Whenever life is hurtling obstacles my way, I’m typically a “just-watch-me-overcome-and-persevere” kind of person rather than a “it-must-be-a-sign-the-universe-is-trying-to-tell-me-something” kind of person.
It’s probably stubborness! (Just ask my husband or parents…)
So when I tell you it took three tries to get the Armentrout’s family photos at Indiana Dunes this past summer, you’ll understand that I was going to make these beach photos happen no matter what.
A few months earlier, I had scouted out a beautiful beach location at Indiana Dunes State Park. I wasn’t too familiar with the area, and the fact that there is both a national park and a state park is a bit confusing! I finally figured out which recreation pass I needed to park at my (secret!) beach spot and booked some family friends for a “guinea pig” shoot. Their shoot went great and I became obsessed with that location!
Indiana Dunes is now one of my absolute favorite spots in Indiana to shoot at, not only because it makes for gorgeous photos but also because it’s just so dang enjoyable to visit there. It’s one of the few shoots where I bring my husband and kids along to play in the sand while I shoot!
So when Amy and her family wanted family photos at Indiana Dunes—she grew up not far from there—I was super stoked to do another family session there.
And that’s when the trouble began.
Spoiler Alert: “The third time is the charm.”
We originally planned this session for a quiet weekday, aiming to minimize the number of people on the beach with us. But the weather didn’t cooperate and evening temperatures were just too cool to get many smiles out of young kiddos in summer outfits. We decided to just reschedule for an upcoming Friday evening. Postponement number one!
But when that reschedule date rolled around, little Jack came down with a fever. Cue postponement number two!
Eventually, we rescheduled for the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend.
And just as you’d expect, the crowds were out in full force (note: Photoshop’s new AI removal tools are amazing!). Plus, by the time Amy’s family arrived at the Dunes, her daughter Isla had jumped on the fever train too! Although she wasn’t fully herself, she did her best and we made it work.
Just when we thought we’d seen it all, Amy’s dress strap had its own spotlight moment, deciding to pop mid-session! (Pro tip for fellow photogs: keep some safety pins handy in your camera bag!) We “expertly” jerry-rigged her dress strap to her bra strap and yet another “crisis” was averted!
Below are some of our favorites from the Armentrout’s family photos at Indiana Dunes. Aren’t they just amazing?!?!
FYI, most sessions don’t involve overcoming quite so many obstacles!
But the next time you admire someone’s “perfect” Instagram photo, just remember there may have been a whirlwind of chaos behind the scenes, particularly if there are small children in the photo!
And that’s one of the things I love most about my job, capturing the beauty of your family amidst the madness of life! Things aren’t always easy (don’t I know it!), but your family’s love and connection will still shine through.
If you’re interested in learning more about a family session at Indiana Dunes, get in touch with me to talk about possibilities!
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