The Martin Family // Dillon Nature Center Family Session

February 28, 2018  •  Leave a Comment

This is an extra special post to me for two reasons. First: the people. These are my cousins Matthew and Christy and their children and I love them all dearly. Without going into a novel's worth of detail, Matthew is my second cousin, but growing up he was the older brother that I never had. When he started dating Christy, I immediately loved her too!

I remember talking to Christy about our mutual love of photography when I visited them in Atlanta in 2001, and not too long after that I watched from afar as she worked tirelessly to learn and grow a photography business. Up until that point, the only successful photographers I knew were older men, and I was completely in awe as I watched Christy succeed at turning our mutual hobby into a business. She wasn't good - she was great! I was blown away by her talent and she was a real-life hero to me. I would have given anything to possess an ounce of her talent! 

Fast forward a few years, and I was a new mom with an entry level DSLR. I very quickly realized that a fancy camera wasn't going to make me a great photographer (or even a half-decent one), and I wanted nothing more than to take better photos of my own daughter. I knew that the journey wouldn't be easy, but I also knew that it was possible because I watched Christy do it. She put in the time and work and she succeeded, and I wanted to do it the same. 

Now that we have established that Christy has been my greatest inspiration as a photographer (go see her work here - you won't be sorry!), you may understand how I felt when I received a message from her asking if I would be interested in trading family photo sessions when we were together at our family reunion. I was a mess of excitement, humility, and a little bit of terror, haha. This brings me to the second reason that this session was so special to me: it isn't every day that you get to photograph your photography idol! 

I will be honest and say that I was nervous going in to this session - Christy had a specific vision in mind, and I didn't want to be the one to mess that up! Thankfully (for me) Matthew, Christy, and their kids are absolutely GORGEOUS and we were blessed with a picture-perfect location and golden hour light. Our family reunion was in Hutchinson, Kansas, so neither Christy or I was familiar with any good session locations. Luckily, we hit the jackpot when we happened upon the Dillon Nature Center because it was perfect! 

Christy: Thank you for being you, and for being such an incredible role model in photography and in life. I am forever thankful for you, Matthew, and your entire family!

Dillon Nature Center Family Photography SessionThe Martin family photography session at the Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Kansas Dillon Nature Center Family Photography SessionThe Martin family photography session at the Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Kansas Dillon Nature Center Family Photography SessionThe Martin family photography session at the Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Kansas Dillon Nature Center Family Photography SessionThe Martin family photography session at the Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Kansas Dillon Nature Center Family Photography SessionThe Martin family photography session at the Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Kansas Dillon Nature Center Family Photography SessionThe Martin family photography session at the Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Kansas


Comments

No comments posted.
Loading...

Archive
January February March April May June July August September October (1) November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June (1) July August (1) September (1) October (2) November (1) December
January February March (1) April May (1) June July August September (1) October (2) November December
January February (1) March April May June July August September (1) October (3) November (5) December (4)
January (1) February (1) March (2) April (2) May June (1) July (1) August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December