Watching Them Grow: A Family Session at Gustavus Adolphus Arboretum

Some families you photograph once. Others become part of your story, and you become part of theirs. This sweet family is the second kind. I have had the privilege of photographing them for years now, and every single session feels like catching up with old friends.

This year we spent part of our time at the Gustavus Adolphus Arboretum in St. Peter, MN, one of my favorite spots for sessions in southern Minnesota. Between the tree lined paths, flowers all over, and all those pretty pockets of green, there was no shortage of beautiful spots to capture this family exactly as they are right now.

Here is the thing about photographing a family over and over. You do not just watch the kids grow, you become part of their rhythm. These boys know all my corny jokes by now. They know exactly how to work me for treats between poses too, and it works every time. 😆

This session, little brother was rocking a tooth that was hanging on by a thread, making me work to get that adorable 1st grader smile. And big brother, well, he is getting to that age where he is just a little too cool for his photographer these days. I will let him have that one. But I am fairly certain the next time I see him, he is going to be taller than me, and that is a wild thing to sit with as someone who has watched him grow up through my camera.

This is exactly why I love what I do. It is not just about the portraits, though I am so proud of these. It is about getting to show up for a family year after year and watch this season of life unfold in front of me. Thank you, M family, for trusting me with another summer of memories. I am already looking forward to the next one. ❤️