this momma just happens to be patti schmidt, photographer from new jersey. and these four (well three minus husband) boys just happen to be the most adorable and sweet things for their ages that i have ever ever met. they had none of the typical “airs” that teenage boys normally have. they were completely happy to play and love their family for the afternoon.
and i was completely happy to watch them do it.
we had a ton of fun walking around san clemente. total stomping ground for me, fun to take them there. they are a bigtime surf/skate family so i thought the vibe in this chiller beach town would fit them well. and i loved their casual clothes, totally them, not trying too hard. love love love that.
these next two are so classic. after i shot them on the lifeguard tower, i had them get down and i climbed up. i asked them to lie down in the sand. i asked mom and dad to smoocheroo, and look at little man-and look where he ended up after the first kiss!
he’s all, um excuse me-i want to get in on that action!
so fun. i left feeling so good about having boys of my own.
I just love when your sessions are so awesome they make my eyes tear up. Love these!
It’s so inspiring (as a photographer & as a person) to see such happy people who enjoy life and themselves; but most importantly, who aren’t afraid to love each other with full hearts.
Ahhh, family!
Family = Home
Great pictures! Man, that’s an entire family full of good hair!
These are incredible! Love the last one …
I swear every time I see your photos I just want to jump in them and live these lives for a moment.
So cool and real.
sara
http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com
i’ve been reading your blog for a while now and absolutely LOVE your photos!! your blog = high energy & love. just love it! :)
you rock.
: )
WOW! These are really great pictures. I love that they are so natural. Just being themselves.
tara,
i adore these! what a fun family. :)
wow! These made me smile.
Beautiful family.
I love those shots, they turned out great!!
I LOVE that last one so much. It is just amazingly perfect and warms my heart!
What lovely family images! Patti is one of my favorite photographers! So glad I was able to catch a glimpse of her and her family! beautiful, tara!
You are so good at finding awesome locations (or making any location awesome). The laundromat is genius, I never would have thought of that (more like, “Hey look! A tree – go sit down!) I showed my husband your site, and I think he has a crush on you now. Seriously, we love your pictures.
I have a little question for you … I am thinking of renting an L lens (24-70mm) just for fun, and because I know that little photo fairies pop out of the shutter and sprinkle each shot with magic dust … right? Am I going to cry when I have to return it (because it makes each shot that much better)? (Or maybe I will just cry because I realize I suck a taking pictures, no magical lens will ever help me, haha!) :)
these are gREAT!
and they look like such the typical California
image that society thinks all of Cali looks like!
so very cooL! hip and COOL!
tara
All of your shoots have such a great feel to them. Really inspiring work!
wow! these are amazing tara! this is exactly what i would want of my family. you capture such great emotion in these shots. i know i say this all the time….but well done! great job! excellent!
That last shot is one of my favorites that you’ve ever taken. Seriously. So perfect with their son’s little face peeking out between them kissing. Love it.
I read always, I comment little. However….I love that photo at that laundromat. That’s the cleanest dang laundromat I’ve ever seen. Cali has nice ones…in Florida they are two inches away from a garbage dump nasty.
That last shot is so good I want it in my house!!!!!
Great session! they are all adorable and you captured them beautifully!
You’re just ridiculous! That’s all I can say, you friggin get me everytime and leave me speechless and in awe. There is no one better than you and my dream is for you to take my family (of 3 young boys as well!) pictures (in NJ!). Damn!
these boys are beautiful…greatness!! you rock! and as always inspire me!! I will someday have to bring my crew to you…and if you ever come to Dallas I will be here waiting to do some family pics for you…dallas texas style! :)
adorable family + adorable pictures!!! grreat job! hugz!
I don’t think it can get any better than this. Beautiful photography. Beautiful people. The happiness of Patti and her family shows so clearly in every image….and their love for one another is so obvious.
your photos are a breathe of fresh air…
I love this shoot. So much fun, and casual.
Oh how funny is this… I love the last one… this funny face..great pictures
greatings Stephanie
oh my…. i LOVE those ones in the laundromat!!!! this whole session just SCREAMS fun, fun, fun, and more fun. what a stinking adorable family.
Love the collage… so cool to see so many different images scrunched together. Chick magnet. HA!
Sweet happiness Tara.. Great job!! Love the last one!!
i know i’ve said this before but i love the way you capture families being families. this shoot is awesome. the kissy one are so fun.
smiles
ria
these images are incredible…and looks like soo much fun. Patti – you family is beautiful and you all seem to be so into each other…that’s awesome!
Girl, I just missed you again! That Rip Curl store is one street over from my house! My kids walk to school on that overhead walkway! The boys were skating (and you were laying) in the alley my kids cut through every day! Man oh man – I will run into you one day!
Megan from sc, ca
how in the world do you get them to smile so naturally! i try to take photos of the Teenage Neice
and she smiles that campy fake smile…i so want to get the real her.
Oh this is just magical. Those whole series. There is something that you have, something that makes your work SO inspirational. I know you have the technical skills and talent. But you also have some kind of magic. Really, REALLY wonderful work. That last photo just delights me! THis is what keeps me coming back for more and more and more!
I love the way you posted lots of pics using blocks…I get to see more tara whitney goodness that way :). Awesome job!
I love your creativity – the laundry mat shots are hilarious! I also LOVE San Clemente! That was the first town I was introduced to when visiting California. What a friendly, lazy little beach town! I’m from the midwest and did not know what to expect upon arriving. We stayed at some Mom and Pop motel on the oceanside overlooking a pier. It was pure bliss! Have a beautiful day :-)
these are fantastic! love em!!
A favorite. You captured them in a beautiful, natural way. And I love the smiles on those boys. Awesome!
t
wow…poster family for California families….adore all of them, but the last shot…priceless. Well done!
….but they are from Jersey…they scream California!!
I love these! The colours the energy everything!
Tara! The composition on all of these is spot on! You just keep on getting better and better. But how is that possible?!?! You totally rocked before!
These are amazing! What gorgeous subjects you had!
Oh, what a stunning set of images. Love seeing my friend Patti up there!! :)
Love these so much, Patti – you look gorgeous!
Great work T.
these photos are oh-so-lovely…what a family…so beautiful, so real…you captured it so well…
what a fun – and gorgeous – family session!