Outdoor Locations + Sunlight

Apr 2

Sample gallery from the outdoor family special mini session

Each year, outdoor family specials are offered from May through mid-October. These sessions are very special, and even though they last just 20 minutes, they still offer an opportunity to document your family and individual personalities. The best locations have paths, fields, outbuildings, hills, gardens…, and usually an arboretum or a nature center.

Children enjoy these sessions!

I have many years of experience working with children, and clients are often surprised by how much we capture and how much fun their children have during the photoshoot. The locations I choose have kids in mind - with lots of space for them to run around. Children are not forced to pose and smile, and I find ways to help them feel a part of choosing spots for images.

One of the best locations, especially for Fall photos, is the Dodge Nature Center’s Lilly Property. For the mini-session shown here, many images were taken in the same area late in the day as the sun was lower in the sky. Ideally, these sessions are done leading up to and during the “golden hour,” the hour before sunset, but that isn’t always possible with young children! This shows how, even with the sun still a bit high, we can create beautiful family portraits.

When booking a session for family portraits, whether it’s with me or another photographer, keep in mind that while connection and love shown in the images come from you and your family — the setting and the different light and backgrounds it offers can make a big difference in the end results.

I have Fall mini sessions scheduled for late September and have added more dates this year since they sold out so fast last year. This November I have booked the Krueger Christmas Tree Farm for Holiday mini sessions, and I will be offering studio holiday sessions with a more elaborate set. The Tree Farm minis are a wonderful way to create your holiday card image or capture those sweet childhood memories with your family!