In March 2013, Sam found me through a web search while looking for a wedding photographer.
One random search turned into engagement portraits, Patricia’s bridal portraits, their wedding day, and a post-deployment session when Sam returned home from the desert. More importantly, clients turned into friends.
During their engagement season, and later during my own, it was such a blessing to share our faith, encourage one another, and pray for each other. Sam and my husband, John, were also both serving in the Air Force, which gave us another meaningful connection. When John and I got married, Patricia was there at the wedding celebrating alongside several of my sweet RTP couples. (Sam was deployed at the time.)
It was truly such a God thing that Sam and Patricia found me.
Fast-forward 13 years, and they invited me to Estes Park to photograph their annual family vacation with their children, Sam’s brother’s family, and his parents. Their family has been staying at the same cabins for 30 years, so it felt especially meaningful to create photographs in a place already woven into their story.
Making Extended Family Portraits Feel Easy
Coordinating extended family portraits can feel overwhelming. There are multiple families, everyone’s outfits, nap schedules, bedtimes, and little personalities to consider.
Sam initially wanted to stay close to the cabins and eliminate as much chaos as possible. Completely understandable! He scouted a beautiful wooded spot on the mountainside nearby. I arrived early to hike that area, and left enough time to drive into Rocky Mountain National Park and scout an additional location… juuuust incase they wanted to mix it up.
Once they saw the wide-open space I had found, just a few minutes into the park, they were totally on board.
I had carefully planned our timeline so we could photograph near the cabins first and still reach Rocky Mountain National Park in time for that dreamy evening glow.
I arrived at the cabins early while everyone finished getting ready. Instead of rushing straight into photographs, I simply sat on the front porch, chatted with the family, and gave the kids time to warm up to me. That breathing room made such a difference once we began.
Communication is key with a large family session. When everyone, including the kids, knows what to expect ahead of time, the experience feels easier and much more enjoyable.
We stuck to our timeline, photographed all the important family combinations, and arrived at Rocky Mountain National Park right on schedule. At the end of the evening, everyone, including Sam, commented on how much smoother the session had gone than they expected.
That is always my goal. Beautiful photographs matter, but so does the experience of creating them.
Before they left Colorado, we even met at my studio for their Reveal and watched the images together on the big screen. What a gift to reconnect with these two and photograph another chapter of their story, this time surrounded by the family they have built and the people they love most.
Sam and Patricia, thank you for trusting me all these years. I am so grateful that clients became friends and that God connected us through one little web search back in 2013.
Because everything we hope to never forget is preserved in a photograph.
Planning a trip to Estes Park or Family Photos in Rocky Mountain National Park?
I would love to help you create relaxed, meaningful session there. Contact René Tate Photography to begin planning your session.
