I’ve been photographing at Dull’s Tree Farm in Thorntown, Indiana, for years, and I always love coming back. This year’s wildflower minis came with a surprise, though.
They had pushed their growing season back and made the flower field a little smaller. And by a little, I mean a lot. It looked about a fifth of the size I remembered!
I was a little shocked. Okay, a lot shocked.
With five sessions planned, I had a moment of wondering how I was going to make it all work. Then I took a closer look.
Small field, beautiful possibilities
The flowers were gorgeous. Pink, purple, orange, and yellow blooms filled the space. The smaller field was easier for the farmers to manage, and there were fewer weeds and so much color.
Once we started shooting, my initial worries faded.
We had children running down grassy paths, little hands holding flowers, and families cuddling together on a blanket. There were cheek kisses, sibling hugs, and even a sweet dog joining the fun.
The flowers framed everyone beautifully. Looking through these images, I think this little field may have been even more beautiful than the bigger one.
I’ve shared more of my photography sessions at Dull’s Tree Farm over the years, and I love seeing how each visit brings something different.
A little challenge can be a good thing
Sometimes I need something unexpected to make me think outside the box of chocolates. Yes, chocolates. We’re going with it.
The smaller space encouraged me to look for different angles and see a familiar location in a new way. We photographed through the flowers, along the paths, and from above as the kids lay beside the blooms.
It reminded me how much I love the creative part of this work. Even after years behind the camera, a new challenge can help me grow—and lead to images I love even more.
That mix of playful moments and close, quiet cuddles is something I love capturing in my Indianapolis family photography sessions. This little field gave us room for all of it.
The best part? My clients’ reactions.
Some clients were surprised by the smaller field, too, especially those who had been there in previous years.
But when they received their galleries, every one of them was over the moon. And honestly, I think we may have loved this year’s images even more.
I adore these families, and I’m so grateful they trusted me to capture their cuddles, laughter, and little moments together. Thank you to Dull’s for growing such a beautiful space for us.
A smaller field, so much color, and people I love photographing. We made a little magic.
