St. Vrain State Park Family Photography | Firestone, Colorado
A multi-generational, relaxed, natural and heartfelt winter family photo session
Maggie, the grandmother of the family, kindly reached out with a heartfelt idea to gather her whole crew for a family photo session. It’s not every day the request comes from a grandparent, but she was determined to bring everyone together for some cherished moments.
She told me, with a playful tone, that her family might be a bit stiff, a little awkward, and maybe even hard to loosen up. I reassured her, we’d take our time, have a little fun, and let the moments unfold naturally.
Once we met at St. Vrain Lakes State Park in Firestone, Colorado, I could quickly tell how sweet and close this family was, but as Maggie foreshadowed… a little stiff and looking for direction. There was a teenage son and his dad who had never had any professional photos taken of them and tried their best to be ghosts in the background at first. I pulled out a few of those trusty old interpersonal tricks I’ve learned over the years. We huddled up and did a little shoulder shake to loosen up, some light teasing, and giving just enough space for them to feel like themselves and reassuring them we would make it as tolerable and fun as we could. It wasn’t long before they were laughing, teasing me right back, and the stiffness melted into something genuine.
There’s something quietly powerful about bringing generations together in one place. The grandparents who are the proud family foundation, the parents who carry the rhythm, and the kids just being kids.
This session had what you'd expect from a big family shoot: some hesitant smiles at the start, a bit of shuffling around, and light teasing about who should stand where. But then came the dock games, a splash of golden hour light, rock skipping contests, high-fives, and laughter that started to feel effortless. A toddler clung tight to his stuffed dog, siblings joked around, and slowly, the camera faded into the background, and those magic moments ensued. Below are a few select images I captured. Book your family photoshoot!
