I've worked with the G family for years, since 6 year-old B was about 18 months old. We've had family photo sessions in lots of different parks and areas of the city, including these in Forest Hill, but we'd never made it all the way down to where Forest Hill meets the Buttermilk Trail. We met on a warm November Friday afternoon, when kayakers were busy coming and going at the river put-in and bikers were skipping work to skim the trails around us. A train came through right as B was getting out of the car, and I waved to the conductor to get him to blow his whistle as he rolled by. That was an exciting start to our session!

I had scouted the area ahead of time and warned my client’s family about the shoes they might want to wear for our expedition through the culverts and trails north of the lake. They came prepared for adventure, and we deftly skirted the water while we made our way up and down the trail.

60 minutes is a perfect amount of time for family sessions. It gives us time to play and gives kids time to relax while also giving us a time frame to work within to get our posed and free shots. I saw a switch click in B as we hit the 30-minute mark, where he visibly relaxed and started playing more with his parents. He began smiling and laughing in a way that I could tell was real, and we laughed and played all the way back from the lake to the culverts. The light was warm, the air was cool, and nobody got wet. That's a win in my book.

When you go to Forest Hill Park, do you explore the trails? Or do you stick to one area in particular? I love Forest Hill for its versatility for families, couples, maternity sessions, and even pregnancy announcements.