Mother walking hand-in-hand with two young children through green tree-lined path.
Smiling mother sitting outdoors with her two young children in golden sunlight.

Lauren brought H and E out to Woolly Yak Ranch & Winery in early July so we could create some new photos for this year’s mini sessions.


The kids got to run around and explore everything there was to find. We walked beneath the canopy of the trees, found pawpaw fruit beginning to grow, and stopped to look at the wildflowers and all of the bees humming around them.

I have been photographing Lauren’s family since before H and E were part of it! I first photographed Lauren and her husband for their engagement session. Since then, I have gotten to photograph their maternity photos, newborn photos, family photos, and even their extended family.


Getting to photograph a family through so many different parts of their lives is always really special, and I love getting to see how much the kids have grown each time I see them.

A laughing mother with long red hair plays with her two young children on a sunny green lawn.
Two smiling young children in coordinating outfits run hand-in-hand through a bright green park.
A young blonde curly-haired girl in a striped dress plays with a yellow bubble wand outdoors.

This is one of the reasons I really enjoy photographing families at Woolly Yak. There is so much for kids to look at, but everything is also close enough that we can get plenty of variety without spending the entire session walking from one place to another.


Lauren also brought bubbles for the kids. H and E already love bubbles, so it gave them something fun to do while they ran around and explored. It was simple, familiar, and added to what they were already doing instead of turning into something we had to carefully pose.

Two children running through lush green grass in a sunlit orchard on a warm summer day.

 

A Few Tips for Family Photos With Kids



If you are thinking about booking family photos but are already worried about how your kids will behave, please do not feel like they need to be perfect! Kids are kids, and I plan for that.


Here are a few things that can make the experience a little easier for everyone.

 

Happy curly-haired toddler boy in striped outfit and blue crocs running through a sunny green park.

Your kids will probably sit, run, explore, and be picked up at some point during their session. Put them in something they can comfortably move around in and shoes they can actually walk in.


Your family also does not have to match perfectly. Choose colors that work well together, but let everyone still look like themselves.

Young blonde girl in a flowing striped dress spinning barefoot in a sunlit meadow at golden hour.

Choose Clothes They Can Move In

Bring Something They Already Love



Lauren knew H and E loved bubbles, so they were an easy thing to bring along. You could also bring a favorite book, small toy, blanket, or another simple activity your child already enjoys.


We may not even need to use it, but it can help your child warm up or give them a quick break from photos if they need one.

Tell Them What We Are Doing


You can let your kids know that you are going somewhere to explore, play, and take some family photos! They do not need to practice smiling, and there is no need to put a lot of pressure on them beforehand.



I will give your family direction when we need it, but I am also going to let your kids move around and be themselves.

Give Yourself Time to Arrive



Try to arrive a few minutes early so you have time to park, get everyone out of the car, and fix any last-minute hair or clothing issues.


This is especially helpful for mini sessions because our time together is short. Arriving early means we can use the full 15 minutes for photos instead of spending part of it getting settled.

Please Do Not Worry About Perfect



Your child might not want to smile right away. They might be more interested in a flower, bug, or stick than they are in looking at me. Someone might need a minute with Mom before they are ready to join everyone else.


That is all completely okay!



You do not need to spend the session apologizing or worrying about whether your kids are cooperating enough. Love on them, play with them, and let me work with whatever they give us. I would much rather photograph who your children really are than force a perfect smile through the entire session.

A young curly-haired toddler boy holds an adults hand while walking on green grass at sunset.

Mini Sessions at Woolly Yak Ranch & Winery

 

Woolly Yak has trees, tall grasses, wildflowers, and the red barn all within a short walk. That gives us room to make traditional family portraits while also letting the kids run around and explore.


Mini sessions may only be 15 minutes, but we can still create a mix of family portraits, individual photos of the kids, sibling photos, and all of the little moments happening in between.

My next Woolly Yak mini sessions are happening Sunday, August 30. Sessions are $250 and include 15 minutes of photography and 15 edited digital images.


If August 30 does not work for your family, you can find the other available fall dates through the booking link below!

A mother walks hand-in-hand with her two young children across a lush green field at sunset.
Book a woolly yak mini session