We recently scheduled a photo session with Daphne’s Photography LLC. Less than a year ago I saw this picture on Facebook 
and fell in love with it. I knew there was an artist’s eye behind the camera that snapped this. I also knew I wanted my grandchildren’s images to be captured by that artist. My family and friends know that my own sweet husband, Mike, has a passion for photography and I love and appreciate his talent. My desire to enlist Daphne’s services in no way diminishes my respect for his expertise.
We have the added benefit of Daphne also being family. She is actually Mike’s “first cousin once removed”. Isn’t google wonderful? I never really understood second, third and once removed cousin terms but the magic of google explains it quite clearly. Daphne’s grandparents allow her the use of their 160 acre farm as her backdrop. Her grandparents are special people and have enjoyed nine decades of life, 70 of those years married to one another, that might be more amazing than google. Thank you J.R. and Freda.
When we arrived at what has been fondly named “the farm” I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit I was a little concerned. I hadn’t been there since Daphne’s grandparent’s health had prevented them from maintaining the incredible amount of upkeep required for a farm of this size. The grass was mowed but the close trimming and the shrub and tree pruning was somewhat lacking. I know the children and grandchildren are doing everything they can (Daphne included) but they all have their own jobs and homes and a place this size can be more work than 20 people could sustain. Daphne quickly calmed my uncertainty, she was professional and completely at ease with her job and the surroundings. She arrived with the appropriate “props” and even “rewards” for cooperating children. She is a mom also and understands the importance of candy.
The primary reason for this photo shoot was our grandchildren. Our youngest, Gabriel, is only 4, Grace is 5 (almost 6), Kinsey is 8 and Colton, the oldest, is 12. Mike and I are lucky enough to have all four live near us, 2 or 3 miles is very close when you live in the country. Daphne was quick to understand the “cousins” bond our four share and made swift work of snapping great pictures. 
For the next photo Daphne asked the cousins to make any silly face they wanted. 
This was the resulting shot. You can see Colton has that “really, seriously, silly?” look. He is, after all, 12 years old and almost a teenager, the look on his face speaks volumes. Still a cute picture.
The next shots were of the pairs of siblings. Colton and Kinsey 
and Grace and Gabriel 
.
Charity and her husband, Mike, had come with the hope of a family shot. Daphne chose this setting 
and had asked the kids to take their socks and shoes off. I love this “barefoot” pose, it seems so personal and very natural. Daphne’s next idea was this pose 
, I love the old milk can that is so casually leaning on the tree in the background. Great picture of a sweet couple.
Courtney’s husband, Roy, wasn’t able to be with us. We were also missing our son, Jake, and our adult bonus grandson, Tyler. Since this was really a grand kids session I hadn’t arranged for our “busy-hard-to-get” ones to be on location, that will be our next session. Daphne took this photo of Courtney and the two who belong to her, Colton and Kinsey
. I love black and white photos and am pleased that Daphne’s editing eye chose this.
We always love to be in photos with our grands and hope someday they will look back and say “I love the picture of Nana and Grandad with me”. This first shot Daphne posed us and then asked Mike to kiss me and told the kids to respond naturally
then the “Ewwwwws and yucky’s” began. The laughter in this next pic was genuine 
.
Gabriel and Grandad are special buddies. Mike is a wonderful grandfather to all of them but Gabriel has always been Mike’s boy. The other three are a little bit of Nana’s kids. These next two pictures are our youngest/oldest family members
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The boards with peeling white paint make a great backdrop for these next photos
Kinsey and big brother, Colton
. I was so glad Daphne helped Colton find his real smile.
These next two pictures were taken on a weathered and moss covered bench, Gracie was certain she saw a bug and had a little trouble getting comfortable 
but bugs don’t bother Gabe 
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I hope I have not made this photo session seem systematical and structured. It was not! These four were running in different directions, exploring and searching for the next climbing toy, and often squealing with delight. They love to be outside and a farm this size offered much to investigate. Daphne seemed to know when to let them run and how to make them calm when she was ready.
One of the “props” available for this group shot was a hand crafted train engine
. If you are four or almost a teenager you still like train engines. Kinsey and I agreed this was our favorite group photo
. I was amazed that a rusty old blue school bus could made such great pictures 
. If you change that blue bus to black and white this is the result 
. Gabriel and Colton are eight years apart in age but have a great bond. Gabriel totally looks up to Colton and Colton is a caring, loving “big” cousin to Gabe.
A mother/daughter picture is always special, so glad Daphne captured this
followed by mother/son 
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Kinsey and Grace had stepped up on this old tram, the bus is in the background. Blue paint must have been on special when these two received their last coating.
. Colton found the end seat of the same blue tram, guess they ran out of blue paint 
. I am not poking fun at the unique items on the farm, I am actually grateful for each one and love the charm they gave to all of our photos.
We had found this cute blue hat when searching for the girl’s dresses. There was only one so they took turns wearing it for pics. Kinsey seemed to have a natural talent for posing, she has told me more than once that Daphne told her she night need to take her along for photo sessions. 
, 
. As we were walking around Gracie held my hand and shared with me “Nana, I love our new photographer”, a direct quote. You can tell, not her first rodeo. She has been on this side of a camera lens many times. I agreed with Gracie, Daphne was doing a great job, love this one 
.
Gabriel is very photogenic 
, maybe he was saying, “Nana, I love you this much”. After seeing this photo I asked Grace what instructions was she offering Gabriel 
. She told me she was telling him not to run away and stay right beside her. She mothers him and he is lucky to have her for his big sister 
.
The last shots were more mother/son and mother/daughter ones, this time with Charity.
Thank you Daphne, for making it a fun afternoon and a great memory.
Family 