Adventures Together: Outdoor Winter Family Session
Golden grass, bare birch trees, and two little boys who could not sit still for more than three seconds. That was the energy for this outdoor winter family session at Token Creek Park, and honestly, it was perfect. We weren’t looking for quiet and posed. We were looking for real.
Let Them Be Kids
We always tell families the same thing: play, laugh, chase each other. The more natural the interaction, the better the gallery turns out. Stiff and posed is never the goal. The goal is for these photos to feel like a Tuesday afternoon with your people, just with really good light.
This little guy in the bow tie stole the show more than once. There’s a moment where he’s just sitting in the grass, tongue out, completely unbothered by the camera. That’s the frame. That’s the one you hang on the wall. We pulled in close and let him do his thing.
Token Creek in late season has this incredible palette: warm golds, muted browns, white birch bark catching the low sun. We shot wide on the walking shots to let the landscape do some of the storytelling. If you’re considering family photography in DeForest, this park gives you open fields, tree lines, and soft light that just works.
The black and white series from this session might be our favorite set. Something about stripping away the color lets the connection between everyone come through even louder. Dad lifting a giggling toddler. Mom crouching down to eye level. Brothers leaning into each other without anyone telling them to. We live for those in-between moments.
And then there’s the closing frame: big brother planting a kiss on baby brother while Mom and Dad just beam. Nobody asked for that. It just happened. That’s the kind of moment we build an entire session around, and it’s the reason we keep coming back to this work.
When is the best time of year for family photos at Token Creek Park?
Late fall and early winter are gorgeous here. The dried grasses and bare birch trees create a warm, textured backdrop, and the low sun gives us soft golden light for the entire session. Spring and summer work beautifully too, but the muted tones of the cooler months are hard to beat.
How do I book a family session with Twig & Olive?
Just reach out through our contact page and tell us a little about your family, the ages of your kids, and any locations you love. We’ll help you pick the right spot and time of day for the best light.
