I was excited going into this family session with the Herndon family. It was a beautiful warm fall day with brilliant colors all around. They had welcome their first child into the world that year, a new daughter, and they knew they wanted to photograph this special time in their family’s life. As a parent I know having children can be fraught with challenges. It isn’t an easy time, but it is a beautiful one and it’s always an honor to capture it.

For their family session we knew they would have plenty to work with right around their own home. We photographed inside and outside, wanting to capture them in their own environment, a place that would hold meaning now and for years to come.

In addition to adding a lot of meaning to the images, a family’s home is also a comfortable, welcoming place to be photographed in. I always encourage my families to find a place that they can feel at ease and able to be themselves. Very often their home is the perfect place to use. Whether it’s a considered a “pretty” area or not, no matter what I’m always able to use a family’s home to capture incredibly meaningful images.

Although they live in a busy region inside Silver Spring, Maryland, they have a home that feels shielded from the bustle. It was the height of fall with rich colors in the trees and bushes, which we found all around their home.

Their daughter was one of the most chill babies I’ve ever worked with! She didn’t mind at all as we played and was easily coaxed into laughter. Together I had them play inside, roam outside, explore around their shaded yard, and simply play as a family. It was a beautifully relaxed time.

Thanks for reading, take a look below to see the Herndon’s family lifestyle session at their home!