As a Minneapolis family photographer, I've explored endless beautiful locations for photo sessions. From the urban cities to the open fields, Minneapolis has it all! But when the Steiner family told me they wanted to explore the White Bear Lake area I knew exactly where to take them for the session of their dreams. We absolutely had to plan on Tamarack Nature Center for their family photography session! This 320 acre location is free to use and open to the public. The downside is no dogs allowed but that wasn't an issue for us.

Tamarack Nature Center is great for family photography sessions. The downside is that it has quickly become quite popular and can be really really crowded in the fall months when everyone is looking for fall foliage images for their family photo sessions. But it really is a stunning backdrop for this family!

The fall foliage colors showcased at Tamarack during our family session gave the whole session a warm joyful feel, and the not terribly cold weather added a sprinkle of fall coziness.

Mom and dad here looked so at home balancing these triplets. They're hands are full but so much fun with love and laughter. They brought a wagon to wrangle these kiddos in when we spot hopped from open fields to wooded terrain.

I also loved the way they dressed to perfectly complement the location. It's always a good idea for families to look up images of their session location beforehand to ensure perfect color choices, and this crew definitely chose wisely! Choosing a color palette isn't an easy task, especially for a family of 5, but I never get tired of helping families build the perfect wardrobe for their session. For our family photography session at Tamarack Nature Center, we went with neutral pastels which is PERFECT and always recommended because it goes with all locations. And I must mention the talent of this mama.  The beautiful quilt featured here?  She made it!  The boys sweaters?  She made them!  

In any event, if you're considering a family session of your own, but are nervous about what to wear, don't let that stop you from scheduling! I promise, with my help it will be easy and effortless! Plus many families actually use my client wardrobe which I offer for moms, dads and children under 5.

Finding the perfect spot to take family photos on the other hand, isn't always easy, but you better believe I'll be returning here over and over again! Even though it gets crowded I've found a way to make it work for my families that choose this location. Thank you so much, Steiner family for inviting me along on this adventure with you! I hope to spend time with all of you again soon!