Some family sessions feel especially close to my heart, and this one with the Wessels family is certainly one of them! While they’re technically my cousins, their two sweet boys simply know me as Aunt Kara, which makes every session feel more like spending an evening together as family than showing up for work. This year’s session came between Macklin’s second birthday and Maverick’s fifth birthday, and I honestly can’t believe how quickly these boys are growing. Every time I see them, they’ve changed just a little more, and I’m so grateful to have these photographs to remember each season!
Like so much of Central Illinois this summer, our session took place during one of the hottest stretches of the year. It was warm, humid, and definitely one of those evenings where we all felt the Midwest heat. Even so, spending the evening together on their property outside of Watseka made every sweaty minute worthwhile. The boys explored, played, and laughed, and those moments became some of my favorite photographs from the entire session.
One of the reasons I love this gallery so much is because it perfectly reflects what I hope every family experiences during their session with me. I think it’s easy to believe family photos have to be a big production where everyone looks perfectly at the camera, every child smiles on cue, and everything goes exactly according to plan. The reality is that family life rarely looks like that, and honestly, I don’t think it should!
Instead, I want your session to feel like an evening spent together. I want your children to play, explore, cuddle with you, and simply be themselves. As your photographer, my job isn’t to force moments that don’t feel natural. It’s to notice the little interactions that happen without anyone thinking about them and preserve those genuine moments that tell your story better than any perfectly posed photograph ever could.
Looking through this gallery makes me smile because it’s filled with exactly that! It captures two little boys growing up, parents who adore them, and an ordinary summer evening that will one day feel extraordinary because it’s been preserved. I’m so excited to share a few favorites from this special session. And I’m even more thankful my own family trusts me to document these memories year after year!
Explore more family photos like this session & let’s connect on Instagram for behind-the-scenes moments & a look at my latest photos! Reach out to plan your family session today!
Iroquois County Family Photographer | Summer Family Session Photo Ideas | Central Illinois Family Photographer
