Filming and Photographing this family with their FIFTH baby was just such a huge blessing. I have photographed every bump and newborn since the beginning (what an HONOR!). Five boys ranging from newborn to age 12. It felt a tiny bit chaotic, but only because their 2.5 year old has a very strong willed personality. But I can roll with the chaos and willful kiddos. We let him wear his fireman costume and let him just do what he wanted. and eventually he came around for photos ?
But really, being there… the vibe was all about baby Shepherd. Everyone wanted to hold him – even though he was 3 weeks old, they were not sick of it yet! Everyone wanted to show me what to film… even Dad said “He sleeps like this all the time, come capture it!” Because I had gone off to film someone else somewhere else ?
It is so much fun though. I love watching this family be together and play baseball and be the best big brothers I have ever met. They all are SO gentle with him and love him so much. In fact, the black and white photo of the oldest laying next to his baby brother, adoringly touching him might be my favorite.
I pulled up to their home and one of their 5 boys greeted me in the driveway. He could not wait to tell me about his birthday and how they rented a fancy sports car. He was over the moon.
Nothing matters more to me in these sessions than showing families the memories that they might not see. When you’re raising 5 boys and are in the thick of motherhood, you may not see the beautiful mundane moments radiating in every scene throughout your day. I want to give families that. Nothing is more important to me than the “mundane”. It’s a practice of being truly grateful for what’s right in front of me and not trying to manufacture a preconceived notion of what society tells us is worthy of documentation.
These are the moments that will feel real and bring you back to this moment, when we look at them decades from now. These are the photographs and videos that your children will cling to, feeling the love and safety they felt as a child.
These are the moments I want to capture forever and for everyone.
I would LOVE to capture your family, let’s connect!
The Lush Family | June 2023 | Short Version from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.
