Starr Family Session at Oakwood Park | Cottage Grove, MN

One of my favorite things about being a photographer is walking with families through the years—documenting their seasons of life and watching kids grow up in front of my camera. This session was extra special because I’ve had the joy of photographing this family before, and this time we scheduled an extended session to give us plenty of space for both posed portraits and playful moments.

About 45 minutes before our time together, the skies over where I was started looking stormy. Funny enough, my clients just a few miles away still had clear skies! We decided to give it a try, but right as I was getting ready to drive to Oakwood Park in Cottage Grove, the rain began pouring down. Thankfully, it passed quickly, and after a short 15-minute delay we were able to jump right in.

Because of the heavy clouds, the sun was setting much faster than expected, so we moved through the session with a mix of excited energy and focus. This family didn’t lose any of their joy—the smiles, the giggles, and the playful chasing kept the evening lighthearted. Oakwood Park’s overlook gave us a beautiful backdrop, and the laughter made it even better.

Sometimes sessions don’t go exactly as planned, but those are often the ones that stand out the most. I love how this family embraced the unpredictable weather and made the most of every moment together. I loved how the kids had ideas of their own that they wanted to explore for the photos and got involved. I loved how the parents laughed amongst themselves and were relaxed, just enjoying life. These are the kinds of memories worth holding onto.

Hey! It's Lindsay Wiggins!

I'm the wifey in our husband and wife wedding and portrait photographer team based in Cottage Grove, Minnesota! What exactly does that mean? You'll have to find out more about us, but the basic idea is that I rock all the portrait sessions and Mark sometimes joins in the fun to second shoot on wedding days (because #lifewiththreekids)!

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