It has been a year since I saw Hank for a portrait session, and when his mommy helped him out of the car, I hardly recognized him! Now two years old, he has changed from Baby to Kid! He was absolutely adorable for our session! He flashed an instant and precious smile every time I pointed my camera at him. Usually a two year old session involves me chasing a toddler all over a park, and getting lots of shots of the back of his head. But Hank was having a ball having his portrait made, and his parents and I couldn’t help but laugh at how much he enjoyed his modeling job.
Even at the end of our session, when we all thought he was “done” as we say, and as we were heading back toward our cars, Hank started saying, “More cheese!” (Now, please let me clarify that I do not encourage my subjects to “Say Cheese!” … so don’t even get that thought in your head!) It turns out “More Cheese” was Hank’s code for wanting more pictures. So he chose his own little spot to sit, and once again, flashed that picture perfect smile! I clicked away, and he even said, “One more time!” and smiled again!! I’m smiling as I type this, just remembering his cute little face. What an awesome subject he was!
As much as I enjoyed those joyful smiles, as I edited the session, I found that I loved many of his non-smiling portraits just as much. There is just something so captivating and heart-stirring about the innocence at age two, the curiosity, the depth of their souls in their eyes. Images like those truly move me as an artist.
Kevin, Heather, and Hank … it was wonderful to see you again. And Hank … keep smiling, handsome!
