The B Family | Scarborough Maine Family Photographer

Last week, I had the extreme honor of hosting a class on family photography for the Maine Professional Photographer’s Association. As part of the class, I was asked to bring along a family for the photographers in attendance to practice their newly learned skills. I was so excited when my friend and fellow photographer Siobhan Bogel of The Maine Tinker and her family – her husband Greg, and kiddos Rourke and Onora – agreed to be our models. It’s a strange thing photographing a family in front of and with a handful of other photographers around you. You have to know when to take charge, and when to back off and let them have a turn, and you risk losing the chance to capture amazing moments. Following our time together, I was worried I didn’t get enough good shots for Siobhan and her family, but going through her images, I realized that this session was more like a dream come true. Rather than spending time directing, most of our session was spent PLAYING. There were no real expectations, so Siobhan and Greg were as laid back as two people hanging out with buddies, and Rourke and Onora spent their time giggling, playing, jumping in water (clothes half removed, by the way), and basically being totally and completely unfiltered, and totally and completely themselves. In the end, this non-traditional session ended up creating photos that may be some of my most favorite ever, and during a class that I was teaching, I think I taught myself a thing or two about how I’d like to approach sessions in this even more laid back and relaxed way that I already do. I cannot thank Siobhan, Greg, Rourke, and Onora enough for putting themselves out there, letting themselves be captured by a paparazzi of photographers, and for just relaxing and being themselves so I and the others could capture their beautiful life together. Here are my many many favorites of our gorgeous evening on Pine Point Beach.