Chuck Espinoza Photography

Typically when I edit a wedding or family portrait session only the best images make the cut. My clients and I want to see smiling, happy faces. No one wants to see an awkward expression or a photo that would have been perfect if Dad hadn’t blinked.
The past six weeks have been full of family and children’s portrait sessions. The images that stand out aren’t the group shots that go on the wall, it’s the little found moments that show me, and my client, that what we were doing was fun.

I have never liked to have my photo taken and I take that feeling and try to make it enjoyable (or painless) for everyone involved. For the dad who hates to have his picture taken I move quickly. For the teenager who is too cool to be there, I show him that I can make him look good. For the mom who’s worried that her three year old won’t smile and look at the camera I show her that great photos can be had when they aren’t smiling or even looking at the camera.

The following two photos are of Mosantu and her mom Kate. Let’s just say that I was of no interest to Mosantu. She wanted to play in the ocean, not pose for pictures. She would get up and run for the water. By the time we were done, she was soaked and had a blast.

Tutu pulls a runner

Tutu and Kate

Shooting at a location having not scouted it first can make for a “challenging” photo shoot. In the case of the Armstrong’s, their backyard provided ample opportunities to get some unique shots.

Hayden, Parker and Carson

Getting a fun and endearing shot of a brother and sister can be tough depending on their relationship. Grace and Jackson made it easy. My mom would have killed for a shot of me and my sister like theirs.

Jackson and Grace

You can barely make out Jason and his grandma in this shot, yet it tells a story from that day.

Jason and his gradnma