Golden Hour Family Photos at Furman University | Travelers Rest Family Photographer

Some sessions feel extra special because of the people in front of my camera, and this was definitely one of them. This sweet family is made up of dear friends of ours, and they also happen to be our family's life group leaders through North Hills Church. Getting to photograph people we love is always such a gift, especially when I get to document their family exactly as they are in this season.

We met at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina for their family photos, planning to spend the evening around the beautiful SHI Institute for Sustainable Communities and Furman Rose Garden. With four kids, I knew this session would be full of personality, movement, laughter, and plenty of fun. It absolutely was.

A Rainy Start to the Sweetest Golden Hour

When we first arrived at Furman, it was actually raining. Not exactly what you hope to see when you're planning an outdoor family photography session!

Thankfully, the rain didn't last long. The clouds began to clear, and almost perfectly on cue, the sun came out just in time for our session. We ended up with the prettiest warm golden light filtering through the trees and gardens.

Sometimes the weather that makes you a little nervous beforehand creates the most beautiful conditions afterward. The greenery looked especially vibrant from the rain, and that gorgeous evening sunshine gave everything such a warm, glowy feeling.

It turned into the perfect golden hour.

Family Photos With Four Kids

Photographing a family with four kids means there is never a shortage of personality, and I love that.

Of course, we made sure to get those classic everyone-looking-at-the-camera portraits that every family needs. But some of my favorite images from this session came from letting everyone interact naturally.

There were kids climbing on shoulders, siblings cuddling together, lots of laughing, parents surrounded by all four of their babies, and plenty of moments that felt completely true to their family.

One of my favorite things about family photography is finding the balance between a beautiful portrait and a photograph that actually feels like you.

You want the photo where everyone is smiling at the camera for the Christmas card. But you also want the photo where your daughter is laughing with her sister, your little boy is hanging onto Dad, or all four kids are piled around Mom and Dad.

Those are usually the photographs that become more meaningful with time.

Family Photos at the Furman Rose Garden

Furman University has so much variety for family photos, which is one of the reasons I love photographing sessions here.

We started around the SHI Institute, where there are beautiful pathways, mature trees, flowering plants, and lots of greenery. The soft evening light coming through the trees was gorgeous for both family portraits and individual photos of the kids.

We also made our way toward the Furman Rose Garden, where we were able to photograph the family near the gardens, manicured hedges, and one of Furman's beautiful architectural features.

Within one session, we were able to create images that felt lush and garden-inspired, playful and casual, and a little more classic and timeless.

And that sunset light through the trees at the end of the evening was just so good.

Remembering the Little Personalities

With four kids, there are so many relationships within one family to document.

Mom with the girls.

Dad with the kids.

All four siblings together.

Mom and Dad by themselves.

Each child individually.

And, of course, the entire family piled together laughing.

I always try to make room for all of those combinations during family sessions because each one tells a different part of the family's story.

I especially love taking individual portraits of the kids. Their faces change so quickly, and those simple photographs showing exactly what they looked like at this age can become some of the most treasured images in a gallery.

Greenville Family Photography That Feels Like Your Family

Family photos do not have to mean standing perfectly still and asking kids to smile for an hour.

Especially with younger children, some of the sweetest photographs happen when we give them room to move, play, cuddle, climb, laugh, and simply be kids.

This session was such a perfect example of that. We created the traditional family portraits, but we also captured so much joy and connection between everyone.

Years from now, I hope these photos remind our friends not only of what their four kids looked like during this season, but also of what life with them felt like.

Busy.

Sweet.

A little chaotic.

And so full of love.

I feel incredibly thankful that I got to photograph this family, and I'm especially thankful the rain cleared just in time to give us such a beautiful golden evening together.

If you're looking for a Greenville family photographer and want photographs that include both timeless portraits and the fun, genuine moments that make your family yours, I would love to photograph this season for you.

Ready to update your family photos? Book your family photography session here.