Some sessions stay with you long after you’ve delivered the photos. This was one of them. On a September morning I met Maru, Fran and their baby daughter Clarita in Westerpark for a one-hour family photoshoot in Amsterdam. And there was someone very special with us: Kelly, Clarita’s godmother, who gave the session to the family as a gift.
A little piece of Argentina in the middle of Amsterdam
Maru and Fran came prepared to bring their roots into the photos. They packed their mate set, so we included something every Argentinian family knows well: sharing a mate together, slowly, without rushing.
They also wore their Argentina football shirts, and Clarita wore a tiny vest with the Argentinian flag, hand-knitted by her grandmother. Her abuela couldn’t be there in person, but in a way she was part of the session too. Those are the details I love most: small objects that carry a whole family story.
Why Westerpark?
Westerpark is one of my favourite places in Amsterdam for family photos. It mixes nature with city character: reeds and ponds, little bridges, open lawns and the old brick buildings of the Westergasfabriek. In one short walk you get very different backgrounds, which is ideal for a relaxed one-hour session with a baby.
More than a photoshoot: building a home far from home
While Clarita explored with her eyes and we took photos, we talked a lot. Like Maru and Fran, I also moved from Argentina to the Netherlands, so we shared our experiences of emigrating, of being parents with family far away, and of how important it is to build your own support network here.
That is exactly what I saw in this session: Kelly, a godmother who is family by choice, celebrating this new little life with a gift that will last forever. Photos like these are not only for today. They are for Clarita to see one day, and for her grandparents to feel a little closer across the ocean.
What Kelly said
“Excellent!! Pau put us all at ease from the first moment. Very relaxed and intimate family photo session in the parks of Amsterdam. The post production was quick, organized and thoughtful. Gracias Pau!”
Planning a family photoshoot in Amsterdam or Haarlem?
I’m based in Haarlem and I photograph families in Haarlem and Amsterdam, in parks, on the beach or at home. Sessions can be in English or Spanish, so if you’re also building your life here far from home, you’ll feel right at home with me.
And if you’re looking for a meaningful gift for new parents, a family photoshoot is one they’ll treasure for years.
