This family includes one of my dearest friends in Maryland and her gorgeous family. Rachel and Adam and their kiddos have been an important part of our lives since we moved to Lake Linganore just over two years ago. Their eldest daughter has been in our daughter’s class two of the past three school years and are two-thirds of a self-proclaimed “Pirate Crew.” We go camping together and have enjoyed numerous birthday parties, ladies nights’, playdates, Girl Scout events and more together.

Rachel is a fantastic mother who always only yearns for more and better time with her two girls and one boy. She actually even makes the outfits for her kids for their first day of school and photo sessions — the dresses you see the girls wearing (and her skirt!) in these photos were all made by Rachel, late at night, in the quiet of her home after bedtime.

We met for our session near a trail by the dam at end of Lake Linganore, right in front of their home. We used the beautiful early-morning light peeking through some mountain haze for photos along the water, the path and even on their dock.

I love the wildness and freeness you feel with this family and in these photos — joy and exploration and giddy fun.

Enjoy this peek into a day in the life of this important family with perfect details, huge smiles and a lot of love.