It all began with me capturing pictures of my own son. My close friends Mehmet and Hande had a son around the same time as well. I often started taking photos of my boy and sharing them on social media. In fact, I even had some of my photographer friends from Germany, Russia, and Spain visit us and take our family’s documentary photos at different times. You can read more about “Family Photoshoot in Istanbul” that accompanies the photos.
Since Hande saw how many pictures I had of Can, there was added pressure on Mehmet to take more photos of Poyraz. During one of our phone conversations, Mehmet mentioned, “Hande gets upset with me because I don’t take enough pictures of Poyraz. When you come next time, please take our family photos.” This was a great opportunity for me to spend time with them and also expand my portfolio of family photos.
Ozgurluk Park
One day, I traveled to Istanbul to meet with the Turan family at Ozgurluk Park in Kadikoy which is Poyraz’s favorite spot. He tried out all the activities in the park; from the seesaw to the trampoline and swing. He even rode his scooter and chased after bubbles. I aimed to capture these candid moments spent with his family naturally for about 1.5 hours.
I thought Mehmet Turan – 35milimetre who is curently one of the best photo editors in the world, would handle the editing process. However,he made a grand gesture by saying, “I don’t interfere with the photographer’s business. It’s your job.” I edited the photos in my own style and sent them the JPEG versions. I think they really appreciated them. It was a beautiful memory for both them and me.
In closing, I wish Hande and Mehmet Turan a happy and healthy life with their sons. With love.
Family Photoshoot in Istanbul by Ufuk Sarisen
