Last year I made the decision to no longer take on new families for family photos, unless the focus of the session was on their baby. I just found that it wasn’t really my groove to work with older children for family sessions. I have a hard time with posing everyone and getting everyone to look good, yet natural. There is definitely an art to posing families and working with older kids and it’s just not something I’ve put a lot of practice into over the past 6 years. My bread and butter is with babies.

This year the only family sessions I took were from past clients that I’ve worked with previously. And I’ll probably continue to do so, just because I really love my clients and love seeing them year after year. Once I get to know them after they come to me for baby sessions, I feel I know how to work with them and their kids usually remember me, which makes the session go a little smoother.

This family in particular is one I love getting to see (although I run into Dad at Target quite often). They live right here in Maple Grove, so we always do their sessions close to home. They are a super fun and silly family and just incredibly easy going. They make my job so easy. The first time we met, we took their youngest daughter’s One Year Cake Smash photos near the Maple Grove Library. The next year we met at Parkers Lake in Plymouth for family photos at the beach. This year we met at the Eastman Nature Center in Maple Grove. I had never been there, so it was fun for me to see the exhibits, trails and play areas it has to offer.

We did most of the session outside, however jackets were needed as it was a little on the cool side that afternoon. We stepped inside for a few photos and to warm up, but finished back outside bringing their family dog into the session. It’s clear they love this little guy and he rounds out this family perfectly.

I love how these photos turned out and I’m already looking forward to their family photos next Fall! Enjoy.