One secret to the best portraits in Stuart, Florida + adopting triplets!
Family of four becomes family of seven
I have been photographing this special family for many years, from when their two oldest kids were very small. Now they have five, with their last three added all at once through adoption. Amy and Dan Hulen were their foster parents before adopting them eight years ago.
When we did their recent beach portrait session on Hutchinson Island, I needed a little extra help getting great smiles out of all three triplets at once.
When I do a photo shoot, I quickly assess who is the most silly person in the group. Lots of times it’s Dad, as it was during this family session. Even when he thinks he’s not being very silly, he usually is anyway, without even trying too hard. These moments in the video with Dan waving his arms is an example of that. Just a dad being himself with his kids. I love it!
Check out the portrait below for the image created in this moment. Lots of times it’s the moments between the laughter that give us the authentic smiles we are looking for.
Dan and Amy discussed adoption even before they got married. It was super important to Amy and it turns out Dan was on board. “Even when I was little, I always, always wanted to adopt, like it was in my heart and had to happen. It just felt like God was calling me to do that,” Amy said.
“If you feel it on your heart, explore the options. Having a heart for it makes a huge difference.”
Just like during the photo session, Dan and Amy work together in their day-to-day lives with the kids. “Having a good spouse, where you can work as a team is the key,” Amy said. “When one runs out of steam, the other can take it on. Both parents need to see and love the kids as their own.”
The Hulens had fostered a few other kids before the triplets came into their lives and were open to more.
“We didn’t think about triplets,” Amy said. “On our oldest daughter’s seventh birthday, we got the call from Hibiscus Children’s Center. We were willing, we were able and so we just went for it. By dinnertime that day, they were in our house.” At that time, the triplets were just under 18 months old. And 18 months later, they were officially part of the Hulen family.
“Adoption is not for everyone,” Amy said. “If you feel it on your heart, explore the options. Having a heart for it makes a huge difference.”
On the Treasure Coast, 4Kids Treasure Coast is a great organization to contact if you are considering being a foster parent or fostering-to-adopt.
Portraits have always been important to the Hulen Family, starting with their engagement portrait on the left.
For 20+ years as a family portrait specialist on Florida’s Treasure Coast, I have been known for relaxed portrait sessions at locations around Stuart, Palm City, Hutchinson Island, Hobe Sound, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and all areas in between. I am not like most photographers these days because I believe your family deserves to be celebrated each day, as part of your home decor. When you work with me, we will collaborate in creating Fine Art Portraits of your family, which will live on your walls or in a custom-designed album or folio box and be remembered as one of the best investments you have ever made. In addition to creating portraits for families, I create headshots and personal branding images for business use. To learn more, go the the Dultmeier Photography homepage.