The Hale family·2025
The Hale family portrait session
Three generations, one hour, and a two year old who had opinions. Shot in the studio and then out on the sidewalk when she decided she was done sitting.
The Hales called in October because their grandmother had just turned ninety and nobody had a decent picture of everyone together. Eleven people, one Saturday morning, and a hard stop at eleven because of a soccer game.
We started in the studio with the formal groups while everyone still looked pressed. Big group first, then generations, then pairs. That order matters. Get the picture nobody wants to reshoot out of the way while the kids are still cooperating.
The last twenty minutes we walked out to Main Street and let them be a family instead of a portrait. Those are the frames that ended up framed. The grandmother picked one of her great grandson pulling her sleeve.
Delivered thirty eight files nine days later. They ordered a sixteen by twenty and eleven eight by tens, which is exactly what happens when eleven people like the same picture.
- Hattie Caraway by Harris & Ewing, 1914. Harris & Ewing, 1914, Library of Congress.
Hazel MacKaye and her dog. Harris & Ewing, 1915, Library of Congress.
Vannevar Bush in the studio. Harris & Ewing, 1938, Library of Congress.
Ella A. Boole, seated portrait. Bain News Service, 1925, Library of Congress.
Jeannette Rankin, facing front. Bain News Service, 1917, Library of Congress.
Studio portrait, Aime DuPont Studio. Bain News Service, 1900, Library of Congress.
Available light studio portrait. Bain News Service, Library of Congress.
