Family Photos in the Zionsville Countryside
Familiar Faces, Growing Families
One of the best parts of my job is when a family comes back to me for another session.
It tells me they had a good experience the first time. It means they trust me to document another season of their lives. And maybe best of all, it gives me the chance to see how much things have changed since we were last together—how kids have grown, how relationships have deepened, and how families continue to evolve over time.
This family was one I’d photographed before. And this time, they brought the whole crew—grandparents, siblings, cousins. A full extended family, all gathered together on their property in the countryside just outside Zionsville.
A Home That Told the Story
Their home couldn’t have been a better setting. The backyard opened up into a wide space lined with large, mature trees that framed the evening light beautifully. Flower beds surrounded the property. A small creek ran through the back of the yard, complete with a footbridge crossing over it. The golden tones of the late-day sun added warmth to every scene.
It felt peaceful and inviting—like the kind of place that holds years of shared memories.
And that’s what makes shooting at a family home so special. There’s no need to get comfortable in a new place. Everyone already knows where they are. The kids can roam. The adults settle in. The space itself starts telling the story.
Real Moments Happen in Familiar Places
Some of my favorite images from this session weren’t planned or posed.
At one point, the kids started wading into the creek, hunting for crawfish. I stepped back and let them go for it. It was messy, spontaneous, and completely worth it. Later, we lined them up on the footbridge, feet dangling over the side, laughing and chatting like cousins do.
We captured portraits, of course—everyone looking at the camera and smiling—but it was these kinds of candid, in-between moments that really stood out. They showed connection. Personality. Real life.
Why Extended Family Sessions Are Worth the Work
Coordinating a large family photo session isn’t always simple. It takes planning, patience, and a little bit of flexibility. Outfits need to work together. Schedules have to line up. And when kids are involved, there’s always an element of unpredictability.
But the payoff is huge.
These are the photos that end up in frames on walls, in albums passed down, or printed and sent to family members who couldn’t make it. They mark a moment in time when everyone was together.
And those opportunities don’t come around often.
A Session That Stuck With Me
Looking back through the images from this session, what I keep coming back to is how natural everything felt. Nothing was rushed. No one seemed stressed. The family was simply present—with each other and with me—and that made all the difference.
When the environment feels right, people let their guard down. And that’s when you get the kinds of photos that truly reflect who people are.
