We photographed the Bell’s family portrait in Gilbert, Arizona at The Groves.  We have known the Bells for many years now and our children have played together each time they are in the same city, which is not very often.  Cliff is a Pilot in the Air-force.  We love the Bells, and the camera also loves the Bells.  That’s a good looking family!  Anyway, here are my favorite images from the Bell’s family portraits.

Emberlyn (the little girl sitting on her father’s lap), is a complete miracle.  She has lived far beyond her life expectancy.  She has a condition called Lissencephaly, which (with my limited understanding of the condition) in essence causes constant seizures and leaves her without control of her own body.  I am inspired by the Bell family.  I think we all look at families with children who suffer from these kinds of conditions and misfortunes and wonder how they cope with it all.  But, they don’t just cope, they generally excel.  The Bells excel… and I am so inspired by it.  I am convinced that Emberlyn and other children like her are here to teach us all. And families like the Bells, who take the challenge in stride, will be blessed for their part in inspiring the people around them.

Yes.  She’s adorable.

And yes, she can also cry.

 I am very pleased with this shot.  The baby was not old enough to sit completely on her own, so the hand that was propping her up had to be removed.  But I love the look on her face and to say nothing of the lighting.

I am very happy with this next shot.  Emberlyn is not always responsive, so catching a smile is a huge deal and I was so happy to grab a few of them.  They only lasted for very brief moments during our shoot, so when I got back to the studio and found a few of them, I was absolutely thrilled.  This is a circumstance, where you don’t dare take a set of photos and then look on the back of the camera to see if you got a good shot or not.  You my miss a smile while you are “chimping” (looking at the back of the camera), and that is unacceptable.  My mantra is this: as long as I am on the job, I am looking for moments and capturing them.  I can look at the photos later in the studio.

I love this shot.  I have a whole series of images with both of the kids fully in the shot, but this one is the best.  The cropped legs make the shot.

This is one of my favorite shots from the day.  I am drawn into that protective embrace.  Jaime has a warm, but strong and protective posture and Emberlyn seems to simply melt into her arms where she must feel the greatest security.  Photographs like these mean a great deal to me, because I feel I have captured something powerful and personal.

Photography by Jared Platt, Platt Photography

Slideshow music by Mindy Gledhill, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music

Family Portrait Location, The Groves, Gilbert Arizona