Sunflowers, Scraped Knees, and Sweet Memories: Summer Flower Minis at Harvest Lane 🌻

I almost missed them this year.

You know how it goes—you blink, and summer’s already halfway over. Between prepping for my kids' birthday party and grabbing sweet corn and veggies at Harvest Lane Market, I worried I had missed the sunflower fields altogether. But when we wandered out to the back, I realized they were just starting to bloom. Pure magic.

And, as it turns out, the perfect timing for a little spontaneity.

That weekend, I had a cancellation. On a whim, I tossed a story up on Instagram asking if anyone wanted a last-minute sunflower session. Within hours, my DMs were full, and just like that—Summer Flower Minis were happening. And not just any day—on the very last day of summer.

The Evening of Minis

Harvest Lane’s sunflower field was just the start. Their cut flower garden was bursting with color—zinnias, coxcomb, and rows upon rows of blooms that looked like a painter’s palette come to life.

The night of the sessions was cloudy (cue me worrying about the lack of golden light), but honestly? It worked out beautifully. That soft, even light let all the colors sing.

Of course, no evening of minis is without a little chaos:

• I leaned into a sunflower and found myself arm-to-butt with a bee… and yep, got stung. (Don’t worry—I’m fine, nothing a little antibiotic can't clear up)

• My daughter, who begged to “help” again this year, tripped mid-chase and scraped her leg. Thankfully, one of my sweet client-friends swooped in with a bandaid—because kids know bandaids make everything better, whether they’re needed or not.

• By the end of the night, one of my client’s daughters proudly held up a tiny tooth she had just lost right there in the flower field. Coincidentally, the little girl in my last session had also lost a tooth just days before. A sunflower-tooth-fairy double feature!

  
  

Through it all, we laughed, we chased, we paused in the blooms—and we captured the kind of photos that feel like summer every time you look at them. And what better way to close out the season than with those memories frozen forever?

Why I Love Harvest Lane

Harvest Lane Farm Market has become one of my favorite places to photograph and one of my family’s favorite places to visit. Beyond the sunflowers and flowers, there’s their famous sweet corn (seriously the best around), wagon-loads of pumpkins in the fall, and last year they even surprised us with popcorn-on-the-cob—something my kids had never seen before and still talk about.

They also stock local gems like Fox Meadows ice cream (a must after a session) and September Farms cheese, plus their own fresh baked goods. And the family behind it all? Truly wonderful people. If you’re local, you’ve got to check them out—you’ll see exactly why I love partnering with them for sessions.

You can also join their email list if you want to stay in the know of what's in stock and specials.

The Heart of It All

That evening wasn’t perfect—bees, bandaids, and all—but that’s exactly what makes it real. Families showed up as themselves. Kids played, laughed, and even lost teeth. And together, we created colorful, joy-filled memories on the very last day of summer.

Because that’s what these sessions are all about: freezing the beautiful, messy, fleeting moments of your family’s season.

🌻 Ready to capture your own colorful chaos and joy? I’d love to create something beautiful with you. You can check out my current session offerings here and reach out when you’re ready to book.