When it comes to photographing portrait sessions, golden hour is still our favorite time of day.  There is something about the soft and airy light that seems to make the flowers in the fields pop all the more, and the sunshine glistening on the lake always looks like something out of a dream.  The summer season in Minnesota really is incredible!  With its late-evening sunsets, the longer days are filled with all kinds of fun activities, and for us, plenty of time for family sessions!

When Jackie reached out to book a family session as a surprise Mother’s Day gift, we were so honored to have been chosen to capture their photos!  Her family is one of sweetest and most kind families you will ever meet. After rescheduling when we were surprised by a sudden rain storm on their original date, they ended up with an absolutely beautiful evening, and William O’Brien State Park in Marine on St. Croix could not have been a more perfect setting for their session.  It is such a gorgeous area with fields of wildflowers surrounded by trees as well as lakeside backdrops for portraits.  It’s also a location that allows dogs, making it ideal for those who want to feature their family pet within their photos.  

Everyone, including Jackie’s adorable puppy, did an amazing job, and we had the best time exploring the fields while taking portraits as we chatted about activities they enjoy doing in the summer.  They love spending time at their cabin, and the lake is one of their favorite places to be together, so we were sure to showcase the water in a few photos as we finished out the evening.  Their blue and white color scheme worked perfectly with the natural surroundings, and their session couldn’t have gone any better!