out loud and also got goosebumps! XXOO!
Oh wow, that last image is priceless.
so cute!I love the photos.The twins are so cute.Love the blog for to day:)
the last image was so sweat:)Love the twins:)
SO very adorable. I Love the final photo!
I couldn’t have said it any better than Pascaline! Great work!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these images! Why must you make me cry everyday when I sit down to read your blog? LOL Thanks for sharing and pointing out how we need to forget about our story that we want to tell and focus on capturing their story. I think I struggle with that because I can’t prepare for it. I just have to show up with my camera and have faith! I’m shooting 12 mini sessions on Saturday. Maybe I should stop preparing in my mind how everything is going to turn out and just let it unfold in front me.
Those pictures are beautiful! I love your blog. I am a grandmom and my daughter is having her 3rd baby, so I have to get this book!
Thank you again for all of your advice.
Susan
Yes Billie!! That’s exactly what you should do! Remember, the most powerful part of your photography has yet to even be fully tapped into–it’s the fact that you can shoot like a woman! You can create in the moment, you can follow your deep sense of intuition. You are comfortable being in mystery, not having all the answers, b/c your deep sense of empathy will fill in the holes as you go–with each of the twelve families you meet. Before you start your Minis take a moment to feel the ground beneath you, feel it holding you up, to reflect on how you are born to create–and when there are no ideas–that may possibly be when your most powerful creations happen.
xoxo,
m
p.s. Pascaline, you bless your mama’s heart more than you know. I’m so excited that you are enjoying the blog too. love you sweetie!
Thank you Mera! Very powerful words. I think I need to read those words before every session until it becomes my natural way of thinking. I get so wrapped up in preparing to ensure that everything turns out perfectly, which causes me to be stressed out and not completely enjoy this dream of mine. AND, more importantly, does not allow me to fully tell my clients story. I might create a beautiful image, but does it always tell us a part of their story??? You have such an incredible way with words. You say things, that I have heard a 100 times before from other people, in a way that I finally can put my mind around. In a way that I can apply it to myself. Thank you for that.
Stunning… both the pictures and the words… Thank you for continuing to share your passion. It’s time to lock myself in a quiet room and journal about this… somethings unlocking… clicking… more to learn about shooting like a woman:)
What a beautiful session and the oh so sweet cuddle in the last photo – heart-melting! What wonderful treasures you have created for this family. Just beautiful!
Me Ra…once again you made our family look so beautiful!! Just like you are saying, there is a story in each one of those photos and boy would I love to know what those twins are thinking. I can’t wait to see the boys grow up and experience how amazing this is going to be for Britt and I. I feel like a macho man, but these photos and your commentary gave me the goosebumps and made my tear ducts work a little bit. Words can’t explain how much you mean to Britt and I and our boys…this world is so luck to have you!!
Oh Lord that last shot. The look on big brothers face when the baby starts crying is PRICELESS… “Oh wow….didn’t mean for you to cry there guy…sorry” lol…..
toddler is so cute.Love photos.Great blog mom aka mera koh.
This is so naturally beautiful. I’m not the first, obviously, but the last shot just takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes. Gorgeous.
Beautiful MeRa! That first shot is perfect in every way. I almost want to hang it up in my house even though they’re not my kids. LOL.
Great post. Your wisdom and photos always inspire me. Absolutely precious.
Me Ra- What do you think about including the lens you used in your photo-recipes? I had my 85mm on for a similar straight down shot, but it was too crowed with the 85. Did you use your 50? I’ve tried to love the 50mm on a full frame, but I just don’t yet.
omg I love that pascaline is commenting!! That last one made my heart thump – adorable!