When the Clouds Show Up and the Grass Doesn’t: A Lake Hefner Family Photo Session

Let’s talk about spring in Oklahoma. It’s kind of like a toddler! Hah! So much hope, full of promise, and totally unpredictable. So when I packed up and headed from Bartlesville to OKC for this Lake Hefner family photo session in Oklahoma City in late March, I wasn’t counting on full blooms or lush green fields.

But honestly, we didn’t need them!

We worked with what nature gave us—light green patches, that beautiful tall golden grass that filtered the light like a dream, and a sky that came through majorly with soft, wispy clouds. The whole scene ended up feeling calm, ethereal, and totally perfect for what we were there to capture: not just photos, but legacy.

This family is in such a special season of life—one of those blink-and-it’s-over stages. Their oldest is five, their youngest was 11 months at the time. Old enough to sit, smile, and soak up the cuddles… but not yet crawling away every two seconds like a baby on a mission. IYKYK.

Because I keep my sessions child-led, we let the boys guide the energy. Whether that meant snuggling in the tall grass, giggling with mom and dad, or exploring in their own little ways. The results were honest, joyful, connected photos that they’ll enjoy for years.

And here’s where I want to park for a minute.

These images aren’t just for Instagram. They’re not just for a Christmas card. They’re now part of their family history. They’re a visual reminder of this family’s love and rhythm and togetherness in a season that will never repeat in quite the same way. Photos they will enjoy now, yes, but hopefully even more-so as the years pass and their boys are no longer toddling around or fishing with sticks!

It’s really easy to let your images live on your phone or your computer and never make it onto your walls. Maybe you’ve felt this too. And it’s not because we don’t love them. It’s because printing feels like one more decision in a world full of decisions: what do we do with them? Where do I order from? But I love all of these, how do I pick just 1 or 2? How will they be displayed?

Decision fatigue, especially as a mom, is real. But here’s something else I know: your kids need to see your love for them. Tangibly. On the wall, in an album, in that frame next to their bed. Family photos are more than decor—they’re daily reminders of connection and belonging. That’s why I’m leaning into offering more printed options for clients. Sometimes, the difference between good intentions and beautiful family art on your walls is just a little help and a gentle nudge in the right direction.

So yes, the trees weren’t entirely green and the flowers weren’t blooming—but this session was everything a family session should be: meaningful, full of connection, and beautifully timeless to be enjoyed in their home for years to come.

And that’s what I want every family to walk away with—photos that feel real, memories that last, and prints of them that become an anchor in your family’s story.

Let’s begin your OKC, Tulsa, or Bartlesville family photo experience. Click here to learn more.