When a family you have grown to really love reaches out to you about doing family photos again after a 9-year hiatus, if you’re me, you get super excited! And then, you get a little nervous…..mostly because you want to make sure you do a really good job for them…or at least as good of a job as you did the last time you saw everyone. (Click HERE for a look at our last session with this sweet bunch).

There’s a lot involved in making sure you get great photos that is unfortunately outside of your control as a photographer….like the weather!! So, you can imagine how disappointed I was when the day of our session had finally arrived with Susan, John and their beautiful brood….and the sky was GRAY!! Overcast isn’t usually a bad thing. In fact, in can be a good thing, but this was dark grey…like super stormy. And the wind was whipping through at 15-19 mph…though it seemed like a lot more at the beach itself…where the wind was coming off the ocean. So….fun, casual photos of everyone playing by the water’s edge felt out of reach.

Andy & I drove down to Harwich for the session, where everyone was staying. Andy kindly joined me for this one because there were 19 in the group….FIVE more littles since the last time we saw everyone…and having a second set of hands (and cameras) can help capture more of the candid moments that inevitably happen with a group this large. While one of us was photographing a micro family, the other was documenting the rest of the group hanging out/playing/being together in joyful….albeit windy…fun!

When we first arrived at Earle Street Beach, I was feeling pretty deflated. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot and saw how windy it was, it was clear that it wasn’t a classic Cape Cod beach portraits kind of day. I reached out to the family to see if they would be able to maybe reschedule for the following day or later in the week. But, the forecast wasn’t looking any better in the days ahead and everyone was ready to go and willing to brave the pre-hurricane-like weather….love these lovely troopers for being down for anything….so we went for it. And, boy am I glad we did!!!

Expectations that anyone would have perfectly coiffed hair were quickly carried away like the wind itself and instead, we just had fun!! We found a slightly (and I mean very slightly) protected area where small dunes and a beachside home shielded us from the worst of the wind. The backdrop wasn’t the ocean, but it still provided that beachy vibe folks are looking for when they want to do family photos on Cape Cod. Everyone looked fabulous…as you can see for yourself, and what this family has in spades that no hurricane force winds could change is LOVE!! And love, more than anything else, is the secret ingredient that makes for fabulous photos. When I can feel that love, when it’s palpable and obvious, as it most definitely is with this family, I get super charged. It both relaxes me and makes me come alive. And it is there where magic lives…where love and inspiration collide. So….even though it was crazy windy and hair may not look as perfect as we might like, what I think comes through loud and clear in these images is how much love this family has for one another, how much fun they have when they are all together and how there really isn’t anything better or more important than that. And if you’re lucky enough to have this in your life…you are rich beyond measure and beautiful photos, well, they just happen!

In fact, this turned out to be one of my favorite sessions of the season….with the candid, in-between moments being among my favorites…just a beautiful family, having a super fun evening of windy togetherness. So…without further ado…I give you a windy August evening with Susan & John and their beautiful family….starting with the patriarch of the family, John just chillaxing on a bench waiting for the rest of his brood to arrive. And on the right, Dan (who’s wedding, to his lovely wife Michelle, we photographed nearly 20 years ago) and his two beautiful and now very grown daughters, Cameron and Mackenzie.

The OG family ~  Michelle, John, Johnny, Susan and Holly. These five people are so full of love and have invited more of the same into their lives, with their spouses and adorable children, in a way that is enviable to outside observers. John and Susan, I’m not sure what your secret is…but y’all done real good!!!

Johnny brushing the hair of his youngest son, Wrye, before a group photo of his entire beautiful family (from left to right) – Johnny, Johnny, Kinsley, Jolaine and the twins, Wrye and Delia, who are as cute as they come.

Johnny and his boys and big sis, Kinsley, with her little sis, Delia. I didn’t have to ask anyone to hold onto anyone else…it’s just how they roll! The love runs real deep and makes me smile big!! I mean….how sweet are these people?!!

Michelle and Dan are how we met this extended family. They had first reached out to us about 20 years ago to document their fabulous Boston wedding. We started with an engagement session the year before and then over the years did family sessions for them on their own and with each of their extended families. And, I’m really not sure I’ve ever met a sweeter family (on both sides!!!). (From left to right) Cameron, Gavin, Michelle, Dan, Mackenzie (who I photographed a few weeks ago for her high school senior portraits…click HERE for a peek) and lovely Will.

Cheeky Gavin and his lovely sisters Cam & Mackie. I mean….talk about hitting the gene pool lottery!! Beauties…all of them!

A casual moment during a big group shot….I think Gavin was up to something…not sure what, but I approve of whatever it was, because it led to this precious, joyful moment!

Beautiful Will, with the sweet and soulful eyes….Melts this photographer’s empath heart!

John & Susan with all of their grandbabies….sweet, silly, wind-blown perfection. How lucky are they?!!! Well, lucky for sure, but I also think that in life, you get out what you put in and these two clearly put their whole, big, beautiful hearts all the way in!!!

Cutie petutie sisters, Anna and Leigh. Just loved meeting these two boos, who were new to Andy and me.

And finally Holly & Paul and their lovely girls. The last time we saw Holly & Paul was at their wedding. Click HERE for a look. So, getting to meet their three beauties ~ Leah, Ella and Anna was such a treat! (on the Right) A close up of lovely Ella Bella.

As Beyonce says…..All the pretty ladies….All the pretty ladies.

I’m not sure what they were clapping for….but I just love all of the smiling happy faces. Just so much love!!

Cousins pig pile on the beach….summer perfection.

Johnny & Jolaine have always impressed me with the way they love each other and this photo on the left just summarizes who I think they are. . .chill, happy, loving people who are making their way through life TOGETHER. Just beautiful! And on the right…the rat pack…I can’t with the cuteness overload in this next one as these Cape Cod sweatshirt wearing little rock stars were posing for Andy on the boardwalk. I don’t know if he asked them to do this or they were just having fun with him…but I fully approve and absolutely LOOOVE it, with each of their personalities fully and perfectly on display!

While on the bench across the beach, near the parking lot, the fellas take a little break.

Delia is delightful and for me anyway… these photos summarize her precious personality perfectly.

Michelle and Dan…still as cute as ever. I was having engagement session flashbacks with this photo on the left, while on the right, Cam and her baby cousin, Leah, enjoy some windy snuggles.

Cousins Kinsley & Anna enjoying a quiet moment, just staring out at the waves…arms around one another and hearts full. To quote another classic song by the Cranberries, “These are the days you’ll remember.”

Lovely Mackie watching her cousins climbing the lifeguard chair…what trip to the beach with kiddos is complete without that?

Family….beautiful and true. Sisters (blood & chosen) – Michelle, Holly & Jolaine.

Helloooo little lifeguard wanna bees….buzzing atop the windy beach below. And, more fun with another happy couple….Holly & Paul. Paul’s smiling so big his eyes are closed…that’s how you know he’s really enjoying himself! Love it!!!

Hooting and hollering from the peanut gallery….

Winning and twinning with Delia & Wrye. Just love this sequence. So much joyful love!!!

And what better way to end our time together than where it all began…with these two beautiful humans….Susan and John!!!!

Susan and John, Thank you both SOOOO much for reaching out to do this session!! It makes both Andy and I so very happy to know that our photos leave enough of an impact to have you reach out again and again!! It was so soooo wonderful seeing you ALL again and it somehow felt like no time had passed at all…except the kiddos were all so big and there were new ones for us to photograph and love on! You really have done an amazing job with your family. You all are truly just the warmest, nicest, kindest, most loving people and it comes through in the way you all are…just generally in the world, but also with one another. And getting to be around all of that love and goodness….well, it is pretty special and we appreciate it and all of you so very much! With that said, we hope these photos serve as happy reminders of your windy adventure here on Cape Cod!!

With love, big hugs and deepest gratitude, Christine (& Andy) xoxoxo