This may be something that will only resonate with my fellow photographers but here it is:

This family. I do some of my very best work when I'm with them and it's not because they are super adorable (which they are, obviously!), or because I just get lucky with them during our sessions (which, honestly may be part of it)...but I really think, at the core of my relationship with the Tew family is trust and THAT'S the magic-maker. That's the key. They tell me that they trust me, I believe them, they let me do whatever I want, we hug at the end of the session, and that's it. I don't ever have to feel anxious or like I have to try and be a photographer that I'm just not when I'm shooting them. They love me for me and, because of that, I feel SO free and calm and happy during our sessions.

In the end, it's not even about the resulting images that I love most. It's the experience of getting to be just 100% Sam Kelly the photographer and nothing more- even if it's just for that one hour or so during my time with the Tew family. And that's truly enough for me.

I guess what I'm trying to say is if you're a photographer, trust YOURSELF and if you're hiring a photographer, trust THEM. Good things happen.

(Mamiya 645 ProTL, Canon eos3, Fuji 400h)