A Family Session in the Golden, Bay Area Hills

Ah 2022, I’ve been waiting for you. New beginnings are everything. I know it’s just a day … a date on the calendar … a page turned … but still. There is something about January that makes you feel like the re-set button has been pressed. And gosh, I needed that re-set. I am ready. Rolling into the New Year with such excitement for some fun, new Family & Brand projects that will be launching very soon!

I have always sat and really given each New Year some thought ~ some goals that I hope to achieve, some habits that I hope to leave in the past, and some habits that I hope to be strong enough to pickup and adhere to. The goal however remains, to always try to keep things simple, to try my very best to slow down and be intentional with everything that I do, to honor and treasure my personal relationships, and to be open to new experiences and to new ideas.

One of things that I am tremendously grateful for is my “job” ~ if you call it that. This past holiday, I was sitting around the dinner table with my own family and the question arose “What would be your dream job?“. There were about 12 of us. We each sat thinking about how to answer this ~ one by one. I have many loves (so many loves, really). I could see myself working in many design professions … in many countries. But I found, I could honestly say with complete ease … “My dream job would be what I am doing right now.”

It’s something I prayed for, for a very long time. I am able to speak with families all over the country and learn about where they have been and where they hope to go. I hear about where the past year has taken them, what their frustrations are and what they are grateful for. It is really pretty incredible really, to have the honor of being let into a family’s hopes and dreams … to hear about where they feel they have failed and how they are bouncing back … to hear about major milestones and how they have chosen to truly honor and celebrate those accomplishments … to be able to document a family’s story and to help create heirlooms that will hopefully live in their families for generations. It is honestly THE BEST.

The Fanoe family is one of those families. I have had the pleasure of working with them for several years now and their dynamic blows me away every single year. And this year, in the golden Bay Area hills, wasnt any different! The way both Mom and Dad are so in sync and work so effortlessly together. The way the little boys are so polite … and kind … and love on their new little sister with such incredible gusto. I am in awe. They all look out for one another … they make sure everyone is there … and everyone feels included. If one brother is missing, they glance around, find him and quickly pull him in. When I would glance down at my camera while photographing them, I could hear their little side conversations and pep talks amongst one another ~ it was the sweetest. I am convinced they will all have each other backs forever. 

These are the moments that shine bright. I don’t want these “small” moments (while really, not so small at all) to be forgotten. These “blips” are actually major. These little exchanges say so very much. They are part of your story. And I am so eager to tell it all. Every last love-filled, rollercoaster-of-a-ride bit. Family is truly everything. ~ Kent Avenue Photography

Mother’s dress is part of Kent Avenue’s Client Wardrobe and is available to all of our Fine Art clients.

See more of this session featured here on The Kindred Path.