Ten documentary family photographs from 2019
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”
-Dr. Seuss
This quote sums up why I choose to make photos of MOMENTS over POSES. 2019 was the year I came back up for air. My babies turned one and three years old, and I was able to get back out there and photograph some of the families in my community. Here are ten share-worthy photos from the year!
This family was having a slow weekend morning on a sunny fall day. They were making pancakes and hanging out. Mom got to relax in a way that I don’t see moms with babies and toddlers do.
I loved how they subtly occupy this space together yet enjoy the moment each in their own way. This photo really speaks to the age of the kids and the moment in time. It feels relaxing. You can feel the independence, yet there is still closeness.
Baby Frances is only a few months old and spent a lot of the time sleeping on mama during our time together. This was quite literally the last photo I made on the way out the door.
Because we didn’t have as many opportunities to capture dad with baby, I was so happy to make this sweet photo of her falling asleep on his shoulder. Dad is a carpenter so he is a builder, fixer and maker for the family. He is hardworking and busy. But he is also a sweet and loving father. We’ve got the photo to prove it!
I spent a fun-filled morning with this young family in SW Portland. The girls are 2 and 4 and full of energy. They played inside and outside and in every nook and cranny of their home. They built pillow forts, raced and jumped, cuddled and snacked and then some. This was one of the last photos I made of the older daughter. This pose is her response to “It’s nap time!”
This photo makes me laugh because it’s so indicative of a transition! Transitions are hard for kids, and kids are quite honest about it, especially when they’re getting tired.
Crispin (6) and Una (10) ran around and played together all morning. It was after breakfast and Crispin lined up all four toothbrushes for his family. They continued to joke and be playful while brushing their teeth.
This isn’t the most picturesque photo I made for the family (I mean their toilet is in the frame) but the interaction taking place between the kids is just so heartwarming! In just a few years Una will be a teenager and the dynamic of their relationship may begin to change. This felt like a sweet moment to capture and deliver to the parents.
While putting up their Christmas lights on the exterior of the house, mom was directing traffic while also babywearing her sleeping little one. They are going to wheelbarrow some lights to dad at the front of the house.
There’s something about watching moms do so much at once that is very awe-inspiring. This mama climbed ladders, prepared lunch and played some basketball, all while baby napped on her. Her energy was impressive!
I accompanied this family on a visit to the Portland Nursery to replenish their supply of indoor plants. Juniper and her parents were doing equal parts shopping and playing around (as many parents of little ones are forced to do on shopping trips).
I love this photo because of the expression on dad’s face as he chases his daughter through the maze of plants. There are often moments when shopping with kids is NOT carefree, but this moment feels authentically joyful! It’s easy to walk away from outings with kids feeling so bogged down by how difficult it all is and forgetting those moments of pure joy.
Swinging in the backyard on a fall morning.
I simply love the colors, the movement, the joy and the wild hair in this photo. Really nothing more to say!
Claire and Emily are matching socks to turn the chore of laundry into a game. Baby Frances is snuggled up, happy as peach, finishing her bottle.
I love this photo not only for the amazing multi-tasking coming from mom, but also as a portrait of baby. All that is happening around her and then there’s just this sense of ease and contentment coming from her gaze. You can feel that she is safe and peaceful in this moment.
This family was taking a walk to the playground. It was a decent little hike through the neighborhood and with such little legs, Juniper took some turns walking and catching a ride with dad.
I love her big curious, observing eyes in this photo. I like how cozy she is in her dad’s arms. This photo is also a subtle nod to how much work parenting is and how, as observers, we can forget because parents are so good at making it look so easy! ‘No big deal, just carrying around 30 pounds on my walk right now...’
First big boy bed of a 3 year old. A crocheted blanket and a slew of Peppa Pig stickers.
I love to include photos of details and spaces in my documentary family sessions. When I was a kid my sisters and I were constantly rearranging, trading rooms and changing up the decor. It’s part of your family’s story in this moment in time. These are the small things you might easily forget.
Thank you to all of the families who invited me into their homes to capture their ‘Day in the Life’ in 2019!
xo
Joanna Grossi Photography