Hickok Family at Home

The childhood home.

There is something so special about returning to the place you grew up with your own kids. Letting them get a glimpse into what your childhood was like. Picking raspberries from the same bushes you plucked berries from 15 years ago.

I am a deeply sentimental, nostalgic individual and feel so fortunate to have so many wonderful memories of summers spent with my maternal grandparents in Montana and my paternal grandmother in Oregon. So it comes as no surprise that some of my favorite family photos are the ones taken during younger families’ trips to their childhood home.

A few of my favorite snaps from one such trip home for the Hickok family.

The Wilke Family in Big Sky

There's something uniquely magical about summer in Big Sky, Montana. The rolling hills kissed by the golden light of a setting sun, the whispering pines swaying gently in the breeze, and the wildflowers carpeting the meadows in a wash of colors all create the perfect backdrop for capturing precious family memories.

The Wilkes’ family photo session this summer was a heartfelt reminder of the simple joys that bind families together. Along the banks of the sparkling Gallatin River, the laughter of their kiddos was plentiful, mingling with the soft murmur of the water. It felt like a scene from a cherished family movie, one where every frame tells a story of love and togetherness.

The days are long here and the warmth of the sun lingered in the air as the sun set. Sweet Paige kept busy collecting rocks and picking wildflowers while the boys skipped stones across the river. These candid moments are more than just photographs—they are fragments of time, frozen and infused with the essence of summer and childhood.

While my focus is always on the connections and nuances of each family and I firmly believe your backyard is just as good a spot for family photos as anywhere, this Big Sky meadow provided plenty of scenic views as a backdrop and by allowing the kids to lead from start to finish, we were able to freeze both candid moments and capture some portraits that felt honest and reflective of who they are as a family.

As the evening drew to a close, the sky transformed into a canvas of pinks and oranges, blues and grays. The kids chased butterflies and played photographer with my little Instax against this beautiful backdrop, creating timeless images that evoke a deep sense of nostalgia. It's a reminder that while children grow and time marches on, the memories you create together are there forever for you to return to.

If you approach your family photos as nothing more than a couple hours with nothing to do but enjoy each other’s company, your photos can be more than just a series of pictures. They can be a celebration of the love that connects you, a tribute to the beauty of the present moment, and a promise to cherish these fleeting, precious days. These photographs will be treasured, not just as images, but as tangible pieces of our family’s story.

Film Lab: The FIND Lab

Clifford Family at Home on the Ranch

For years, I would spend my afternoons looking for beautiful new locations for sessions. Wide open fields full of wildflowers with mountains in the background, a picturesque creekside - you know what I mean. But lately I’ve been drawn to the simplicity of home, no matter what “home” looks like.

Why home? It’s where everyone is most comfortable. It’s full of snacks and things that kids can turn to when they’re feeling shy or just generally not wanting to participate. And it feels less like “a thing we have to do” for kids when they have the freedom to wander off to their room when they need a break. All of this works together to give us more natural and honest photos of your family that better reflect the nuances of everyone’s personalities at this stage.

Sami and her family are lucky enough to have this big, beautiful ranch to call home and it was so fun to let the kids show me around. Lots of wandering, picking flowers, finding eggs, chasing chickens, climbing roofs, and some of my favorite family photos of all time in between.

If you’re looking to bottle up a moment in time without over-engineering it, I’d love to document this season for you.

Film scans by The FIND Lab