A Family Documentary Session in Cheyenne Canyon

Blog, Family Session

July 10, 2025

This family documentary session in Cheyenne Canyon creek near Starsmore Nature Center was so playful and carefree.

It’s the type of session that reminds me exactly why I do this work.
Why it’s important to take photos now, no matter your season.
Even if your house is too small. Too messy. Never quite perfect.

Because your kids are growing up right before your eyes! Don’t wait until it’s too late. Capture the sweet beauty in this season before it changes.

This Colorado Springs family invited me into a day that felt part adventure, part homecoming. We started the morning in Cheyenne Canyon, where the creek was running cold and clear. Mountain water is fridgely refreshing. And yet, on a hot day, their toddler dipped right in—no hesitation. She squealed and splashed in the icy water like it was the best thing she’d ever felt. Her delight was so evident as she high-stepped through the creek, so proud of the big splashes she was creating all by herself.

We laid out a simple picnic and watched the canyon sunlight filter through the trees while they ate. However, with a busy toddler who couldn’t stay out of the water, mom and dad didn’t get to sit down very long. One or the other was safety police, hunchbacked in the creek, holding little hands, keeping their toddler safe from slipping on the rocks. It was one of those unhurried days where you give in to the chaos and wonder of childhood, following their lead, and maybe allow your inner child to play a little too.

After a few hours, we headed back to their home near downtown Colorado Springs.

Inside, the house was bumping with beats for rocking the baby to sleep (plot twist: it didn’t work. She was here for the party.).

As a game of Guess Who? was played out on the table, the warm and wonderful smell of matza ball soup simmering on the stove started to fill the house—a common dinner in this household. The family sat around the candlelit table to enjoy their meal together.

Their toddler loves to take all the things and put them in the garbage – like this bag of marshemellows from the pantry. So, like the creative parents that they are, they bought her her own (empty) trash can so she can have all the fun putting things in it, so they don’t end up in their actual trash. It’s THESE moments that are so silly (and possibly frustrating) in the moment, but you’ll laugh at in the future! And these photos will be the fun reminder for you, because believe it or not, you might forget these goofy quirks of your kids.