You may not know this about me, but in addition to being a photographer I am also a teacher. I feel so lucky to be at a school where the staff is supportive, close, and just plain fun. Last year was my first year at Cave Spring High School and I spent hours upon hours proctoring a study hall with Kim. We amused ourselves with tales of student ridiculousness and she taught me so much along the way about everything from teacher work schedules to student relationships and more. Over time, we had a nice little rapport going and, like everything else in life, it got suddenly cut off when schools closed due to the pandemic. So, I was so excited when Kim reached out to me about family portraits. I would finally get to meet her husband and those zany kids she was always telling me about!
We decided to meet at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke where we could get both natural and more urban settings for photos. As soon as they arrived, the kids immediately introduced themselves. Luke, going into sixth grade, was more laid back while Ben immediately hopped in front of me saying “I’m Ben and I’m going into third grade!” Nearly at the same time, Ally jumped onto a nearby rock and declared “I climbed the mountain hooray!” I hadn’t even been able to say hello to Kim and Russell yet, but I could tell it was going to be a fun, action-packed session.
It was so special to spend time with a family that I’d heard so much about for months. Ally was the most excited for her individual shots, and as soon as we started to work one-on-one I could see why: she had a killer pose ready to go. She placed her hands daintily under her chin as she stood in front of some lovely blooming flowers. She was all in, at all times and I loved it.
Luke, in full preteen form, was less fond of the group shots but had some pretty crafty poses of his own to show off. He struck a slick kneeling position and then had the “thinking hand” ready as he leaned against a tree. Apparently he is considering dyeing his hair another color, and I think he would totally rock it.
Ben was a total sweetheart and loved to be in photos with his siblings and parents. Whatever we were doing, he wanted to get it right and I totally appreciated that. He was also so open about himself, telling me about his hair gel he had to wear for the photoshoot and about what he liked to do for fun.
Walking around the park, Kim and I were able to catch up about our summers and speculate about the upcoming school year. I also got to know Russell who, as a native Roanoker, was able to tell me many of the ways that downtown Roanoke has changed. This city has evolved in so many ways that I never even knew about.
As a whole family, this group had no qualms about taking risks and being silly. They were up for all of my suggestions and even threw in some of their own, which helped their personalities show even more. With all of their energy, I was impressed by how well the kiddos got along - especially considering how much time I’m sure they’ve had to spend together due to the pandemic. It was clear to me, though, that the Emorys are such a close-knit, fun-centered family that they know how to weather life’s storms - whatever they may be - together.