I conquered one of my biggest dreams last year and I have decided to conquer another one in 2015. I have dreamed of shooting this kind of session forever and have decided to just go for it! So, say hello to Trone Photography Family Lifestyle Sessions! And in celebrating this new venture, I am giving away one to a lucky family! So head on over to my instagram account and enter today!

I photograph so many BIG moments - like a wedding day, an engagement, a new baby, a Senior who is about to go off to college, etc. But I truly feel like life is lived in the in-between. I read an article by a mother who just became an empty nester and it made me think about what I want to remember. She said you think you will remember what their room looked like when they were 8, but you won't. Oh goodness. This made me want to cry my eyes out. I love taking photos of families at the park with beautiful light streaming from behind, making life look beautiful (because it really is *at times*) but I feel like something is missing in me telling the whole story for a family. That is where this kind of session comes in. I want to come to your home, to your farm, to the familiar places your feet hit the ground the most. I want to tell the everyday story of where you are in life in this beautiful yet sometimes brutal season. And I would hope that some of you would understand the importance of doing it once a year. Can you imagine making a coffee table book in 20 years of all the images and how time has changed you and your home? And, yes, it's true you can tell your everyday story through Instagram. But, where are YOU in these photographs? The very essence, the life force behind these moments is missing. You are central to this story you are telling. Allow yourself to be captured so you and your children and their children can look back and remember.

So how is this session different than my normal one hour shoot?

1) It will be over the span of 2-3 hours. I will ask you to fill out an in depth questionnaire so I can better understand what your everyday looks like. Then we will discuss what time of day you want me there - morning, afternoon or early evening. From there we will make a game plan to what activities, places, etc we want to capture in the shoot.

2) This is a lifestyle shoot. It is not for those who want a perfect, everyone looking at the camera photo for a Christmas card. (book my regular one hour session for that!) This photoshoot will reflect something you see in magazines where a story is being told. We will focus on what you or your family does everyday. Yes, there can be outfit changes. But I will strongly suggest that you allow your child to choose what they want to wear. If your 3 year old wears a batman costume everyday, then let him wear it for part of our shoot. Trust me, one day he won't, and you will miss that smelly, way too small suit.

3) We are able to change locations throughout the shoot. If you want to head to your local favorite ice cream shop for part of our shoot, then we can do that too! Or capture your family riding bikes to the park. Wherever! We will have the time and I want to tell your story.

4) These sessions can be for anyone at any place they are in life. You can invite grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc. But please let them know the timing and how long you want them there for the shoot.

5) Prints are of great importance in this session. I am sure most of you have had sessions that included digital images and you have not printed one photograph. Let me do that for you! I will create a custom coffee table book for you to keep for years to come. You will also receive a custom slideshow that you can save to your computer as well as low-res digital images that you can share on social media.

6) Lastly, my desire for this time together is to be very laid back, no pressure, and a very enjoyable time for all of us. Sometimes children (and parents) do better without the pressure. Being in your environment, in normal clothing, just having fun always creates gorgeous, memorable photographs.

The photograph below is one I think about quite often and made me dream about this idea. It was in our old kitchen and I was just sitting up on the counter holding my baby boy (who is now almost in kindergarten *enter crying now*). I thought to go grab my camera and put it on a self timer. It's not a perfect shot but it captured a moment that I can never get back. Honestly, I wish I had more of these images. Just the everyday, in the kitchen photographs with my babies. But now I offer them to you. So go enter that contest and win! And if you don't win, book now. I promise, you will never, ever regret it.

UPDATE:

The contest winner was PHIL SHAY!! Congratulations!

During the month of March & April, the In-Between Sessions will be offered for only $500! (this is a $200 discount!)