I tell everyone about working with Leigh Ann by first telling them about her intake form. It's an…read moreincredibly detailed form that asks about what you're worried about, what your children's personalities are like, and the question that hit home most for me: what about this point in time do you want to capture? It got me thinking about the special relationship I'm developing with my twins, particularly since this was our first photoshoot just the three of us post-divorce. The fact that Leigh Ann asks such thoughtful questions made me know she gets it. These are more than just family photos. They're telling a story, capturing memories and feelings from this time in our lives.
Not only did Leigh Ann capture that relationship -- in all its silliness, love, and intimacy -- in incredibly breath-taking photos, she made the entire experience so worth all the stress, time, and money. Family photoshoots are stressful and exhausting. As a single mom, I can handle the kids on my own no problem, but photoshoots are a certain type of kryptonite. I think because I actually have to pay attention to myself too and try to look presentable? For some reason I felt really nervous about the photoshoot, like I wouldn't be able to handle it, that the kids wouldn't smile or cooperate, or they'd want me to carry them both while I was lugging bags full of props and outfit changes at the beach.
By the time we met up with Leigh Ann, both kids had fallen asleep in the car and I fretted that we were able to have two of the crankiest toddlers on the windiest day of the year. It was going to be a nightmare. Nope -- Leigh Ann was so great with my kids, she immediately won them over, and won me over because she had a wagon that we could put all our stuff in (and promised the kids they could ride in the wagon on the way back)!
Honestly I was so exhausted by the time we got to the actual photoshoot, I don't remember much of it. It felt like I was on autopilot. But the entire time, I knew I could trust Leigh Ann. I knew she'd capture amazing photos, so I let go of all the pressure and expectations, and just watched her interact with my girls. She knew what to say to get them to smile, to run up to me with glee, and she was SO SO SO patient. She also has an amazing eye and got really creative, beautiful photos of us with the sunset.
I could go on and on, but it all boils down to Leigh Ann being SO amazing. When I got the photos back, I knew I had to buy them all. There was no way to narrow it down to just 30. I'm so glad I got the chance to work with her, and I can't wait to work with her again next year.