Spring Hike with The Tanners

Sunshine, matching outfits, and tiny adventures at the historic dam of the Newlin Grist Mill.

There’s something special about photographing people you’ve known through so many different seasons of life. This family session was with a good friend from college, his wife, and their curious little boy. This combination made our time feel more like catching up than a photoshoot.

We spent the afternoon wandering through the trails of the Newlin Grist Mill. We followed the winding paths and laughed as their toddler had the courage to splash in the creek for the very first time. Every time he ventured out into the water he went a few feet further with Dad until running back to Mom to proudly share what he had accomplished. Sadly, the air grew heavier and the sky darkened, as we heard distant thunder start rolling in behind the trees. I knew we had precious moments to capture the beautiful historic field of yellow flowers and old growth trees. For a time it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves, suspended in that quiet before the storm.

Luckily we made it back to our cars with seconds to spare before the rain came pouring down. Looking back and editing these images, I can still feel the creek water, hear the laughter echoing through the woods, and remember fondly as we let their little guy lead us on an excellent adventure.

Take a moment to scan through the photos of our fun day!