Tag: Harlinsdale Farms

A Golden Evening at Harlinsdale Farms | Gold Hope Session | Spring Hill, TN Family Photographer

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I had the honor of photographing a Gold Hope session at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin, and from the first few minutes I could tell this family was something special. The energy between these four kids — twins who are ten, a spirited three-year-old, and the sweetest six-month-old — was exactly the kind of beautiful chaos I love to capture.

We kept things simple — one beautiful spot at Harlinsdale with gorgeous evening light doing most of the work. I didn’t need to move this family all over the property to get variety. Connection does that on its own. A family hug that turns into a pile of giggles. A big sister holding her baby brother. Twins whispering secrets. A three-year-old doing three-year-old things. Every combination told a different part of their story.

The editing for this one felt intentional too — I leaned into warm, golden tones throughout the gallery to honor the Gold Hope mission and the golden hour light we were given that evening. It just felt right.

I’m so grateful this family trusted me with these memories. This is the kind of work that fills my cup and reminds me exactly why I picked up a camera in the first place.

The Gold Hope Project provides free portrait sessions for pediatric cancer patients to bring awareness to childhood cancer and provide funding for a cure. You can learn more about Gold Hope at goldhope.org.

Harlinsdale Farms Family Session | Franklin TN Family Photography

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Family portrait session at Golden Hour at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin TN

The weather couldn’t have been better for this session at Harlinsdale Farms—comfortable temperatures, great light, and just enough breeze. Apparently everyone else in Franklin thought so too, because the place was absolutely packed with families making the most of the beautiful evening.

I’ve photographed this family before, so it was fun to see how much the boys have grown since our last session. Working with repeat clients is always easier because you already know their personalities and how they interact with each other.

The main challenge we ran into is actually pretty common with elementary-aged kids. The younger son is at that awkward in-between height where he’s too big to easily pick up and hold, but still quite a bit shorter than his parents and big brother. Getting everyone’s faces close together for family portraits takes some creative positioning.

I ended up using several different approaches to work around the height differences. We started with shots sitting against the barn, which brought everyone closer to the same level naturally. Then I had the parents kneel and squat to get down closer to the boys’ height. Big brother had to do his share of crouching too since he’s gotten pretty tall. We also did some shots where he hugged his little brother from behind, which worked well for the height issue and looked natural.

The younger son was a good sport about being lifted for a few shots when we needed everyone’s faces together. At the end, we found a bench that let the whole family sit comfortably, which solved the problem completely.

I’m glad we got this session in before Harlinsdale closes next week to prepare for Pilgrimage Festival. The timing worked out perfectly, and I’m really happy with how the photos turned out.

Spontaneous Change Leads to Perfect Senior Session

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Senior girl at matgic hour at the Park at Harlinsdale Farms

Sometimes the most beautiful moments in photography come from unexpected changes. This was certainly the case for this recent senior session, which took an unplanned but ultimately perfect turn.

We had originally scheduled to meet at Battle Ground Academy, but when we arrived, the campus was busy with sporting events. The crowds made intimate portraits difficult, so we relocated to Harlinsdale Farms.

This change turned out to be ideal. The weather was gorgeous, with beautiful afternoon light filtering through the historic farm buildings and across the open fields. What made this location even more meaningful was that I had photographed her family here years ago. Returning to capture her senior portraits created a nice full-circle moment.

I loved how she incorporated her college choice of Tulane into her wardrobe. These thoughtful details make senior portraits more meaningful – they’re not just about the end of high school, but celebrating the journey ahead.

Editing these images brought me so much joy. Her infectious laugh and genuine smile lit up every frame. Working with a senior whose personality shines through so naturally made my job easy and enjoyable.

This session reminded me that sometimes a backup plan turns out to be exactly where you were meant to be all along.

Finding the Light and the Magic: A Harlinsdale Family Session

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Sometimes, even the most well-planned photo sessions throw you a curveball. This one started with a little adventure. I arrived early, as I always do, planning to meet the family near the canoe launch at Harlinsdale Farms. But when I got there, the main gate was closed. There’s been ongoing construction at the park for a while, but I’ve never seen it completely closed off.

With no way to drive to my planned location, I parked near the dog park and took a moment to reassess. The spot I’d originally chosen was all about the light—the way the sun filters beautifully through the trees. Luckily, I found a similar area on the other side of the park. It was a reminder of why I always say that lighting, followed closely by texture, is the most important element in choosing a location. The backdrop matters, but the true focus of any portrait should always be the people. (It was also a great reminder of why I always show up super early, even when I’m very familiar with a session location.)

And speaking of the people—this family was an absolute joy to photograph. The youngest member of the family completely stole my heart. My favorite photos from any session are often the less posed, “messy” moments—the ones where not everyone is looking at the camera but instead are caught up in genuine connection. Those moments are harder to capture with larger families. It’s a delicate dance: getting everyone in the frame, bathed in beautiful light, while looking natural and relaxed.

We often say we love candid photos, but true candids would mean I just follow you around, documenting life as it unfolds. What I actually do is more like planned candids. I guide everyone into the frame, in the right light, and then encourage them to interact as they naturally would. It’s a tall order—unless there’s a two-year-old leading the way.

That’s where the magic happens. Adults and older kids often feel self-conscious in front of the camera, not knowing what to do with their hands or where to look. But a two-year-old? They just are. They haven’t been weighed down by the world’s expectations. They know how to live in the moment, and when you let them take charge, everything else falls into place.

This session was proof of that. From playful moments to heartfelt hugs, the little one led the way, and the result was pure, joyful magic. Two-year-olds really are the best of us.

Here are a few of my favorite images from this beautiful evening at Harlinsdale Farms.

Weathering the Storm: A Senior Session at Harlinsdale Farms

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Today, I want to share the story of a recent senior session that took place amidst some less-than-ideal weather conditions at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin, TN. Despite facing several setbacks due to Mother Nature’s whims, I really love how this session turned out.

Scheduling this session was no easy feat. We had to reschedule multiple times due to the unpredictable weather, and just when we thought we had a clear window, the forecast decided to throw us a curveball.

On the day of the shoot, the weather was far from perfect. Occasional sprinkles and persistent gusts of wind threatened to disrupt our plans at every turn. But rather than letting it dampen our spirits, we embraced the challenge head-on. The one positive is that it was unseasonably warm for a February day.

One thing I’ve learned in my years as a photographer is to find beauty in unexpected places. High winds may have been a nuisance, but it added a certain dynamic quality to the portraits that we couldn’t have achieved otherwise. I happen to love photographing windblown hair, so it was more the constant threat of a downpour that had me concerned. Luckily, the rain held out for the most part.

Now, let’s talk about our senior girl. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, she did an amazing job. I LOVED the green color she chose for both her outfits. The color was absolutely perfect one her, and I also love the way it looked with the backdrop of Harlinsdale Farms. She was so much fun to hang out with and photograph.

In the end, despite the weather’s best efforts to thwart us, we managed to capture some great Senior photos. It just goes to show that sometimes, the most memorable moments come when we least expect them – even if they’re sprinkled with a little rain and a lot of wind.

Searching for a photographer in Middle Tennessee, covering Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia? Visit my website for further details or schedule a session through my online calendar. I’d greatly appreciate it if you considered joining my journey on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Large Family Photo Session in Franklin, TN

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Large family photo session in Franklin, TN

When I photograph large family photo sessions, I can’t help but get a little jealous of all the fun that big families seem to have. It’s like a party anytime they get together. I adored this family before I had even met them, thanks to the beautiful things that their dad and grandpa said about them in my client questionnaire.

One of my favorite things is reading what my clients write about their families in that questionnaire. The simple question of “Tell me a little about each of you” can reveal so much. It’s an oddly personal job to capture someone’s portrait, and in a way I can’t quite explain, I like to know something about them before I begin. For example, I knew that the older granddaughter was very serious about taking care of her baby doll. So I definitely wanted to include the doll in photos. And when I saw her squeezing the doll and her cousin at the same time, giving them both all her love, I had to capture that.

The only challenge with such a large group is balancing getting all the different combinations of shots you need and still trying to capture a little of that personality simultaneously. I often leave wishing I could have gotten to know them even better.

Large family photo session in Franklin, TN

Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.