I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet and playful family again this year, and this time we changed things up and used their beautiful backyard garden in Ashland, Oregon.

And seriously… look at those flowers!

Their backyard was absolutely gorgeous and made the perfect setting for a relaxed evening family photography session. We timed the session for sunset, which gave us that beautiful warm evening light throughout the yard.

I love when family photos can happen somewhere that already feels comfortable and meaningful to the family.

Family Photos That Feel Like Real Life

This family has a little boy and little girl, and there was no shortage of fun happening throughout the evening.

We captured the sweet, quiet moments, but we also let the kids play and be themselves. There was snuggling, laughing, running around, and plenty of personality.

That’s one of my favorite things about family photography. You don’t have to spend the entire session standing still and smiling at the camera.

Sometimes the best photos happen when everyone is simply having fun together.

The kids got to play on the trampoline, which made for some really fun and energetic photos.

Then came the bubbles.

Bubbles are always a win with little kids, and they gave us some adorable candid moments in the backyard.

Their little girl especially seemed to love having the camera around. She was clearly ready for her close-up!

We also made sure to include Grandma in some of the photos, which I always think is such a meaningful addition to a family session.

And of course, we couldn’t leave out the pups!

Pets are part of the family too, and including them in photos helps tell the complete story of what life looks like during this particular season.

Those multi-generational and family-with-pets photos often become some of the most treasured images.

The combination of their beautiful backyard, the flowers, the warm sunset light, and this family’s playful personalities made the whole evening feel so easy and natural.

I love photographing families year after year and seeing how everyone changes and grows. Getting to return to photograph the same family again is such a fun part of this job.

This was such a sweet family and such a fun evening to photograph.

Thank you for inviting me back into your family’s story and letting me capture another year of memories!