Mom and dad stand back to back while holding their kids during a fall family mini photo session at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. — My absolute favorite sessions this season were the families who brought their joy with them.

Their joy did not perform for the camera. It simply showed up. And that became the real center of their story.

Fall in the Triangle never fails to surprise me. One minute it’s 75 degrees and bright, and the next we have a weather advisory and we’re preparing for WCPSS to close schools for the day. But this year’s fall family mini photo sessions in Raleigh were one of my favorite parts of the season. It was my first year offering fall minis and I couldn’t have asked for a more joyful, grounded, and genuinely fun set of sessions to close out the year.

When I look back at the families who came out, the locations we explored, and the stories I captured, I’m reminded why I love documenting life here. Raleigh, Durham, and the entire Triangle region have this way of holding history, nature, and community together in a way that becomes the backdrop of the family stories I get to photograph.

A Beautiful First Year of Fall Family Mini Photo Sessions in Raleigh

From longtime clients to brand-new faces, this year’s minis reminded me that you can learn a lot about a family in twenty minutes. You can see who cracks the first joke, which parent is the resident goofball, and which kid tries to be serious but giggles the second their sibling bumps into them.

My absolute favorite sessions this season were the families who brought their joy with them. You can always tell which families genuinely love being together, which parents approach their roles as a team, who embraces the chaos, and who still finds each other funny after years of interrupted sleep and preschool pickup lines. Their joy does not perform for the camera. It simply shows up. And it is the real center of their story.

I am grateful to every family who let me in on that joy, even briefly. Those twenty minutes matter more than people think.

Historic Oak View County Park: A Quiet, Meaningful Backdrop

One of our most popular locations this year was Historic Oak View County Park, a 27-acre historic farm site in southeast Wake County. The land was originally a forced-labor farm operated by enslaved people, and today the county honors that history with intention rather than glossing over it. Families can still walk through the 1855 farmhouse, the cotton gin barn, and the livestock buildings. These structures hold both beauty and truth.

Mom sits with 10-year-old son on blanket at Historic Oak View County Park during a fall family mini photo session in October 2025.

Parents pose with twin 2-year-olds during a fall family photo session at Historic Oak View County Park in Raleigh, NC.

Mom and dad hold kids and dance during fall mini photos at Historic Oak View County Park.

Mom, dad, and baby walk through a grassy field at Historic Oak View County Park during a professional fall family photography session.

For photos, Oak View offers wide, rolling grassy hills and the most stunning pecan grove. In early fall, which is when I hosted family fall mini sessions here, the grass across the grove glowed with the changing greens and soft golds that so many families in Raleigh love. Every time I photograph here, I am reminded why I keep returning.

Museum Park at NCMA: Art, Nature, and a True Raleigh Feel

The Museum Park at the North Carolina Museum of Art feels like the Triangle distilled into one place. It is creative, welcoming, beautifully diverse, and full of unexpected pockets of calm. I love the way the big oak and magnolia trees frame the trails, how the sculptures stand boldly against the warm fall grass, and how the landscape feels alive even on quiet mornings.

Mom and dad laugh with 3-year-old daughter and baby during a fall family mini session at the North Carolina Museum of Art Park in Raleigh.

Baby rides on dad's shoulders while mom and daughter pose during a fall family photo session at the NCMA park in Raleigh, NC.

Family sits on ground with young children during a fall mini session at North Carolina Museum of Art Park in Raleigh.

Family with 3 kids makes silly faces while taking fall family photos in Raleigh, NC.

This spot is perfect for families who want a natural, airy look with clean lines and wide-open spaces. The fall color comes through softly here, which lets the family take center stage.

Jordan Lake Farms: The New Favorite

This was my first year offering Christmas tree minis as part of my broader fall family mini photo sessions offerings in Raleigh, and Jordan Lake Farms in Apex was the perfect backdrop. It is family-owned, filled with rows of beautiful trees, and well-loved by photographers for good reason. The soft, cloudy December light we get here turns the whole farm into a gentle, dreamy backdrop.

If you want that classic southern holiday look, this place has it.

What I Learned This Season and How You Can Use It

One of the biggest patterns I noticed this year was that the families who read my fall family style guide had the most cohesive galleries. They chose outfits that complemented Raleigh’s rich fall palette including earth tones, warm neutrals, olive, and rust. Nothing too busy. Nothing that clashed with the environment.

Instead of standing out harshly, they blended naturally with the scene. And when a family fits comfortably into the landscape, their connection becomes the focal point.

If you are planning ahead for next year’s fall mini sessions, consider using the environment as part of your styling inspiration. Raleigh gives us a beautiful canvas, so let it guide you.

Continuing Family Photos Through Winter

Many people assume family photos end when the leaves fall, but winter is actually one of my favorite seasons to photograph in. I especially love in-home sessions. If you have ever considered a cozy, storytelling-driven session where everyone gets to stay warm and comfortable, you might love my post on why in-home family photos matter. Winter is the perfect time to try one.