Fall Family Photo Shoot

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you thanks to San Francisco Bay Area Family Photographer, Sarah Sloboda. All opinions are my own. 

Can you believe that we've never had family photos taken before? Crazy, right? We have plenty of terrible family vacation snaps taken at touristy spots by passing strangers (who never seem to be able to hold the camera still or compose the photo nicely!) but when it comes to professional photos the only ones we've ever had taken were newborn photos of Ava when she was two weeks old! Oh, and our wedding photos! Considering that we're now a family of five (and have been for two and a half years), I don't think either of those really count as family photos.

So this year I decided we needed to do something about our lack of family photos. I'm excited to say that we'll be working with San Francisco Bay Area Family Photographer Sarah Sloboda on a family photo shoot in November. I can't wait to share our photos with you, but in the meantime I want to share some of Sarah's work with you.

When I was a kid, family photo shoots meant dressing in semi formal outfits and standing awkwardly with your family in front of a pretend background in a studio. They also involved lots of forced smiles that looked more like grimaces! I can assure that I grimace every time I see the family photos at my parents' house. Sorry Mum! But, I can also assure you there will be none of this for our family photos. 

What I love about Sarah's family photography is that the personality of each person shines through. Her casual style results in photos that feel natural rather than forced. The little quirks are what make the photo in my opinion. That cute toddler poking her tongue out below? Totally the highlight for me! Knowing Mathilde, we'll definitely end up with more than one tongue poking out shot! And knowing Lola, there may just be duck face too. 

The other thing that I love about Sarah's family photography is her choice of locations. Local Bay Area landmarks like the Bay Bridge, 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, Treasure Island, and even the Golden Gate Bridge appear in Sarah's family photography, yet they don't steal the scene. The family are still the focal point of each shot.

Sarah has a background in film, and her personal study of architecture and design influence her work for stylish parents. Prior to living in the Bay Area she lived in New York for over nine years before travelling for two and a half years and living in many different cities. She still travels extensively for her photography work. As someone bitten by the travel bug myself, that vagabond lifestyle and sense of adventure really appeal to me. I truly believe that travel helps open one's eyes to the wonders of the every day around them, and I feel like this shines through in Sarah's photography.

Sarah's work has been published in lots of publications; most recently in Dutch kids magazine SamSam. She has also been featured on Red Tricycle and 510 Families. You can see more of Sarah's work on her webpage here and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/sarahsloboda/

Looking for a photographer for your Fall family photos? Sarah has mini sessions coming up over the next few months in the Bay Area in locations including the 16th Ave Tiled Steps, Crissy Field, and Lawrence Hall of Science here in Berkeley. You can find all of the information including pricing at http://sarahsloboda.com/overview/. Plus you can book online which makes organizing the photo shoot super easy!

As I mentioned earlier, I am so excited about our upcoming photo shoot and can't wait to share the photos with you. Now I just need to work out what we should all wear! You know there's a good chance it will involve stripes! I'm so predictable. Lucky for me Sarah has a handy "What to Wear" guide available on her webpage. Just enter your email address and it will be sent straight to your inbox!

Do you have family photos taken regularly? Do you have a favorite location for your photos? I'd love to hear!