A Beautiful Backyard Family Session | Severna Park, Maryland

When I first met Allison and Chris, we were at Friendship Trees for a Christmas tree farm session. It was a chilly morning, and their (almost) 3 year old, Riley, was not enjoying the cold, dew soaked grass. We captured some sweet moments anyway, and I mentioned that for a full session, I really do enjoy doing them at home so that the kids don’t have to be packed into the car to go anywhere and we can move at their pace . . .

Fast forward a few months to this spring, and Allison reached out to me again. She said they were interested in a family session, at their home in Severna Park, and I could not have been more excited to have the opportunity to document her, Chris, Riley and one year old Connor again. And this time, I would get to come to them and play with the kiddos where they feel most at home.

It was a beautiful, sunny morning and Allison and Chris have a picturesque yard, and are adjacent to a golf course, so we made the most of everything their home had to offer. We started in their yard, and then made a dash onto the golf course before the golfers started for the day.

Then Riley and Connor made me breakfast in their little cottage and showed me their sweet little garden.

We made our way to the front porch, where we counted the buttons on mom’s dress, compared Connor’s buttons and dad’s buttons and admired the colorful tassels on Riley’s dress.

We played on the swings for a few moments (a backyard session isn’t complete without playing on the swings!) and then I stole Allison and Christian away for a moment to celebrate their love for one another, the start of their sweet little family.

Documenting the details, the tiny but growing hands and feet, is one of my favorite things to do, so I took advantage of a few quieter moments while Riley and Connor enjoyed the view of the golf course.

And what 2021 session, in the Maryland area where we live, in June, would be complete without a cicada sighting. (If you aren’t from around here, Brood X emerged from the ground after 17 years last month.) This is where we really got to see Connor light up and have some big belly laughs!

Allison and Chris, thank you so much for trusting me to document this time in your lives. I truly enjoyed my time with your family and it is such a pleasure to watch Riley and Connor grow as little people. I sincerely hope to continue to have the opportunity to document them growing up, and I hope your family has the most amazing summer.