Summers Tree Farm Family Portraits: Golden Light and Two Little Brothers

That last stretch of golden light before sunset is our favorite window to work in, and these Summers Tree Farm family portraits gave us exactly that. The fields at Summers Christmas Tree Farm in Middleton turned warm and glowy right on cue, and this family of four settled into the kind of easy, unhurried rhythm that makes our job feel effortless.

Let the Kids Lead

This little guy in the blue knit hat stole the show from the first frame. He’d grin right at us, then sprint off into the field, then come back and do it all over again. His baby brother, meanwhile, was content to just take it all in from Dad’s arms. Two completely different personalities, and we got to capture both.

We always tell families to just be themselves. Play, laugh, tickle, chase. The more natural the interaction, the better the photos turn out. Posed and stiff is never what we’re going for. That said, we did sneak in a few quiet setups on a wooden chair and bench, and the boys were surprisingly cooperative. Sometimes a prop gives a toddler just enough novelty to sit still for three seconds. We’ll take it.

The black and white frames from this session are some of our favorites. Mom laughing with her oldest while Dad cradles the baby close. There’s a tenderness in those images that color almost distracts from. We pulled in tight for those moments because the expressions were doing all the heavy lifting.

If you’re looking for a spot near Madison for a spring family session, Summers Tree Farm is worth knowing about. The open fields catch that low evening light beautifully, and there’s enough space for kids to run without anyone stressing about boundaries. It’s relaxed, it’s gorgeous, and it photographs incredibly well. Check out more of our work on our family photography portfolio.