A MARMALADE LOVE LETTER
Noah’s Story
Eighteen years. One family
What Photography For Life looks like over the course of one young man’s childhood.
“We’ve been working together (with Marmalade) since 2006.”
-Kim S., Naperville, IL
I hope that I can successfully navigate this childhood’s worth of photography with Kim’s words with my own insights. I am honoring these Marmalade Photography Love Letters with the reverence they deserve.
Watching a child grow into an adult and creating memories for a family is not an undertaking many can say they’ve undertaken beyond doing so with their own families.
A tremendous thank you to Kim and to Noah for trusting me time – and time – and time again. It is something I personally hold as an honor and privilege and have never taken my role lightly in your memory making (even if it was “all fun” in the moments!).
Meeting Noah’s Family
“If you want to capture your family in those unposed moments – love Mare’s artistic ability to do that. She becomes a part of your family and can help you tell your family story thru the years.”
-Kim S., Naperville
I met Noah for the first time when he was just three months old. At the time I had no way of knowing that I would watch this cuddly infant grow into walking toddler (literally I was lucky enough to capture his first steps!) to a young man who now towers over his mom.
Watching him grow up and become part of the fabric of his family’s memories has been nothing short of an honor. While most of us would agree that it’s incredible to watch your own children grow up – to be invited in to a family’s life to witness another child’s growth…well it is a privilege not many have and I am forever grateful to Kim for entrusting me with this precious endeavor and for the family’s understanding in how photography helps foster a child’s sense of belonging.
“The photos we’ve taken together (with Marmalade) are my record of his journey – from an infant and getting pictures of his first steps thru high school graduation and all the phases in between. They are not just candids…but artful so they never go out of date.”
– Kim S., Naperville
You never know what images a family will decide upon as their favorites but when a client claims imagery as their favorite you honor the sentiment because ultimately I create images of families FOR families.
“My favorite was when you captured his first steps coming to me; or when he was little standing at the front door w/ Baylee looking outside…”
– Kim S., Naperville
“…as he got older – and one of his senior pics is he and I standing together with him towering over me (vs. earlier pictures he was still shorter than me).”
– Kim S., Naperville
Planning For Our Sessions Together
Kim and I never went into a photography session with a short list of ‘must have’ shots. We always just trusted the process…let the setting and the players (Kim, Noah and their dog) interact with the scene we had chosen for that session and the let the play unfold – often achieving the result of showcasing their relationship and Noah’s increasingly fun personality.
I always felt trusted by Kim and her family to showcase the affection and love so prevalent during each of our meet ups together. I always trusted Noah to show me his best and sometimes silliest self. I don’t think any of us have regrets in this approach.
Witnessing Noah’s development – from toddling Little (I was there to witness some of his first steps!) to a young school aged child was crazy to me at the time. When Kim and her family moved out of state for a few years, I sort of grieved that loss of connection. Over two decades I’ve had to say “see ya later” to many of my dear Marmalade Families who moved away.
But then they moved back to the Chicago area and I had the opportunity to meet with them again in their new home! Not only had Noah had grown into a near school aged kid but I had grown as a photographer.
In retrospect it was an absolutely magical reunion. Kim was glowing, Noah was a smiling almost school aged kid and they had a new dog (Stella – who I admit stole my heart the moment I met her).
“I knew Mare would figure out what worked…we never had much of a plan, but she knew what I wanted to capture and always did!”
– Kim S., Naperville
Working With Personality
I feel that I always worked well with Noah’s fun side. He has consistently always been an extremely creative, fun child – these elements of his personality always reminded me of my oldest: who is also fun, creative and had a tendency to act silly at times during especially when the camera was focused on her – something that I appreciate having captured looking back on photos during her own childhood. So for me? It was natural and enjoyable to see these traits play out in another child – it is easy to love the easy-going fun nature of a child who was being themselves rather than performing.
Looking back I am so glad I adhered to capturing this fun part of Noah’s personality.
After all – soon we become adults and that side of us rarely gets to be showcased. Also children that possess that sense of style and personality are probably relieved to just get to be themselves! I also believe, I speak as a mom myself that remembers all-too-well: we moms tend to not always appreciate the carefree personalities of our young children before they grow ‘out’ of these traits. Capturing the expressions and movement of “busy” or “silly” kids is beautiful…all too fast these carefree souls become adults. And the elements of fun and silly from their childhood selves becomes more memory than everyday reality. I for one miss the fun, busy kid that used to live in my house. I have to imagine many moms feel the same.
Knowing all this I asked Kim if she felt I (as Marmalade) captured the spirit, heart, and soul of Noah throughout the years – she replied:
“Definitely – especially some of his sillier poses or when he wanted to be goofy and you let him be himself.”
-Kim S., Naperville
We had a lot of silly moments together. I am thankful for being able to capture this aspect of a child for their family and I love that Kim was open to my doing so.
I think this is where trust comes into play with a photographer.
In Closing
I hope I have done some justice to our history together.
Thank you to Kim for trusting Marmalade and for putting into words what our times together have meant. I cannot adequately express what your continued trust in me has meant and for allowing me to be fun alongside Noah as this Naperville family photographer.
A huge thank you to Noah for the several life lessons that are not all business-y in nature: of course – for being my first “graduate” – but also: for being an awesome kid that was more than fun to photograph. For being the reminder to me about what matters most in childhood: the freedom to express and be who you are while in a supportive and loving environment. I loved watching you grow and am excited for the young man you are becoming.
And thank you for letting me play with all your dogs! I love them all.
xoxo,
Mare