Golden Hour Family Portraits |Salida, CO|

There's nothing quite like spending time outdoors with the family. With five kids running around, the energy was always high and the laughter never stopped. On a beautiful evening, during golden hour, this family was having a blast down by the pond, throwing rocks, swinging from branches, getting piggy back rides from Dad, and racing to see who’s the fastest.

The pond was quiet and clear, and the rocks were smooth and shiny. The kids were lined up along the bank, taking turns throwing their rocks out into the water. Every time one of them made a big splash, the others strived to find the next rock to outdo their big brothers previous toss. It was a simple game, but they were having a blast, and it made my job super easy. As the evening wore on, the laughter got louder and the fun got more intense. The parents watched from a distance, smiling and enjoying the moment. They knew that these were the kinds of memories that their kids would treasure for years to come.

As the sun started to dip lower in the sky, the kids started to get more adventurous. They found a tree with a low-hanging branch and took turns swinging from it. They giggled and collected multi-colored leaves to throw in the air. As they swung back and forth, feeling like they were flying Mom and Dad were there to catch them and hold their kiddos as they flew from the tree.

Eventually, the sun started to set and we drove up S mountain to end our session. The kids were tired and sweaty, but they were also full of joy and excitement. As they walked back up the path, they chattered about all of the fun they had had and made plans for the next time they get to do photos. We played one last game and that was London Bridges. I grabbed my patterned blanket from the car and taught the kids how to play. Mind blowing stuff I could tell.

I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day with this beautiful family.

Here’s what Jessica had to say about her family session.

“Ivy did our family photos and captured our personalities so well. I think one of her gifts as a photographer is being able to help people relax and let their natural beauty shine through. I will always treasure the photos she captured of us.”

Location: Salida, Colorado