Britney first booked a session with me in 2017, and she has come back every year or so since. Maternity, then newborn, then family sessions, and now a Sunday afternoon in October at a farm near Sandy. This is my favorite kind of day as a Sandy Oregon family photographer, because I already know how this family works and we get to skip the small talk and go straight to the good stuff.
Where did we photograph this fall family session near Sandy, Oregon?
We met at a farm just outside Sandy with an old wooden barn, an apple orchard and a split-rail fence. We started around 4 pm on Sunday, October 18, 2026, which is the time of day I want in the fall. The sun is low, the light is warm, and it comes through the leaves instead of straight down on everyone's faces.
What is a family session on a farm like?
A farm session is part portrait session and part wandering, and the wandering is where most of my favorite frames come from. A barn gives you steps to sit on and a big backdrop. An orchard gives little hands something to do. A fence gives everybody a place to lean. Nobody has to stand in a stiff line and look at me, which is good news for anyone under the age of ten.
What was Britney's fall session like?
Britney's session was relaxed from the start, with her husband, their son and their curly-haired toddler daughter all happy to explore. We began with the four of them sitting close together on the barn's wooden steps. Then we followed the kids.
Her daughter went straight for the orchard and started collecting small green apples. She picked one to hold and kept it in her hand for the whole session. I have no idea what the plan was for that apple, but she was committed.
Dad tossed her high into the air with a blue sky behind her, the barn and the evergreens off to the side. Later the two of them sat on a picnic blanket under the apple trees, and that stretch of the afternoon was quieter and slower.
Her son, who is about seven or eight, wore a blue Minecraft shirt, and we caught him by the barn looking exactly like himself. That shirt is a perfect snapshot of where he is right now.
Why book a family session in the fall?
Fall is a good time because the light is soft and the colors do half the work for you. It is also a good time to stop and look at how much your kids have changed since last year. Britney's son is a big kid now, and her daughter is a toddler with curls who will look different by next October. Having a set of photos from every year, the way Britney has since 2017, means you do not have to rely on memory to fill in the gaps.
Looking for a Sandy Oregon family photographer?
I'm Becky Chambers of Studio 623 Photography, and I live and work right here in Sandy. If you have been meaning to get your family in front of a camera before the kids grow another inch, I would love to hear from you. You can find me on the contact page, and we can pick a time that works for your family.
