I’m always asked if I take family portraits. My response is usually hesitant. “Yes and no,” I often reply. I have no problem creating beautiful photos of your family that represent a period in time.  I completely get why family portraits are so important.

The problem is that 99% of people want the equivalent of a Sears portrait. A five minute snapshot that looks as bland and is completely uneventful to make. I have no interest in competing with Sears, and usually turn down portraits in which the family really don’t know what they want or I send them to fellow photographers that kickass at traditional portraits.

That’s not the case with The Opdenburg family. Every year, Shana calls me with an amazing idea for some elaborate Chinese New Year’s card. This year was the year of the Dragon so I suggested we do some kind of Chinese gangster theme, similar in style to one of my favorite bands, Notorious MSG. She obliged and we spent the next month building glass walls to do graffiti against, and hilarious Warriors-inspired outfits for the girls. The final product is an amazing set of family portraits that belong on the mantel right next to the Sears portraits.

Let me make it clear, if you want family portraits that look like the ones below, give me a call or shoot me an e-mail. I’d love to do them.

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