Family Portrait Session | San Carlos, California
Before I tell you about this fab family that I had the pleasure of photographing, let me share a little about the how (and why) of Barbara Bell Photography.
My career started as a first grade teacher because I was passionate about teaching children to read. I felt that if I could help someone learn to read, I was giving them tools to have some independence at a young age and tools ultimately to learn to be successful. I loved what I did, but after teaching internationally for a year and in inner city schools for a few years after that, I can look back now and see that I was heading for burnout. [I am the gal who loves to give it my all.]
When my husband’s company transferred him from Savannah, Georgia to the San Francisco Bay Area, I thought it was the perfect time to take a break from teaching, try something different, and recharge to work with children and families again in the future.
What I found in trying something different was that I REALLY missed working with children and their families. At the same time, Dan and I were a newly married couple, and he had questions about the boxes of film (back in the day!) that I brought to the union, not to mention the cameras, the negatives, and the contact sheets.
One evening, as we were preparing dinner, he asked, “So…what are you going to do with all this photo equipment and stuff?” I looked at him. He looked at me. And I responded, “I am going to start a business photographing families and their events. I miss working with children, and photography is this thing I have always done. It’s like breathing for me.”
“Okay” was his response. We plated our dinner and went to the table to eat. The thing is, I had never considered opening a business as a photographer, but when he asked that question in that moment, I knew that is exactly what I was going to do. My answer surprised me, but when I said it out loud, I knew this was going to happen. Fast forward more than thirteen years later, and here I am feeling great joy with every family portrait session that I get to capture, especially this one.
S. is 9 1/2 years old, and wise beyond his years.
Family portrait sessions are a chance to capture you and your passions | Barbara Bell Photography
He had great ideas for our family portrait session together and was thoughtful about how to show him, Mom, and Dad altogether. I loved the energy of this family – it involved animated conversation and great laughter! {My favorites!!}
When a family comes together, there is great joy...even in the quiet moments | Barbara Bell Photography
To work with children like S. remind me that there is great joy in the family celebrations we get to participate in – whether birthday parties and anniversary parties – or something as simple as spending a Sunday together. Just my kind of day!
Thank you to all three of you for a lovely day and for being able to capture a wonderful family with this portrait session!
Barbara
PS – More of your photographs can be viewed here.
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LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!
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