When I travel for a shoot,  I always enjoy the challenge of newness.  The campus of Texas Tech University was the obvious choice for this sweet family as both mom and dad are professors there.  Since it's my alma mater, I am always happy to tromp around finding ways to see things in a new light.

Their story was delightful.  Dad is from Ireland and after I got over my initial gushing about this (who doesn't LOVE an Irish accent?), we talked Dublin and U2 (he attended their first ever concert!!) and leprechauns.  We walked around, I tried to understand what it is they do (I am obviously not as smart as I don't think I ever understood).  He is a geneticist and a Dean in the School of Medicine and she is a professor within the surgery department of the medical school.(Is that right K and S?)  So you see?

It is all in the genes….(and here is where I publicly out myself on dorkiness)….

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See?  Jeans?  Get it?  

Ummmmmm….

Anyway.

This family was so full of life.  I brought some trucks and toys for the kids to play with – it was serendipity that the truck perfectly matched his shirt!

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And this one?  Augh…so handsome and fun.  He was charming and polite and such a delight….I loved watching their different relationships with their parents.  

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Then when I got mom and dad alone (something I always, always do)…..these shots came out. Some of my faves…

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Mom and I communicated through email several times during the process of setting up her appointment….where we wanted to shoot…what time etc.  I was so thrilled when they showed up with a blue balloon – a take home from a just-attended birthday party.  Balloons always = happy pictures!

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And with a different lens and black and white…

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We had to use the beautiful Administration building as a backdrop!

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And….what better building for this family?

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But really, this is the picture that steals my heart….that makes me smile.  That epitomizes what I love about photographing families.  Fun stolen moments. Unaware and uninhibited.  Just happy and in love with life and each other.

Shot by Russell while I had a different angle:

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Maybe I'll start bringing him along on every shoot!