Dublin Photographer Takes Us Behind the Lens

When taking pictures with your kids, expect the unexpected.

“Children are unpredictable and have their own opinions,” said Jeannie Guzis, a Dublin-based family photographer.

She recommended that a parent always be armed with a camera to catch the unpredictable moments in life.

"You, as a parent, are the only one who has that insight into your child,” Guzis said. “And you’re there all the time, so you’re able to catch those wonderful moments.”

She first picked up a camera when her eldest child was born 11 years ago. After two more children and plenty of practice, she opened Jeannie Guzis Photography two years ago.

“I think I do for other people what I want to do for myself. My kids are getting older and I'm acutely aware of how fast they're growing,” she said. “I want to hold on and cling to those cute and innocent moments tightly.”

She takes one client at a time so she can focus her creative energy on that one subject. She covers all aspects of families, from beautiful before-birth photographs of mom to young families together. Guzis' favorite subject is newborns.

“They’re an art form in themselves because their bodies are so different from adult bodies – wrinkly and funny looking – in a cute way,” she said.

Guzis interviews her clients before a shoot to learn who they are and brainstorm the vision for the final product. The shoot is natural and unposed — Guzis rarely uses lights, preferring to play off the natural light in the room.

"I always go in with the idea of being flexible and letting the family make choices and playing. It’s not ‘Oh no, a photographer is coming over,’ it's 'She's coming over to play and then take pictures,' " Guzis said.

After the shoot, she reviews the photos, making necessary adjustments to contrast, brightness and color. If a client wants a special photograph, Guzis will edit it further, including skin smoothing and removing unnecessary objects.

"I guess I consider it a two-way gift. It’s for the mom or dad, so they can remember, and for the kids, so they can remember 'what mom and dad were like and how they loved me.' It’s the underlying philosophy of what I’m doing.”