Family Portrait, more than just a photo

Growing up, my family never managed to take a "proper" family portrait. There was always someone missing, and that someone was almost always my dad. He was working - probably on his second shift. During the teenage years, life got busy with after school activities and (probably) more expensive for my parents. They were raising teenagers! Then, there was college and starting my first job, both in different states. I moved around quite a bit and was always on the move (still am). 

Taking professional family portraits was never something my family seriously discussed. I remember an instance when my mom, my brother, and I were at JCPenney and walked by its studio, decorated with photos of babies or families with small children. I suggested the idea of taking a family portrait or at least finding out the cost. I don’t remember my mom’s exact response, but the idea was dismissed as being too expensive. I never thought about it again. I was 11 or 12 then. 

Fast forward several years to 2019, my family still had (very) few photos of all of us together. Seeing family portraits of friends with their families (they have young children) made me wonder - is this something that families with grown kids do? I literally Googled “family portraits with grown kids.” The result? Yes, they do, of course! 

I scheduled a photo session with Photographer Ana Isabel, a fellow Peruvian, in a park that is special to our family. We grew up going to this park. It’s where we learned to ride bikes, where dad took us rowing, where we walk our dog, and where we hold many family barbecues. My family was a bit uncomfortable before the session, but Ana spent some time building rapport with them first, which helped them feel more comfortable. I am grateful to Ana for capturing some beautiful moments of laughter and helping me see my family in a new light.   

To me, the photoshoot meant more than nice pictures. It was a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate how far we have come together, and as individuals. I think as immigrants, sometimes our relentless drive to reach our next goal prevents us from slowing down and taking the time to relish in the accomplishment of big or small milestones in our journey. This photoshoot was also a reminder to NOT fall back into a scarcity mindset. Starting over in a new country is tough. Money was tight, and as a kid, I quickly learned what we could or couldn’t afford. If not mindful, it’s easy to become overly practical or a skinflint. Yet, there are sentimental items and experiences worth spending on - like family photoshoots.