Barefoot and Happy: A Spring Sunset Family Session

A boy and his puppy. That’s really all you need to know about this spring sunset family session at McCarthy Youth & Conservation Park in Cottage Grove. From the first frame, these two were inseparable, and we just followed the energy.

Chasing Light and a Very Fast Puppy

McCarthy Park has these wide open field paths that catch the last hour of sun beautifully. We timed this session for golden hour, and the light delivered. Warm, low, and wrapping around everything it touched. The kind of light we build entire sessions around.

Here’s the thing about photographing kids with animals: you can’t plan it. The puppy bolted, the boy chased, and both of them were laughing (in their own way). We pulled back to let the field do its work, shooting wide to capture the scale of that golden path stretching out behind them. Those unscripted sprints gave us some of our favorite frames.

Then they’d slow down. The puppy would curl in close, the boy would wrap his arms around her, and the whole mood shifted. We leaned into that contrast, pulling in tight for the quiet moments. That push and pull between wild energy and pure tenderness is what made this session so good.

If you’re considering family photography in Cottage Grove, McCarthy Park is worth a look. It’s tucked away enough to feel private, and the light at sunset is consistently gorgeous. We’d go back any day.