Connected Extended Family Session Amid Rainy Skies in Cheyenne Canyon
Some families stand close for a photograph. And some families melt into one another, an intricate weave of hands, laughter, glances, and gentle touches. Families who don’t just pose together, but who exist together in a kind of soft orbit, connected by invisible threads of devotion.
Carolyn’s family is that kind of family.
They traveled from out of state to gather in Colorado Springs, drawn together partly by the joy of Carolyn’s grandson Michael’s wedding, but also by something deeper. A desire to hold close what matters most. Earlier this year, Carolyn was diagnosed with breast cancer. She’s now in the middle of radiation treatment, carrying both strength and vulnerability in the same breath. Amidst all of this, she chose to have these photographs made, to honor the love that holds her family together, even in uncertain seasons.
Threads of Closeness
Before the session, I’d sent Carolyn my usual questionnaire. It’s full of gentle questions, not only about logistics, but about hopes and heart. Her answer to one question stayed with me as I planned our time together:
“As silly as it sounds, just the closeness between us and how much we love each other, how much fun we have together, and how much we enjoy being around each other, although it’s total chaos most of the time.”
It doesn’t sound silly at all. It sounds like the entire reason I do what I do.
The Dance of Light, Mud, and Love
On the day of our session, Colorado’s skies were caught in a restless cycle of rain, leaving the earth soaked and the trails slick with mud. I’d been watching the forecast like a hawk, quietly confident we’d find our window of dry skies. When we arrived at our cozy spot in Cheyenne Canyon, the air was cool and soft, the clouds lifting just enough for light to spill across the hillsides.
The landscape offered new challenges: puddles, hidden mud patches, paths transformed into small creeks. We pivoted, found new pockets of beauty, and leaned into the unexpected. Sometimes the most meaningful photographs happen precisely because plans change.
And through it all, Carolyn and Phil stood surrounded by the people who adore them: their children, Anna, Philip, and Amy, and their grandchildren, each carrying a piece of this family’s story. There were moments of gentle quiet and moments of joyful chaos. Grandkids tucked themselves under arms. Siblings teased and laughed. Carolyn reached for Phil’s hand, the simple gesture of decades spent side by side. Amid the mud and the shifting skies, there was an undeniable tenderness in every glance and touch.
Families Who Lean Into the Messy, Beautiful Whole
These are the families I love to photograph, the ones who don’t shy away from closeness. The ones who know that love is often found in small, ordinary gestures: the way arms wrap around shoulders, the way eyes soften when they look at one another, the way a laugh erupts from the center of the chest and spills outward.
Carolyn’s family reminded me once again why I do this work. It’s not simply about taking photos. It’s about preserving the feeling of belonging, the proof that even in seasons of hardship, love remains steadfast and bright.
Carolyn, thank you for inviting me into your family’s story. Your courage, your warmth, and your fierce love shine through every frame. You are deeply loved, and it shows.
