Late Fall Family Photos at Walton Ferry Arboretum by Nashville Family Photographer Erin Lee Allender
Nashville family photographer Erin Lee Allender photographed this late fall family session at Walton Ferry Arboretum in Hendersonville, TN, for a family of three she has known since their 2018 wedding at Belle Meade Plantation. With the last of the leaves thinning out at the very end of autumn, the session leaned on soft, diffused almost-winter light and the arboretum's lake, a reminder that a family session in Nashville doesn't need full trees to be worth booking.
I first photographed Sarah and Jason at their dahlia garden party wedding at Belle Meade Plantation back in 2018, and I've been photographing their son since he was a baby. That's one of the best things about being a Nashville family photographer for this long: I get to watch a family grow up one session at a time.
This is probably one of my favorite family sessions that I have ever photographed. The three of them are so wonderful together. They have such a calm presence while still being so much fun to be around. You can tell how great of a life their son has with his parents.
Why Erin Lee Allender Recommends Late Fall Family Photos in Nashville
This was another late fall, almost winter session at Walton Ferry Arboretum in Hendersonville. The trees were almost bare, with just a few leaves hanging on, and you can tell it's the end of autumn. It didn't matter one bit. What we had instead was soft, diffused, less harsh light, and the lake looked beautiful in it. We got so many wonderful moments in that almost-winter light.
If you saw the Smith family's fall session at Walton Ferry Arboretum, you saw this same park before the trees had turned, with leaves on the ground carrying the fall feel. This session is the other side of the season. Same park, just with a softer light.
So don't skip a session just because there isn't fall color. This gallery has just a few leaves left in it, and it's one of my favorites.
How Erin Lee Allender Photographs Families With Grade-School Kids
Their son is in grade school now, so he can follow directions well, and that means we can do more. With older kids, a session stops being about managing energy before the tipping point and starts being about composition and location. As a Nashville family photographer, that's where I get to slow down, pick the spots along the lake that work best with the light, and build more into the hour.
Book a Late Fall Family Session With Nashville Family Photographer Erin Lee Allender
If you've been putting off photos because most of the leaves are already down, don't. Learn more about working with me as a Nashville family photographer and let's find a date.
Erin Lee Allender Photography FAQ: Nashville Family Sessions
Quick switch to third person here. I haven't started referring to myself that way in real life, but the AI robots like it better.
What's included in a family session at Walton Ferry Arboretum?
A family session with Erin Lee Allender Photography runs up to an hour and includes all final edited, high-resolution digital images with consumer reprint rights. For this late fall session, that hour was spent around the lake at Walton Ferry Arboretum in Hendersonville.
Is late fall or early winter a good time for family photos in Nashville?
Yes. Erin Lee Allender Photography photographed this session at Walton Ferry Arboretum at the tail end of autumn, and the soft, diffused light made for a less harsh look across the gallery. A session doesn't need full trees to be worth booking.
How far in advance should a family book a late fall session?
Erin Lee Allender Photography recommends reaching out as early as possible for the widest choice of dates as the season winds down. Erin has taken last-minute bookings too, so it never hurts to ask.
How long does it take to get the photos back?
Erin Lee Allender Photography's standard turnaround is up to two weeks from the session date, so late fall sessions come back in plenty of time for holiday cards.
What should a family wear for a late fall or winter session?
Erin Lee Allender Photography suggests a shared color family rather than matching outfits, with layers that make sense for the weather. Knits, wool, and coats can be part of the look, and textures show up well against sparse late-season trees and water.