MDC Families Blog · Session Story
Piedmont Family Photos at Piedmont Park: The Lin Family
It was the Lins’ first time taking family photos. If you’ve never done one either, you probably know the thoughts that come with it. Will the kids go along with it? Will we look stiff? Will it actually feel like us?
We met at 9am at Piedmont Park in Piedmont, California, one of my favorite East Bay spots for family photos, and the light took care of a lot of that worry for us. That early, the sun comes in low and soft through the trees, and everything glows without anyone squinting.
The Fountain
We started at the fountain, an easy place to settle in. A few structured frames let everyone get used to the camera before I loosened things up.
The Japanese Tea House
Next we walked over to the Japanese tea garden and the little tea house tucked inside it. The wood, the greenery, and the quiet of that corner give the photos a calm, timeless feel you can’t fake with a backdrop.
Light Through the Trees
Some of my favorites from the morning are the quiet ones. Sunlight was filtering through the trees, and I let them settle in close together. No posing, no looking at me. Those are the frames that feel like a memory instead of a photo shoot.
On the Move
Little kids aren’t built to stand still, so I don’t ask them to. We walked the pathway together and let the movement carry the photos: real steps, nobody performing for the camera.
Sisters
The girls got their own moment together on a bench. Big sister, little sister, side by side. These are the photos they’ll look back on someday.
Their First Baby
Before the girls, there was the dog. Mom and Dad had a few frames with their first baby, the furry one, because a family portrait isn’t complete without everyone who made them a family.
Just the Two of Them
We ended with a few photos of Mom and Dad alone. Parents almost never get these, and they’re usually the ones the couple ends up framing.
Family photos don’t need everyone looking at the camera at the same time. They need to feel like your family on a good morning. If you’re looking for a family photographer in Piedmont or anywhere in the East Bay and have been putting off photos, I’d love to hear from you.
