Gina started getting excited about a family photo session for her sweet family after she saw several of her friends C A P T U R E D blogs on Facebook. Erik clearly loves Gina and his family, but he did not share her enthusiasm for a family portrait session. He had visions of cramming his family into a crowded department store waiting room and being told to ‘say cheese’ while wearing ugly matching outfits.
I assured Gina—all Erik’s reservations about traditional family portraiture were completely justified and why I never took my own family to that kind of setting for photos. I knew nothing good could come from something like that for my family. That pressure cooker setting with young children is a perfect cocktail for disaster. Who wants that recorded forever in print!?
Gina shared C A P T U R E D photos with Erik and he began to warm to the idea. Space to roam and run around with his family like he would on a normal day (while someone just happened to take photos)—that idea he liked.
Photos should create a beautiful record of who we are and what we love most in this life. These are the kind of moments families will treasure for a lifetime.
If every little girl was loved by her daddy like this—-wouldn’t the world be a much better place!?
Sophia spends her days singing, dancing, dressing up and pretending she’ll be Taylor Swift some day. I made her promise me that when she came to view her photos she’d sing me her favorite Taylor Swift song. Something tells me she’s already got them all memorized! As you can see, she’s already nailed the look of a country music star—-I’ve got dibs on shooting her first album cover!
Alex joined us with his dad a little later for the session than the rest of the family. They were coming in from a football game. He and his dad share this passion and it’s making for many great memories between them. When he’s not playing football, you can usually find him playing the drums or devouring a book!
Jake with those gorgeous blue eyes was like just about every toddler I’ve photographed—brimming with curiosity, full of life and unable to stay in one spot for more than 5 seconds even if all the candy in the world depended on it!
I was so impressed by Sophia and Alex’s patience with their little brother. Often it’s easy for big brothers and sisters to grow impatient with their little brothers who just keep doing a 180 from what everyone else is doing. But they never did. Instead they chased after Jake, marched with him, carried him and cheered him on through the whole session. He’s one lucky little guy to be loved with such devotion!
What cracked me up the most was hearing everyone in the family all the sudden break out in the “ABC” song or “Ride a Little Horsie” song to try and bring Jake back to the group. It worked like a charm (for a few seconds anyway!).
May your family continue to cheer each other on and the walls of your home echo with hearty laughter and music!
Here’s how I’d paint you….
Barnes Family…these are amazing!!! What a beautiful famly 🙂 LOVE THEM ALL !!! Jen..you are so talented at what you do!
Wow! absolutely amazing photography and story lines. The most beautiful family photos I have ever seen. My niece Gina Barnes's little family is so beautiful and you certainly captured the essence of the whole clan in your film and clever captions. These photos brought tears to my eyes, but then it has been more than a year since I have seen them all.
Thank you Gina for sharing these with me and from your iphone at that, they are "Spectacular"!!
Ann DeBaufre
(I moved this response to your blog Gina…your aunt put it after Tattoo by mistake…it was so sweet, i wanted to make sure you'd have the record of it here!) jennifer 😉
I am a huge fan of Jennifer DiDio's work! And this session proves why!! What a wonderful way to capture the real Barnes family!! You all are beautiful and Jennifer did such a great job showing it! Thank you for sharing!
Very beautiful…the photos touched my heart.
Beautiful 🙂 Not sure my husband and family would be so willing!
All of the pictures are amazing!! Jennifer you did a great job with taking the pictures. GIna your family is so beautiful, and thank you for sharing the pictures with me. I wish the Barnes family many many years of happiness and success and Jennifer keep doing what you love most !! Now I would like an album too !!! haha
very nice…awesome family…..don't know if I can get the covey boys to do that lol
pictures are great
Gina,
You have a beautiful family! Love the pictures! Looks like you all had fun!
Love you guys!
What a beautiful family you have. The pictures are PRICELESS. It captures moments of your family that are precious. Location and photography is fabulous. What a wonderful memory to share each time you look at these photos! What a blessing.
Gina, these are beautifiul and truly capture the love and playfulness of the family. These pictures brought tears to my eyes – thank you so much for sharing I LOVE THEM!!!
Very nicely done Jennifer! You certainly CAPTURED some special moments of my sister and her family. One question……..did you CAPTURE a moment of just Erik and Cooper?? If so, you need to post it. Ha ha.
Jennifer — Thank you for showing the world what I already knew…that my brother and his family are special people. They are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Your pictures were spectacular!
Best Pictures I've seen of a very special family, Mom & I are more than pleased with the pictures and all of you. Great job Jennifer.
The pictures you had taken of the family are beautiful!!! Those will forever be in your treasures I am sure. Just wanted to let you know I checked them out. Little man is getting so big!!! Wasn't he just born?!!
Wow that was nice to look at! For change it was people (family) I knew, and not priceless pic. of animals or just scenery.. Gina and Eric I have always told you that you have the perfect family!! keep up the great work, and keep the piture albums up dated.. Shelley
Thank you to Jen for capturing the essence of a loving family with her photos. She definitely has "the eye". It also doesn't hurt that my brother Erik,Gina and the kids are good looking subjects. Don't get a swelled head Erik. Love you all.
Troy
Gina,
Your family pictures are amazing. Jennifer did a wonderful job with the photography of your beautiful family.
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful family!!
Wonderful pictures, very proud of all my cousins…. big and small! Erik & Gina, you should be very proud of your beautiful family!
Third try, let's hope it posts. Jennifer, you have done it again. C A P T U R E D the Barnes family is true life moments. These shots are all fantastic. Erik and Gina, you should be very proud of your beautiful family.
Incredible photos!!!! You will cherish them forever!!!!
These photos are unbelievable! Gorgeous family and every photo is amazing! Thanks for sharing. Every one of them are a blow up!!! Beautiful!
beautiful pics of a beautiful family!!! I'd love to know where they were taken (and of course I wanna know more about the dog too 😀 )
Enjoyed the family photo's. Great choice of background and scenery. Naural shots of Gina and her family.
I really did enjoy seeing the pictures of Gina, Erik and the children. They are so special. Wonderful job on the photography.
Great pictures Barnes family!! And another great blog Jennifer. You really are an artist…with an assist to the subjects of course.
These pics are fabulous. They bring tears to my eyes seeing just how happy the Barnes family really is!!!!!
wow – those pictures are amazing. Of course, how could they not be with a gorgeous family like yours.
Gorgeous photos and a beautiful family! Thank you for sharing.
Wow, these are amazing. Gina, congrats on such a wonderful family!
Gina, the pictures are perfect! Gorgeous family, beautiful day and a great location! I have no idea how you will choose which ones to print and display in your home ; ) Jennifer does such a great job capturing the "moment"!
WOW……the pictures are the best I have seen. I love all the candid shots and the location!! You will treasure these memories forever! And of course when you have a Beautiful Family it certainly helps to have the pictures turn out so Fantastic!! Love Them!!
I so enjoyed looking at these pictures you captured the love in this family just perfect. They are very special to me and my family I have the privilege of watching Jake 2 days a week and having breakfast with Alex and Sophie. The pictures are wonderful and something to treasure for a lifetime!! Great Job