‘Twas the season, just two days before Christmas, as I pulled into Upland Farms Park in Chester Springs, PA, ready to capture the holiday spirit of a local family. The weather surprised with its warmth for late December, especially considering the bitter cold with which the day had started. This created the perfect backdrop for unfolding a memorable family photography session in beautiful Chester County. Setting up my camera, excitement filled me for the day ahead. However, it appeared not everyone shared the enthusiasm for a photoshoot.

Jacob’s Reluctance and a Playful Challenge

Upon stepping out of the car, five-year-old Jacob made it clear he wasn’t thrilled about having his picture taken. His mom, Jenn, looked nervous, expressing concern that his reluctance might cast a shadow over the session. She mentioned that he was difficult when it came to pictures and asked me to do what I could. Little did she know, this marked the beginning of a delightful adventure.

Undeterred by Jacob’s initial reservations, I decided to kick off the session with a playful challenge to get him engaged and calm everyone’s nerves. As Mom and Dad tended to baby sister Elowyn, I challenged Jacob to a hay bale jumping contest. His face brightened, and I heard him laugh as he sprinted to the closest hay bale, climbed to the top, and showcased his impressive jumping skills. From that moment on, he was hooked – easy peasy!

Family Photography or Playdate?

The next hour unfolded more like playtime than a standard family photography session – from classic games like red light, green light, and red rover red rover, to several races up the hills. We even dared to climb a tree, turning Upland Farms into our own playland. Jacob’s initial resistance transformed into pure enthusiasm, and his smile and personality became the highlight of the session.

Another Wonderful Day for Chester County Family Photography!

As we walked back up to the barn, baby Elowyn’s cold, hangry pout marked the end of our pre-holiday adventure. But not before Jacob, with a high five and a grin, admitted that having his picture taken was “pretty cool” and that he would “probably let me do it again.” I’ll take that as a big-time win, knowing that our time at Upland Farms Park not only captured beautiful moments of this amazingly fun family but also turned another skeptical child into a little Chester County family photography fan.

Come learn more about the Taylor Verner Family Photography Experience!

Want to see more of Upland Farms Park? Check out their website HERE