An Evening with the Jones Osborne Family, Atlanta Family Documentary Photographer

Family magic tricks, board games, cookies, and play

Image from family documentary session of girl spinning on swing

The first time I met Kathleen was when she was interviewing me for a teaching position at The Kindezi School, a school she co-founded in Atlanta, GA. I got to see her family grow through the years that we worked together and was excited to spend this evening with them. As I was documenting her family, I felt a little like I was looking into the future of what it will be like with two daughters at more independent stages. I got the sense that it's a really special time in the evolution of a family. The kids can play board games, work on art projects, participate in baking, and have conversations with one another without a lot of hassle. It's a time when everyone is getting more sleep and connections between family members move from being primarily related to caregiving into shared bonds for hobbies and co-creations of art and games. While most of the time, I find myself trying to slow down time, I left this evening anticipating the stages to come. There are details in every stage that deserve to be remembered, like a Dragon game on the swing set, freshly learned magic tricks, and baby teeth that are just about to fall out. I felt lucky peeking in on the moments that make this family's story special.

girl twirling in dress in attic
Two girls twirling while mother watches
Two girls play while parents watch
Girl playing with magnets looking at her dad
Image from family documentary session of girl playing in kitchen with her parents
Image from family documentary session of family making cookies
Image from family documentary session of family playing game
Image from family documentary session of girl against the wall
Image from family documentary session of girl's crossed legs
Image from family documentary session of girl and dad painting
Image from family documentary session of girl painting
Image from family documentary session of girl in mother's lap looking up at her
Image from family documentary session of girl looking at father
Image from family documentary session of family on couch
Image from family documentary session of father holding daughter on couch
Image from family documentary session of flowers on dining room table
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Image from family documentary session of girl on swing with hair flying behind her
Image from family documentary session of mother pushing daughter on swing
Image from family documentary session of girl smiling while spinning on swing
Image from family documentary session of girl smiling in backyard
Image from family documentary session of girl looking up while on a swing
Image from family documentary session of girl climbing rope ladder
Image from family documentary session of hand reaching out to help her sister up
Image from family documentary session of dad playing on play structure with daughter
Image from family documentary session of daughter leaning on father on play structure
Image from family documentary session of sisters on play structure
Image from family documentary session of family watching child swing
Image from family documentary session of mother and father watching children play on play structure
Image from family documentary session of mother spinning daughter on swing
Image from family documentary session of father swinging into the branches
Image from family documentary session of daughters swinging together
Image from family documentary session of girl smiling at mother
Image from family documentary session of daughter swinging on mother
Image from family documentary session of mother embracing daughter

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Eli Turns One, Atlanta Family Documentary Photographer

A first birthday party

This one-year old is something else. He's an old soul, one of those babies that can stare right through you with a look that holds secrets from a different world. His parents get it too. I admired the sensitive attention they gave him as they followed his interests and investigations throughout the party, from hand held walks around the house to ceiling fan explorations. There were several opportunities for Eli to explore the celebratory balloons that were new to his environment. I loved how nonchalant Eli was about all the activity. He explored his smash cake fully enough to need a bath, and then explored the water in the bathtub fully enough to get thoroughly clean. At the end of the party, everyone sat in the dining room reliving and laughing about the birth story and discussing all things baby. A first birthday is as much a celebration for the parents making it through that first year of having a baby as it is about the baby turning one. It's a time so full of intense highs and lows; there are sleepless nights and inconsolable cries, but also a first smile, a first tooth, a first everything. Ultimately, the first year marks the indescribable expansion of the heart to fully include another being into an established relationship. This birthday party was perfectly about Eli, evident in all the adoring smiles of those surrounding him who care so much about him.