They piled out of their cars and shuffled into Ames Park — the youngest boy kicking a soccer ball, the older sons’ hands stuffed in their pockets, slightly sheepish grins on everyone’s faces. Showing up somewhere to pose for a camera can bring out the shyness in even the most outgoing kids, especially when they already know the photographers in a completely different capacity. Yes, I may be slightly biased (again) when I say this is a wonderful family, but, hey, how could they not be wonderful? They genuinely seem to like being together, and these are two parents who are committed to being active in their children’s lives. Their daughter was our flower girl when Danny and I got married, and we’ve watched this family grow up for the past ten years. So when I say they’re a wonderful family, believe me. I know. And they warmed up to the cameras quickly, which elevated them even higher in my book!

Glenn and E’lise, thank you for sharing this gorgeous fall afternoon with us, and for letting us take your family portraits that offered a glimpse into who you are, as individuals and as a family. Working with you, as it turned out, was as much fun as hanging out with your family! We hope you’ll have fun reliving the memories. I‘m having fun just looking at this first picture of Glenn and E’lise, because I’m convinced she couldn’t have been any prettier on their wedding day, almost twenty years ago.
The pictures above, I thought, really sum up each individual’s personality. The one below kind up sums up the whole family. It also makes me smile.
These pictures, E’lise told me, were the first family portraits they’ve had taken since the younger two kids were born. Life gets busy and the years zoom by, but I’m so glad we were able to get pictures while the two littler ones are still little — and before the older ones are off on their own.
This group did a wonderful job posing for their portraits, but sometimes families need a little coaxing to relax and just smile naturally. So what’s my favorite way to help them open up? Get them all to turn on one unsuspecting member of the family for a surprise tickle attack. . . .
I am convinced that she is just about the most photogenic child on the planet.
Then again, she does come from a photogenic family.
The boys, and the girls.

What I said earlier about being photogenic? It still applies.E’lise told me she wanted to be sure to get some pictures of her with Glenn, just the two of them. I was happy to comply. Just as I love photographing babies looking adorable and little children having fun, I don’t get tired of photographing couples who so clearly love one another. And I can’t decide which is better: Couples that are newly in love, or couples whose love has had years to bloom fuller and fuller.
E’lise had one more family picture in mind, so we headed up Beach Street . . . and when we drove away, we had this:
I can’t repeat enough times how much fun it is to work with people who like to have fun. So, Glenn, E’lise, and family — let’s do it all over again down the road (haha)!

~ Laura