It was a stormy rainy day in Oak Island, but the rain finally cleared and the evening sky was a perfect backdrop to photograph this striking family. A brother and sister and their families were on the Island vacationing with their Mom.
The two families had three little ones between them. Sweet peach Marie, her adorably silly brother James, and their older cousin Jake. Photographing little ones is hysterically challenging. It is nearly impossible to get them all to smile at the same time and then another would look away or make silly faces, but that’s what makes each one unique and each personality comes through the lens. It is just as fun to watch the adults make wild noises and do funny dances to get the kids to look and smile.
Of course, they weren’t the only ones on the beach. So, they were putting on quite a show for everyone to see. At one point, Jake sighed and said, “this is so embarrassing,” but he continued to smile for the camera.
A few minutes later, when it was Jake’s turn to pose with his Mom, Jenny, suddenly the onlookers seemed to disappear. He stood there looking so grown up and proud to be beside his Momma. And his Mom looked down at him with loving eyes, I’m sure remembering a time when he could fit in her arms.
The bond between this mother and her son was heartwarming. As a mom of two girls, it is a bond that I may never know. But what I do know, as well as every parent, is that our children grow too fast. In the blink of an eye, the years go by all too quickly.
Such a beautiful end to a southern stormy day.
