There is a group of kids near Stow, MA who have been going to the same day care for all but 3 months of their lives. To say that they are just friends or playmates is quite the understatement.
One of the kids’ mom’s let me (and I say let me because photographing families and parties always feels more like an honor than a job!!) photograph a pool party she was hosting to serve as a sort of graduation party.
I got to the party about 10 minutes early. I parked the car and started getting out my camera bags. Within moments, Jacob, the 5 year old, came running out to see who I was. He did kind of a drive by greeting, yelling “Hi Patrick!!” then went running back in the house. When I got to the back yard, Jacob was running a circuit from the pool to his mom and dad to the window, all the time talking about who was coming and how he couldn’t wait to see them!
When they got there, the giggles and splashing and water skirmishes between ever shifting factions (with frequent cease fires for a hot dog or cake break) didn’t stop for hours!!
Photographing kids and parents just being themselves is so much fun for me. During these parties, most kids ignore me pretty quickly, and that’s when I get the chance to really capture their personality. That’s gold to me, and to their folks!
