It should come as a surprise to precisely no one who has followed my work for the past few years that I have more than a little photographer’s crush on the Coughlins. Whether you know because I told you (I very likely did) or you can see it in the work I make for them, this family have been a source of inspiration for several years. It’s always exciting to have Brockville family photos with them marked on my calendar because Travis and Katherine have welcomed me in honestly, earnestly and with so much humour ever since they began growing their gang.
This session was planned to capture an average weekday afternoon with two little ones. Playtime in the yard and playtime in the house. That’s it, that’s all – or so it said in messages. The reality is never what it says in messages, though, and it was with a great deal of laughter that I set about photographing everything I found interesting about this crew.
Like a chicken.
(Yes, a chicken.)
And a very human-like dog.
And two very expressive littles.
And parents who get down in the dirt (or the freshly mown grass or the sand or the tomatoes) to be with their kids.
The reality of this session was that I was gifted the freedom to shoot whatever felt interesting – and I find LOTS of things interesting about the Coughlins.
I hope that Sophie and Isla will one day realise what a gift they’ve been given in the form of two parents who are so passionate about making the most – and best – of everything; who are so willing to be playful and goofy alongside them; who encourage exploration and growth and failure as well as celebrating successes. I sometimes wonder what their memories of days like these will be when they’re much older and what the girls’ smiles will look like while speaking about them.
Right now, they’re endlessly caught up in fake moustaches, what’s growing in the garden, and how many different ways they can find to get themselves off the ground in ways that could result in potential injury. As you can imagine, it’s my version of photographic heaven.
Over a number of years, I’ve quietly realised that the people I find it most rewarding to work with aren’t the ones who “just need a few photos.” Anyone with a camera can do that for you, and many can even do it well (and I happily encourage you to go talk to them). The people I find it most rewarding to work with are folks like Travis and Katherine, who welcome me into their space because they want to see how I see their family and they gift me the creative freedom to show them that. Travis and Katherine bring out the very best in my work because they’re honest with me and, in return, I get to photograph honestly and without excuses.
All of this means that I get to make photos that, even a year later, still make my heart sing and become benchmarks in my practice. Imagine gifting me that freedom and then, in return, receiving photos that your own photographer considers her standard when trying to outdo herself. Allowing someone to put themselves at the top of their game without making demands? That’s the kind of people the Coughlins are and it’s exactly why my entire being smiles when I think of them.
So here we are: a blog post filled with photos I adore all about a family I adore spending a very average afternoon together doing average things. With a chicken.
Here’s a look at a complete documentary mini session with the Coughlins:
I’m Ang – a Cornwall-based photographer who also offers Brockville family photos that highlight my passion for capturing light and photographing natural moments in life as they happen. My goal is to capture memories that you will cherish once your children are too grown up to curl into your lap for cuddles and the house seems oddly quiet at night. I love meeting new families in their natural environment and getting in amongst the bedlam so that I can document the perfectly imperfect realities of daily life. Want to see another example of what an Ontario documentary family session can look like? Start here!
