Spring Family Portraits at Fort Stilly | Amanda Howse Photography 

Family Portraits

December 15, 2022

Spring Family Portraits at Fort Stilly

This May, I got together with Kiauna and her AH-mazing family for their spring family portraits at Fort Stilly before she left for college. Miss Kiauna was on my 2022 Model Team and I got to shoot her senior portraits at the dreamy Point Defiance Rose Gardens. One of the perks of being on the team is getting photos before the senior goes off to college. For many reasons, this is a huge time in their family’s life, and I love being able to give them visual memories from this time. Kiauna is now off at Easter Oregon and thriving in college, but I can’t wait to share the photos from our day together this past spring! 

Family Portraits with College-Aged Children | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Red Barn Family Portraits with Cute Family | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
B&W Portraits at Ft. Stilly | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography

Sunny Springtime Shoot

For their family session, we headed to Ft. Stilly around mid-May. It was a tad cold for May, and the breeze made it a little chillier, but it was still a perfect day for portraits! The trees were in bloom and the afternoon light was gorgeous. We all had so much fun! Part of the fun with family portraits is having everyone interact together. Planning different poses with the siblings, some with mom and dad, and of course the big group portraits, it can be a crazy time. Which means TONS of memories for everyone! Mixing up the groupings during the shoot also ensure that you get a variety of poses and photos. I always love making sure families have whatever shots they need for gifts, holiday cards, framed prints, or any other fun idea they want photos for. 

Group Family Photos, Walking in the Forest With Sunlight | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Cute Sibling Photos in Bright Green Field | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Pose Ideas For Outdoor Family Portraits | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Fun Family Poses with Dad and Daughters | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Poses For Dads and Kids | Family Portrait Ideas | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography

Building Roots and Memories

I may be biased, but I just love family shoots! Everyone should get them yearly. Think of me like the family dentist, but way more fun. Make your appointment six months in advance and start preparing for the big day all year LOL. The true reason I love family portraits so much though, is because they connect you with your family and your family’s story. Portraits have long been staples in royal families to show lineage and family ideals. So why not in our families too? In modern times, portraits still serve as a connection to family heritage. Even when the loved ones have passed, their stories can live on. 

Outdoor Family Photos Surrounded by Trees | PNW Family Portraits, Tacoma, Washington | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Classic B&W Family Portraits | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
May Family Portraits in Golden Sunlight | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Mom and Dad Portraits with Kids | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography

Portraits With Your Older Children

Oftentimes, people have the misconception that family portraits are only necessary when their kids are little. But that is not the case! Once your kids grow up and get jobs, leave the house, or start building families of their own, your time with each other becomes even more precious. Family portraits are a great way to get everyone together and build memories with each other that can be shared even when you aren’t physically together. Kiauna’s family made sure to scheduled their portraits before their daughter headed off to college. Which is such a smart time to get portraits done! Life changes all the time, but family is constant. When parents and siblings are missing their girl away at college, or she is feeling homesick, they can look at the portraits, think of the memories of that day, and feel a little closer to one another. That’s the magic of pictures!

Why Family Portraits Are Important | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Ft. Stilly Family Portraits with Young Son | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Mommy Daughter Pose Ideas For Family Portraits | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Cute Portraits with Mom and Older Daughters | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Best Locations in WA For Springtime Family Portraits | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Outdoor Family Portraits at Ft. Stilly | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography
Making Family Portraits Fun | Photographed by the Best Tacoma, Washington Family Photographer Amanda Howse Photography

Let’s Connect!

If you are ready to capture your own family memories, let’s chat! I would love to help create a family portrait plan that works for you and your loved ones!  I offer a variety of family sessions which you can check out here! You can contact me anytime on my website! You can also email me at [email protected] or call/text 530-412-0730 to schedule your shoot.

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