The Laury Family | 2022 Day in the Life | Documentary Family Photographer

May 24, 2022 The Laury Family | 2022 Day in the Life | Documentary Family Photographer

Of all of the things I photograph, Day in the Life family sessions are what make my heart the most happy. I love weddings, and I love all of the elements that make them special: bringing everyone in your life together for a big celebration, the love at the center of it, the ritual, the immense power of the commitment being made… all of it. And I love the way I get to photograph them – authentic and focused on the little moments that make each couple, family, friendship unique. At the core, however, weddings aren’t ordinary. What makes them special is how extraordinary they are. So it’s not difficult to find great moments. They are around every corner.

Documentary family photography fulfills a part of my soul in a way that nothing else does. It’s so intimate and beautiful, watching a family live their ordinary lives – and finding, capturing, and showing them the beauty and the love in the ordinary. Juliana and Colin are highly aware of the beauty of the love in their lives, and the honor of being able to do this for them every year is not lost on me. This was my fourth time photographing their family. The first time, Juliana was pregnant with Benny. The second time, she was pregnant with Charlie. Last year, their family complete, we got to capture life with all three of their boys. This year, they’d moved into their forever home, and I loved getting to see the world they’ve built for the boys to grow up in.

When I arrived this year…

I was greeted by Juliana in the driveway – and she told me that she and Colin were inside and saw Johnny wandering around outside through the window… He was trying to problem solve. And then he found a bungee cord, and used it to connect the Jeep car and the Batmobile – so all three brothers could ride around together. I think this specific moment speaks volumes about how they are raising their kids. They are thoughtful, creative, brilliant children, who deeply love each other and their family. The boys are not just brothers, but best friends. And rather than arguing over who got a turn, Johnny used his creativity to find a way for them to all be included.

Of all of our years together, this was my favorite. And I can’t wait to see what next year brings. Juliana and Colin, I love you both, and I love the world you’ve created. Thank you, always, for letting me in.

A Day in the Life with the Laury Family