This was the most fun, luckiest Thanksgiving photoshoot I’ve ever done. The whole family was coming in for the weekend so there was going to be no possibility of a reschedule shoot in the case of bad weather. We lucked out and were given sweater weather with no snow!

There was no doubt that little Kathryn was the heart of the family. Ridiculously cute and full of energy, it was amazing to see how people just lit up by being around her.

In addition to doing posed portraits, it’s always a great idea to center the pictures around a family activity. Whether that activity is riding bikes, playing a game, or doing a marshmallow roast, I think people feel less nervous about the camera pointed at them when they have something to do. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to capture beautiful, real moments like these.

Isn’t their backyard gorgeous too? We chose the location for convenience, but the leftover fall leaves provided the most beautiful, warm backdrop for family portraits. For those of you blog readers considering a portrait session, I think it’s worth considering a location with personal meaning. Whether it’s a backyard or favorite park or wherever, I think it lends a touch of familiarity and emotion to the pictures.