For me the studio has always been like a small world of its own. It is the place where I get to freeze moments the way they truly are. Not just on photo paper but inside the memories of the people who sit in front of my camera. This time it was a family. The father sat calmly on the golden chair the mother stood gracefully in her light dress and the two little girls in their lavender fairy dresses filled the scene with warmth and color.
The first thing I thought about was the framing. Behind them was a wall full of paintings. I did not want that wall to just be a background. I wanted it to be part of the story. So I placed the family right in the center where their presence felt connected to the portraits on the wall. It gave the shot both a sense of today and a touch of timelessness.
The father sat firm and calm the mother balanced the frame with her bright outfit but the real magic came from the kids. Their lavender dresses full of folds and texture caught the soft light perfectly. It was as if the whole scene needed their energy to feel alive. One of the girls held a bright red lollipop in her hand. A tiny detail maybe but for me that is what makes a photo real. In another shot she pointed her finger forward almost as if she wanted to pull someone into her little game. Simple unplanned gestures like that are always more powerful than any posed instruction.
Her older sister on the other hand stood with a more serious look. She wanted to appear older more grown up. That contrast between her seriousness and her sister’s playful energy was what gave life to the frame. I always say a photo breathes when people are themselves not when they are just posing.
For the lighting I kept it soft and simple. A mix of window light and studio lamps was enough. It highlighted the dresses softened the shadows and gave the whole picture a natural feel. The result was a set of photos that looked almost like paintings gentle but without being overdone.
This was not just another project for me. Every time I work with families I am reminded why I love this job so much. Because this is my main specialty capturing family moments. Just like my work in rustic and lifestyle shoots these family portraits mean a lot to me. I know these photos will stay with them for years maybe forever and that is a big responsibility I never take lightly.
At the end when I looked at the full series what stood out the most was the honesty of it all. No complicated poses no flashy décor. Just a family some soft light and a feeling that was real. And for me that is all I want to see in my studio.
Photographer: @farideh.shahedi Camera : sony a7R iii lens 28-70 sigma