Getting to Know the Martinova Family ~ Wheatland Family Photographer

Sometimes I get to do photo shoots that involve especially poignant circumstances. My recent family photo shoot for the Martinovas was one of those.

Without giving away too much of their story, I'll tell you that this sweet couple came to the U.S. after fleeing war in their home country. They came here legally, and all that, but in quite a rush. They didn't even have the opportunity to have wedding pictures done before they left, and shortly after that they learned they were expecting their first child. To say it was a stressful whirlwind would probably be an understatement.

So for the past few years these two have been adjusting to our culture in the U.S., working hard, and enjoying life out here in Wyoming. At some point in the past year, someone from our church contacted me to set up a family photo shoot for the Martinovas- to capture their family as it is now, but also to help make up for the lack of wedding photos from when they got married. Of course, I loved this idea, so we set about making a plan. It took us a long time to coordinate (my fault), but it actually worked out well, because by then they'd had their second baby! So now they had two adorable boys to join in their scenic country photo shoot. :)

Observant viewers might find our location familiar... it's the Slater Schoolhouse and swingset! I do love that spot. :)

Thankfully, the Martinovas liked it, too. We had a few hiccups getting the boys to cooperate, which is pretty typical, but some distraction, some bribery, and some good old-fashioned begging did the job pretty well.

I know I've said this before, but my favorite thing to capture in family sessions is the genuine love and fondness between each member of the family. I do posed photos, of course, but what I really love are the spontaneous interactions that aren't planned. I'm happy to report that we had plenty of those.

I hope these photos are a blessing to the Martinova family for years to come, and I am honored to have been able to capture them!