An Evening with the Hurley Family

As most of my friends and family know, I have always had a love for photography—specifically documentary work.  It wasn’t until about a year-and-a-half ago that I was introduced to the concept of family documentary photography and instantly fell in love.  So over the past year, I have been taking in every bit of information related to this particular genre, practicing my heart out, and talking to (and learning from) some amazingly talented photographers.

A few weeks ago, I put out a model call for Family Storytelling Sessions to start building my portfolio outside of my own children and close friends. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to document the Hurley Family’s evening routine. Mary’s dog, Olivia, and my dog, Andrea, went to puppy obedience class together way back in the day (they are both 11 now!). So I was excited when she answered my model call and we were able to catch up and chat about her three adorable children: Tate, Knox, and Phoebe.

Tate is sensitive, sweet, and thoughtful (he made a beaded heart for mom and drew a picture for his baby sister during craft time), Knox is very independent and a bit of a daredevil (I caught him climbing their built-in bookcases at one point!), and Phoebe is a smiley, happy baby (and a total daddy’s girl).

With three children five and under things can get a little crazy and the Hurley family was no exception. Between keeping the kids entertained, preparing dinner, bathtime, and eventually bedtime, there was never a dull moment. Throughout the evening I was able to witness Mary and Dan embrace parenthood beautifully—they were so involved with their children and approached every moment with unyielding patience and a great deal of love.

Thank you, Mary and Dan, for allowing me into your home. I had an amazing time documenting your beautiful (and sometimes crazy!) everyday life and hope we can get together again someday.

Be sure to check out the slideshow below to see some of the highlights from our evening together. For optimal quality, be sure to view in at least 720p HD.