There’s something magical about summer evenings in the mountains of eastern Wyoming. The wide-open skies stretch endlessly, the air is soft and warm, and the golden light lingers just a little longer—almost as if it knows you’re not ready for the day to end. This past summer, I had the sweetest opportunity to capture that fleeting light in one of my favorite ways: photographing my own children.

We spent the summer of 2024 volunteering at Camp Grace in eastern Wyoming. I wanted to take advantage of our time there and photograph my kids. We drove near the rifle range for a simple evening in the mountains, where rolling grasses meet rugged peaks and the sun spills across the horizon like melted gold. My kids, with their cowboy boots and full of adventure, needed little prompting to laugh and explore. Their joy reminded me of why I fell in love with photography in the first place—those unscripted, genuine moments that tell a story without words.

The mountains were alive with summer’s beauty. Wildflowers peeked through tall grasses, the breeze carried a hint of sage, and the sky slowly shifted from blue to orange to pink. Against that backdrop, I watched my children pick flowers, chase each other through the grass, and pause just long enough for me to capture the way the light danced in their hair.

As a photographer, I’ve learned that the best images often come when I let go of perfection and embrace the real—the messy giggles, the wind-tousled hair, the dust-covered toes. These images of my children aren’t just portraits; they’re reminders of this season of life. A season where they’re still little enough to hold hands, still eager to explore, and still find wonder in the simplest things.

Photographing in the Wyoming mountains is always breathtaking, but photographing my own family there makes it unforgettable. These images will hang on our walls and live in our albums for years, reminding me not only of the beauty of summer but also of the fleeting, precious nature of childhood.

If you’ve ever thought about documenting your family in a place that feels wild and free, I can’t recommend the mountains enough. There’s something about wide-open spaces that allows personalities to shine and memories to unfold naturally. Summer is the perfect season for it—long days, golden sunsets, and children who never want to come inside.

This session with my kids is one I’ll treasure forever, and I’d love nothing more than to create the same kind of memories for other families in Wyoming.