Technically yes, I photographed this whole family... but as you'll see, the kids completely stole the show. The bright eyes! The charisma! The promise of delicious fruit snacks! They were a photographer's dream, right down to helping me with the countdown "3-2-1... cheese!"

Through a cosmic, small-world connection, I connected with Brittany and her husband Randy to photograph Brittany's family as they gathered to celebrate baby Emery's first birthday. She is such a beautiful child. We're talking baby food label beautiful. Just sing the La-la-la-la Elmo Song and she's a giggle machine.

Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston was perfectly pleasant and glowy on this Friday afternoon. Brittany and her family were wonderfully helpful and willing and graceful and patient. I hope to see them again very soon. Happy birthday, Emery!

If you needed to borrow a 1 lb geode, a floral scarf from 1959, thirty-six playfully mismatched plates, or an impressive collection of glitter, who would you turn to?

I turn to my friend Marsha. She has so much more style than I will ever possess, and possesses the most kind and generous spirit of anyone I know. She was also able to throw together the most amazing boho-backyard tableau imaginable for her daughter’s backyard session.

In moments, we erected a teepee wrapped in found fabric scraps and dreamcatchers, and laid out faux fur rugs and overstuffed pillows. The eye-popping color contrasted the cloudy twilight in a way that I could never have planned. Confession: I just tend not to have ideas like, “Wait… do we need some purple face paint?”

Thank goodness for Marsha.

For her part, Olive was a terrific model and a very patient soul. It also helped that she is a talented, beautiful, and stylish little girl in her own right. She loved being able to play with toys, write in her journal, jump on the trampoline, and sing and play the ukulele while I snapped away. Even the dogs seemed to know that something exciting was happening in the backyard, and they joined in for some of the fun.

If you’re interested in a backyard session, or a family documentary photo session, email me at noah@noahdaltonphotographs.com.

Instagram:

Albright Family Shoot

Backyard Session with Olive