Today feels nothing like the day this session took place. The sun is shining. The air is warm. Summer is doing its thing. But for some reason, my mind keeps wandering back to a chilly fall evening in Highland Park.
Maybe it's because some memories have a way of sticking around. Or maybe it's because this particular moment was such a beautiful reminder of what matters most.
It was the middle of fall. The kind of day where you bundle up in an extra layer and tuck your hands into your pockets whenever the wind picks up. The trees were still holding onto some of their leaves, but every gust sent a few more drifting toward the ground, adding to the colorful piles scattered throughout the park.
In the middle of it all sat Morissa, Darius, and J. Curled up together on a blanket. Laughing. Cuddling close. Trying to stay warm. And completely content just being together. It was one of those sessions that felt less like work and more like spending an evening with friends. Which honestly makes sense because that's exactly what it was.
As they settled onto the blanket, I had an idea. I counted to three. And my husband, who deserves an award for Best Photography Assistant and Leaf Thrower Extraordinaire, grabbed a giant handful of leaves and launched them into the air above their heads.
For a second, time slowed down. The leaves floated and danced through the wind like confetti. Brown. Orange. Yellow. A perfect autumn celebration. And J? His reaction was everything.
He looked up at the falling leaves with the biggest grin on his face. Pure excitement. Pure wonder. Pure childhood. Then came the laughter. The kind of laugh that instantly makes everyone else smile too. His joy echoed through the park, and before I knew it, Morissa and Darius were laughing right along with him.
It's such a simple moment. No grand gesture. No elaborate setup. No perfectly curated experience. Just a little boy watching leaves fall from the sky. And somehow, it's the moment I remember most from their entire session. Because kids like J have a way of reminding us what's important. They don't need extravagant plans. They don't need complicated entertainment. They find magic in the simplest things. A pile of leaves. A windy day. A handful of falling colors.
And honestly, I think that's something we could all learn from.
Morissa and Darius are so wonderful at embracing that mindset. They're the kind of people who know how to have fun no matter what they're doing. They're easygoing, joyful, and always willing to lean into whatever adventure the day brings. And maybe that's why they're raising such happy kids.
Because joy lives here. Not in the big milestones or perfectly planned moments. But in the everyday things. The cuddles on a blanket. The laughter carried by the wind. The leaves tossed into the air by an overly enthusiastic photographer's husband. It's simple. It's beautiful. And it's exactly the kind of memory worth holding onto.
Morissa, Darius, and J, thank you for another evening filled with laughter, friendship, and memories I'll cherish forever. Spending time with your family is always a gift, and I am so thankful for every chapter you've allowed me to document.
Thank you for always reminding me that the best moments in life are usually the simplest ones. 🤍
