Standridge Family photos- fall fun with family history

This fall family photoshoot was so much fun and was filled with a lot of family history. We ended up choosing to take photos on the family property, where the leaves were changing colors, but some had fallen to the ground to make a beautiful fall evening.

This 23 acre property is where the family first settled in the 1800s and have lived ever since. Charity (mom) would tell me stories about family connections and actions as we would walk around the property. She would tell me of sweet memories of having all of the cousins over for a large family get together in great grandmother's front yard. As we walked across the space where the house used to stand, she would tell stories with such a smile and sense of joy on her face. She pointed out the tree that we were taking photos under, had been the tree she remembered playing around right next to her grandparent's garage. As we would walk from the house to the barn, where the cows are treated as pets, mom would tell me (and the kids would chime in) about the times they would sled on the snow covered hill until they were just sledding on mud, and then keep sledding. Honestly it was so exciting to hear the stories, the history, and family connection as we would walk and take photos. It made it go from a fall day to a walk through history and connection, making the shoot that much more special.

The flow of the afternoon was very much of just walking the space, and letting the kids lead. We started off with the adults watching the cat Snickers struggle to come down from a large tree (which was quite an adventure in and of itself), and the kids leading me in a fun adventure around the play area. The kids would point out their favorite toys and play sets that the grandparents had built them, including a see-saw that grandfather build and painted by hand. We would jump from toy to toy, playing and posing for the camera. The kids were having a blast, but we eventually had to move on before we lost all the light. Which by the way, the cat stuck in the tree (Snickers) eventually got down and followed us around for the rest of the shoot.

We started moving down the lane, stopping in the field with the tractor grandpa had pulled out. Which by the way, this tractor is over 40 years old and was in great condition. Then we moved down to the barn, where the mom called the cows the largest pets ever. The kids rushed ahead and the cows followed to meet us in the barn, knowing that the kids were coming to give them pets and food. Next, we moved to the land where the great grandparent's home used to stand, otherwise known as one of the sledding hills. Here the kids and parents got to have a little revenge on each other. The kids got to throw leaves on the parents for one photo, and then we turned it around where the parents got to throw leaves on the kids. Honestly I cracked up during this part of the session as both parents had some pretty hilarious faces while leaves were thrown.

For the last photo of the day, we did one last family photo in front of the barn. For this photo, I had a bit of fun finding the right place to take the photo as there wasn't quite enough space for me to stand back and take the photo. I ended up learning backwards on the hill behind me, and Snickers came to join me. In the end, this photoshoot become more special due to the family history, and I feel so blessed for being able to capture these photos.

Until Next time!

Stay safe and much love!