There’s something a little vulnerable about being on the other side of the camera. As a photographer in Brooklyn, Wisconsin, I’m used to being the one directing, adjusting light, and watching for those genuine moments to unfold. But this past year, I made a conscious effort to also be in those moments, and to stop hiding behind my camera and actually show up in the photos of my own family!
My son turned one this year, and if that milestone has taught me anything, it’s that time moves faster than you think it does. So here’s a look at some of my favorite images from this year – some polished, some wonderfully imperfect, and why I think both kinds matter.
The UW Arboretum in Spring
If you follow along on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me gush about the UW Arboretum. And for good reason, it is genuinely one of Madison’s most beautiful locations, especially in the spring when everything is blooming and the light is soft and golden. It’s the kind of place that practically photographs itself.
I’m a morning person when it comes to shooting locations like this. The Arboretum gets busy by mid-morning, especially on weekends, and the afternoon crowds make it harder to find those quiet, uninterrupted pockets of space. But early in the day? It’s peaceful, the light is flattering, and you’re not waiting for strangers to clear the frame every five minutes (which takes you out of the bliss a little in my opinion).
For this session, it was just my son and me (and my tripod). As a mom, there’s something really special about photos that document us, not just him growing and changing, but the two of us together at a particular moment in time. He’s going to look back at these one day and see how much I was present with him, not just documenting from a distance. These images are soft, bright, and exactly what I wanted — the kind of polished spring portraits that remind me what this season looked and felt like.
If you’re local to Madison, Wisconsin and looking for a spot for spring photos, the UW Arboretum is an easy recommendation!
Berry Picking and Jam Making
Okay, this one is close to my heart in a way that’s hard to fully articulate without getting emotional, so I’ll try to be straightforward about it.
We spent a lot of time picking berries this summer. Like, an insane amount! It became one of our favorite routines – shoes off, bowl in hand, and heading out to pick, my son inevitably eating a belly full with berries covering his shirt every time! Occasionally we allocated some of the berries to make jam together. It sounds simple, and it was. It was quintessential summer and that’s exactly why I love it.
Here’s the part I don’t want to forget: berries are how my son started crawling! We were out in the grass, and I put a berry just out of his reach, and that little bribe was apparently motivation enough to get him moving. I watched him figure it out in real time, all for a sweet treat. If that doesn’t summarize his personality perfectly, I don’t know what does! The dude loves berries!
When I decided to photograph us in the middle of this activity – actually picking, actually making jam, hands sticky and the kitchen a little chaotic, I knew the images weren’t going to be “perfect” in the traditional sense. The lighting isn’t controlled. No one is posed. Things are messy. But honestly? These photos might be my favorites from the entire year.
They capture something real for us. They’re a document of who we actually were this summer, of what we did with our time, what made us happy, and how he was discovering the world one berry at a time. As a Brooklyn, Wisconsin family photographer, I believe deeply in the value of lifestyle images alongside the more polished portraits, and this is exactly why.
Fall Family Photos
By the time fall rolled around, I wanted to do something a little more traditional, get dressed up, get everyone together, and actually have proper family photos taken. (Well, our dog, Finn, didn’t join for this session because it felt like too much work honestly – sorry Finn!)
We headed out to one of the beautiful open fields in southern Wisconsin, which – if you haven’t explored this area in October — is absolutely worth the drive to Mount Horeb. Rolling fields, warm light, that golden-hour glow that makes everything look like it was made for a photograph. It did not disappoint.
What I love most about these images is how happy we look. Not in a forced, say “cheese” kind of way, but genuinely happy. We were relaxed and comfortable, like ourselves. We kept it cozy: nice outfits, but nothing stiff or overdone. The kind of clothes you’d actually want to wear on a fall afternoon, which I think always translates better in photos than something you’re uncomfortable in.
These are the photos I’ll frame. The ones I’ll put in an album and show him when he’s older. The ones where I look at our little family of three and feel really, really grateful.
Why Both Kinds of Photos Matter
I think there’s sometimes pressure to choose — either document the real, everyday stuff or get the beautiful, polished portraits. But this year proved to me that you don’t have to pick. The posed spring portraits and the sticky-hands jam photos live in the same album, and they tell a more complete story together than either one could alone.
As a family photographer in Brooklyn, Wisconsin, I’ll keep encouraging my clients to do both! As a mom, I’ll keep showing up in the frame, messy kitchens and all!
