If someone asked you to define yourself or your relationship with another, could you do it?
You’d probably start by listing a few words that describe your feelings…and then you might branch out to phrases and then stories about experiences. You might quickly realize that the enormity and scope of all the emotions, adventures, struggles and moments make it nearly impossible for you to give your relationship a single definition. A relationship is not only a collection of experiences, but goes beyond what can be simply described.
I cannot hope to capture and portray the entire depth of feeling between you and those you love with my photographs. But I strive to reveal not just fleeting moments, but an atmosphere and essence of what brings you together.
My approach to family sessions is very individualistic, with an emphasis on photojournalism. Every client has a pre-session consultation, during which we discuss your priorities and vision for your photography session. During the session, while placing special importance on those priorities, I make a point to capture the interactions between the members of your family, so that you will always remember the tiny details – not only what shade of blue twinkles in your child’s eyes when they run in the sunlight, but the expressions that stop your heart and the little games and funny faces that you never ever want to forget.
All portrait sessions are “on-location,” often at a park or in your neighborhood. Some sessions begin in the client’s home and then move to a nearby park, depending on the weather. Wherever your family feels most comfortable is where I will be!
-Leah Stern, owner and photographer