September is my absolute favorite month of the year. Not only is it my birthday month, but it also happens to have the best weather of the year. I love that the humidity drops, yet it is still pleasantly warm. It also happens to be the kick off to my Fall family photo sessions, which after months of shooting sunset beach sessions in a great change of pace for me. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love beach sessions, but I also love to photograph families in parks, foliage and any other location that is scenic and social to them.

My client chose The Planting Fields Arboretum as the location for her family photos. It is a location at which she has spent much time with her own children and also as a child herself. The arboretum is a beautiful and scenic spot for photos, with many opportunities for classic and picturesque images. We scheduled the session in the early morning to accommodate the baby’s napping schedule and to make sure we had the best possible light for a daytime session. Daytime sessions require strategic timing based on the location selected and not very location works, but the arboretum is a great choice if you are able to do an early morning session. It really is such a beautiful location and there is tons to see. It does require some walking, so it is always helpful to have a stroller with you and some snacks for the kids as it can take a bit longer than the typical one hour session.

This was my first Fall session of the season and I couldn’t have asked for a better family to work with. This family of five was a pleasure to work with. The children were not only adorable, but so cooperative and best of all, full of laughter. The bond between the two sisters was evident throughout the session as was their adoration for their baby brother. It was so sweet to watch them interact with him and each other. The parents clearly love their children and each other.

I chose several different locations at which to shoot and did so based on the lighting conditions and visual interest of those spots. Thankfully, there were still some pretty florals in bloom and we were able to capture some images with those florals. I love the pop of color they bring. As always, I try to incorporate a blend of classic portraiture with natural and relaxed images that show connection. It was easy to do so with this particular family because they were so naturally connected to one another. I think my favorite images are those captured at the Coe Hall Mansion. These images are timeless and classic, yet still show connection.

I have so many favorite from my session, but here are a few. If you are interested in a family session, contact me. My weekends tend to fill up months in advance, so if you are planning for a Spring or Summer session, the best time to book a session is in January or February when booking opens up. You can also sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know when booking opens.