Nashville Family Photography at Ellington Agricultural Center — The Ballard Family

The Ballard family returned last fall for a family session at Ellington Agricultural Center in
Nashville.

I first photographed the Ballards back in 2016, at a holiday mini session. Their daughter was so young then — you can see it in the photo below — and the whole family was just so much fun to work with. When my schedule allows, I occasionally offer mini sessions, and it was during that year's holiday minis that I met this fantastic family. I've loved photographing them several more times over the ten years since.

Last fall, the Ballards booked a full family session with me again, this time out at Ellington Agricultural Center. The same little girl from that 2016 mini session is a high school senior this year — ten years, and a handful of sessions together, later.

A Nashville Fall Family Session, Ten Years Running

We photographed this session towards the end of peak fall color. Fall color in Nashville usually peaks around the beginning of November, though how much color we actually get depends on rain — this year's drought means it'll be interesting to see what we get. I arrived early and found a tucked-away space that had gorgeous trees for us to use.

I've photographed this family several times since that first mini session, and I've always enjoyed how much they make me laugh. Their daughter is a good deal taller now, but she still has that same smile. Every time I get to photograph this family again, it feels like a reunion — ten years in, and I always look forward to it.

If you want to see what another family's fall session at this same location looked like, check out the Arteaga family's fall session at Ellington Agricultural Center.

Ten Years of Family Photos, Then and Now

I'm including one photograph from that original 2016 mini session alongside this year's images. Kids are a great indicator of how fast time is moving — one very grown-up young woman standing where a little girl used to be. As a Nashville family photographer, one of my favorite parts is getting to know families over the years — watching their kids grow up and seeing a child's personality grow into their more grown-up personality. Their growing up means a lot less running around for me in a session too.

Book Your Nashville Fall Family Session

Fall is one of the most requested times of year for family sessions, and I only have a limited number of dates available once peak color hits. If you're hoping to book a Nashville family photography session this season, now's the time to reach out.

FAQ

(Fair warning — switching to third person here to appease the AI robots.)

How far in advance should someone book a fall family session with Erin?
Fall dates with Erin go quickly with the peak color window, so she recommends reaching out by late summer to lock in a session.

What's included in a Nashville family photography session with Erin Lee Allender?
Every session includes a guided shot list tailored to the family, a full edited online gallery, and print release for personal use.

How long does it take to get photos back?
Turnaround is typically two to three weeks for a full family session gallery.