Conceptual Family Portraits

Okay, so there are like a gazillion photographers out there doing beautiful family portraits. You know the ones, where all the family members are sitting perfectly in a field of purple poppies wearing polite little smiles. I, too, think those can be gorgeous and most definitely have their place. I have done them and I love it, but I got to thinking one day that not every family is “nice and polite”. Do these portraits really show the family dynamic? How can I bring to life the truth and beauty that lies underneath?  How can I display the “rawness” that happens while keeping the family integrity intact and still make it playful and whimsical? I think there was a void that needed to be filled. Families wanted portraits done, but wanted something “a little different”. I came up with the idea of doing conceptual portraits as a way to fill this void. What does your family do? What do you all laugh at? What do you see yourselves doing day after day? Why not throw it some whimsy and photograph that? Below are some examples of families who have entrusted me to this very task. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed doing them 🙂