Audrey Woulard...the BLOG

4 year old fun...

Here is a session I had with a little 4 yr old about a week before Thanksgiving... (our November weather was unusually warm...and today..we are making up for it with freezing rain...)

Can you tell we had fun?

Until Next Time..

~A

Family Times...

One of the best things about my job is watching family interactions.  It feels good when a familes let their guard down with me..and just be themselves.  I don't care what is going on at the time...the connection is where it is at. 

A client I was working with this week prompted me to blog about families and connection (..not the client I am about to post..)

The mom of this family called me to book a session.  They live in California..but will be moving to Chicago in a few years...so they really wanted family pictures in Chicago.

One thing I struggle with..is how to get families to connect...to just be free with each other as a family.  Sometimes it works..sometimes it doesn't.  In comes the client I am showcasing today....they taught me a lot (and I am sure she will be shocked to see me write that!)..but what they taught me is that...feeling and connection just can't be directed with families.  We can direct them just so much.. but the feeling...well that is something that we as photographers can't dictate or create. (unless we are magician's!!)

When we began the session...this family just connected in such a way that I just became speechless... (..and those that have met me know THAT isn't easy to do with me...) ..I literally kept saying...

"You all are such a beautiful family!"

(..I am not even sure how many times I said it...but it was more than enough for them to get the point!)

They laughed.  They played.  They hugged.  They simply all forgot I was there.  They allowed me to see how much they loved each other.  They didn't even care how cold it was outside.

Photog's.. have you ever seen a family when you were out that you said to yourself.. "wow I would love to photograph them!"

Well this was that family for me...I sort of felt like the paparazzi...like it wasn't my session...like I was spying....

Gotta love the "I love Daddy tackle hugs.."

..as 2007 comes to a close... my goal is to post at least once until the end of the year!

Until Next Time..

~A

 

"I am woman..."

..that was the phrase I thought of when I met this family. Life has changed for this busy mom of 3 small, close in age children. I know first hand how busy it is to have 3 little ones...but I don't know how it is to do it alone. So that is why I immediately sensed how strong she was the minute she walked through the door.

Her kids were a blast..and her twin girls were a riot! She brought along her nanny...who she describes as "the BEST!" Unfortunately..she is moving back to Thailand..and she will be missed..so I am glad we captured some images with her as well...

Until Next Time..

~A

Since she is wearing a winter hat...

This 2 yo is just chillin'....

Until Next Time..

~A

Going back a month... October 2008..

I wanted to blog about this session...but October was pretty busy, so this was one session that fell through the cracks...as did others that I will be doing a "2007 session rewind" soon.

These are very dear clients of mine. Last year...we booked the session around the same time for a Fall look. Well it was COLD..wet..and windy that day. We were smack in the middle of Downtown Chicago doing the session. It had to be around 30-40 degrees.

(for those that came to workshops late in 2007... she was the cute little girl in the pink hat with the ball whose pictures I used during post processing demonstrations..)

Anywho...

Fast forward to 2007. The Dad calls to book their annual photo session. As most of my return clients do...they booked it fairly far in advance to make sure they had the time they wanted. Well it was close to 90 degrees. The poor family had long sleeves on...basically fall clothes. We took a few pictures.. but they started to sweat buckets. (..as did I..)..but I kept them moving so they wouldn't just bake in the same spot.

For the Chicago people that visit..we were shooting at Millienium Park...

Well poor "S"...she was so hot..and the plan was for them to go play in the water after the session. Well.. I thought it would be cute to just have a totally different session than last year. So I rolled up my Joe's Jeans...and got right in the water with "S" and all the hundreds of kids. We were having so much fun that I told her Mom and Dad to come and join us.

These were there...as well as my favorites. Love this family...the mom is a doll..and the Dad entire personality just melts when he is with his wife and daughter.

Until Next Time..

~A

Now..hanging out with the girls...

Two more super cute siblings...this time girls...during one of our crazy warm November days! (..which are sadly gone now...)

Until Next Time..

~A

Hanging out with the boys...

These two were a handful...but I wouldn't have it any other way. We went out, played, and had fun...and we found some time to get some pictures taken too! haha! I think we were having too much fun because kids that were outside decided to try and join in on the fun!

Their Dad plays for the Chicago Blackhawks...so we decided to have them put on their jersey's for some fun...

Until Next Time,

~A

Beautiful Newborn..

Clouds, high winds, piggy back rides, 40 degrees and...

complete artistic freedom equals a GREAT session!

Im sure most will recognize these kiddos. I mentioned before that this time of the year is when I see a LOT of my previous clients..so it is always a treat.

These three..and I can say that I feel as close to them as I do to my own kids. Its always a treat to see this family. Regardless of the conditions...we always go outside and have fun....taking pictures is always secondary...which for me.. is just perfect.

Since I started photographing these 3...one of the girls is now modeling..so I have a few more to show of her. I will have to do an outtake thread of just her. I always show these serious pictures of her..but she is one complete goofball...all of them are always joking around. To their mom who I know will be reading.. I promise not to post any pictures of eyelid flipping on the blog. (..although I have a few to show you!)haha!

There are seriously so many pictures that I love of this bunch..but I just picked a few since this is a sneak peek for mom.

How else could I end this post? With this...

Until Next Time,

~A

Thank you..thank you!!!!

Thank you ALL for the kind words and encouragement!!!!! Thanks SO much! I really, really, really appreciate it!

--one clarification that I forgot to mention... for those that read the article...yes.. 35 sessions a week was HUGE typo! It should have been an average of 35 a month! If I did 35 a week, I would need to be drinking some sort of new and improved Red Bull! haha!

~A