Fall Family Shot with Rienna Fulmer’s Family in Lancaster, Pa
I had the great privilege of working with Kelly and her family. She lives on a farm out past Gettysburg. It’s nestled neatly on the side of a large hill, and features a pond with a family of Canadian geese that nest there every year. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place that’s been in her family for nearly 50 years. No doubt it’s the perfect place to ride out a pandemic in quiet safety.
They are my first real clients, and I hope they didn’t spoil me too badly 🙂
We never stop growing up. Matt is my best friend. We were thick as thieves in college. Going from one silly adventure to the next. If you get us going we can’t help but tell stories of the most ridiculous nature. The dumb stuff we did as “kids”. He is the number one reason I am in Lancaster county and have (hopefully) a job I love. I have had the great privilege to grow alongside Matt and watch him go from a self-described bachelor hermit to a loving husband, father, and family man. His daughter makes the same semi quizzical face that he makes. The one that both mocks and embraces you. I love this family so much.
This is a “we are just learning to walk, uncle Keith” family.
There are faces you see often or every day that you recognize but never know. It’s comforting to see familiar faces. Gretchen’s face was familiar to me, logged in the memory banks as joyful and always laughing. In this time of social distancing, quarantine, and isolation, it’s hard to come across those familiar faces that subtly bring comfort to your days. Reminders that you are surrounded by a community. It was nice to finally put a name to the face and meet her family. They are a footwear optional family due to childhoods spent on sandy beaches. They pose effortlessly and stare me down with their piercing eyes. It’s hard to see in the photo, but everyone has striking light-colored eyes. The family has a calm feeling to them and you’re left with a sense that they are very close-knit. Maybe it was just for the camera, but I was left wondering if the bothers and sisters fight with each other?
This is a barefoot and crocks kind of family loving each other in little skirmishes. The world is in chaos. A global pandemic rages across the globe. Kelly Beears is worried about one thing; her oldest daughter. We talked about a great many things but all the conversations lead back to her daughter. Not her, not her business, not real-estate or the economy. Kelly comes off as tough, but she can’t hide how caring she is and how much she loves her kids. Even if she thinks they are strange
This is a footwear-free family growing one heck of a garden and enjoying this moment of pause that allows them to enjoy each other. Jamie, who is as warm-hearted as the golden sun we were taking in, tells me the garden is Jay's new project since he is out of work and needs something to do. Jay is one of the hardest working people I know. He typically has hustles on hustles. On top of his day job he does leatherwork and sewing and right before this outbreak he had approached me to take some photos for his band, Morning Drive. So, it was nice to see him somewhat relaxed. He was still the ever-vigilant super dad and in moments, would move with speed and grace to protect his kids from themselves. Everyone was in good spirits and hopeful that this would be over soon, but not too soon. I told them I was hoping for a small window to travel in, and we talked about how cheap it would be to go to Hawaii or Iceland right now. We also speculated about how commercial travel may never be the same. But, I tell almost everyone this: the best part of this project is getting to interact with people, even if it’s from 6 feet away
Is that salt and pepper shag the return of the most glorious mullet known to man? Probably not, but we can dream. Do we all wish these were our parents when the pictures of Seth and Fiona as kids in their Halloween costumes come out every year? Sign me up. Do Tricia and Alan still love each other after 31 years of marriage? Most definitely.
The Facklers are exemplary people, who have dedicated their lives to the arts and entertainment industry. It’s going to be a minute before our world gets back to work and that’s fine by them for now. They are really enjoying this moment of pause to spend quality time with each other without work looming on their minds.
This is a barefoot and day drinking kind of family.
There are some truly wonderful and caring people in the world; Lauren is one of them. She was a total stranger when I met her for the shoot. She was cracking jokes from the get-go. I thought I was the one trying to put people at ease. We talked a bunch about work, and it turned out we had some mutual acquaintances. Before our chat was over I could tell she was an “always helpful” kind of person. There’s only one flaw to always being helpful people; they seldom take time to help themselves. Ask me how I know. So do me a favour if you know Lauren, support her to make sure she is dreaming big enough. Remind her she is capable and valuable.
Her daughter plans to be president one day. I don’t doubt it. I met three young women with that aspiration last month. How cool is that?
This a duo. Duos are a special kind of family, one dear to my heart. If you have never been part of a duo it’s difficult to understand the deep level of friendship and the “us against the world” bond that forms. Every tough time strengthens the resolve and every good time amplifies because of the intimate knowledge of how hard it was to get there.
So pleased to have had the opportunity to capture this beautiful family for Mother’s Day.