family

Unforgettable Family Trips: From Midwest Traditions to Western Wonders and Coastal Escapes

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Growing up, my family was not affluent, but summer trips to Minnesota for family reunions were a non-negotiable. We would hop into our packed station wagon at 0-dark-thirty to make the 12 hour drive to the land of 10,000 lakes and countless memories. The best was sleeping away the first part of the trip in sleeping bags that spanned the back of the station wagon. Whoever invented the station wagon and its ability to put the seats down to make a cozy sleeping space in the car was a genius. After hours on the road and a satisfactory nap, we kids would wake up to eat a cold toasted bagel before diving into the stash of Twizzlers and Oreos. Most of the time, we would drive straight through, making a pitstop at Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet to visit Sissy the cow, take some obligatory silly pictures, and pick up some Wisconsin cheese. On rare occasions, we would stay the night at a Best Western hotel in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. A huge moose statue greeted us as we approached the hotel, and we all welcomed the reprieve from hours in the car. Our final destination in Minnesota promised lots of fun and boisterous laughter with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I don’t know that it gets much better than sipping a cold, bubbly Fresca on a hot summer day at the lake. These core memories are ingrained into my mind and have stuck with me for decades. While my parents took us on a wild west adventure, driving for days on end to see some spectacular sights, as well as a trip to California in my late teens, it’s the Minnesota memories that I cherish most.

Fast forward to raising a family of my own. Up until a handful of years ago, family vacations were a rarity. We took the kids for a family reunion to Minnesota when my youngest was a baby, and then most of our vacation time was used to build businesses. That changed in 2017, when we planned a family trip out west for our first big vacation adventure. We flew into Utah and had family photos done in the mountains and explored all of the breathtaking beauty of the great outdoors. My cousin and his wife were incredible hosts and opened their home to us for the week while we explored the sights near them. His wife, Jen, took the black and white family photo pictured above at our last extended family vacation in Minnesota before my grandpa passed away. She also took our family photos in the mountains of Utah. Pictured below is one of my absolute favorites from that session that I have printed on metal and on display in my dining room.

After spending several days in Utah, we headed south to Arizona. We broke up the 8 hour drive with a visit to Zion National Park. It was the perfect opportunity to sight see and go for a short hike to stretch our legs and enjoy the views that surrounded us. From flowing rivers to soaring rock formations, our eyes could barely keep up with all that there was to take in.

The terrain is vastly different out west than in Ohio. The snow capped mountains of Utah turn to red rock and dirt and cacti as you approach Arizona. Lush green grass is nearly nonexistent in that part of the U.S. It was amazing to appreciate the variety of views that we have available to us throughout our country. After about an 8 hour trek in the car, we arrived at my aunt and uncle’s home in Flagstaff, Arizona. We were greeted by hugs and smiles and a delicious meal of homemade lasagna and delightful conversation. The next day, we all hopped on a train to the Grand Canyon. This may have been the highlight of the trip for my son, who was a huge fan of trains at the time, and the fact that they had “bandits” riding on horses and holding up the train added to the adventure. The Grand Canyon is indeed grand. I had been there once when I was a kid. To come full circle and bring my own children to witness its magnificence was quite the experience. I wish I could say that I enjoyed every moment of it, but the plunging drop-offs had me on edge, making sure that my kids were accounted for at all times.

After our adventure at the Grand Canyon, we headed back to Flagstaff for the night before traveling to Sedona the following day. We stopped along the road to explore a swimming hole and then again to admire and purchase some authentic jewelry made by Native Americans in that area. My aunt and uncle treated us to a stellar suite in Sedona for our last night of vacation. The contrast of the red rocks with the green trees was breathtaking. There was a pool that looked out over the beautiful views, and my kids had the best time swimming in the pool and then coming back to the suite to soak in the oversized tub. It was the perfect way to wrap up a wonderful week out west. My kids still talk about that trip years later.

As grandiose as that trip was, the ocean has my kids’ and husband’s heart. I appreciate the sounds of the ocean but prefer to keep my distance. There’s a lot in there that we can’t see, ya know? My husband and kids dive right in and fully immerse themselves in the salt water. I dip my toes and walk along the shore, and when I’m feeling super adventurous, I might go in up to my waist. The waves always catch me off guard and drench me at some point, and then I head back to shore to dry off and keep an eagle eye on my people as they are living their best life. We have enjoyed time in Myrtle Beach several summers, as well as time with friends in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and time with grandparents in Williamsburg, Virginia. Each trip has its own flavor, but one thing remains the same. You can’t put a price tag on quality time with family.

What was your favorite family vacation memory or your go-to vacation spot? Whether you plan a day trip or make a long weekend or week out of it, know that the family time you are investing in and the core memories you are making are priceless. Plan that trip. Make those memories. And if you need someone to travel and take your photos, I’m your girl.

XO, Katie

family wardrobe tips

Comfort and Confidence: Essential Clothing Tips for Family Photos

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Whether you have them done annually or on occasion, preparing for family photos is no small feat. What to wear? Will the weather cooperate? Will the kids behave? While kids are just as unpredictable as the weather, I’m here to help you at least check one concern off the list. Following are some clothing tips to consider when planning your family’s attire for photos.

Consider colors and editing styles

Choose colors that fit the editing style of your photographer. Before we had our family photos done with Jackie Beachy, I had followed her for years, admiring her vibrant editing style and taking note of what colors worked best with her photography. I opted to style my family in vibrant jewel tones. My daughter and I wore prairie style dresses to fit the aesthetic of our surroundings. My husband and son wore button down shirts in deep, rich hues with similar patterns and different colored slacks that complemented their shirts. The results of pairing our outfit selections with our photographer’s editing style exceeded my expectations. I ordered three 22×44 inch framed canvas prints for display in our living room. They definitely make a bold statement as you enter our home, and I have selected decor for our living room that accentuates our wall art and brings a cohesive feel to the room.

Use color theory

In addition to taking your photographer’s editing style into consideration when planning your attire, color theory plays a crucial role in bringing the wow factor to your photos. Complementary colors bring the most pop, but you may also opt for triadic colors (colors that make a triangle on the color wheel, such as purple, orange, and green). If you prefer a more harmonious and subtle color selection, choose analogous colors (three colors next to each other on the color wheel, such as blue, teal, and green). For an even more subtle look, opt for monochromatic colors (different shades of the same color, such as navy to sky blue).

Get bold with mixing colors, patterns, and textures

Don’t be afraid to mix colors and textures. In addition to choosing earth tones to fit our photographer, Lauren Grayson’s, style last year, I got brave and threw in some mixed patterns. The purple in my floral dress was muted enough to mix with the earth tones of the rest of my family’s wardrobe. My dress also had browns, deep mustard yellow, and burgundy that were drawn out by the color of my son’s shirt, my husband’s pants, and my daughter’s dress. The checkers of color in my husband’s shirt were subtle enough to coordinate with the floral pattern and colors of my dress.

Opt for comfort and confidence

Wear clothes you can move and be comfortable and confident in. While the color choices for our family photos in Utah were much brighter to fit the editing style of our photographer, Jennifer Fauset, we made sure to wear clothing that allowed us to sit, stand, walk, and play. Flowy dresses for my daughter and I and relaxed khakis and button down shirts for my husband and son allowed for free movement. I’m so grateful for the genuine laughter and connection that Jen captured for us. It remains one of my favorite family photos years later. I had it made into a 12×18 metal print that is on display on an accent table in our dining room. Had we been wearing clothes that were stiff, tight, or uncomfortable, we may not have been able to get into position for this shot that I treasure so much.

Throw perfection out the window

Bottom line, it doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters is that you make family photos a priority. If I waited to be the ideal weight or have my hair freshly done, I wouldn’t have any of these photos that I treasure today. Get in the frame. And if you need help with wardrobe planning and confidence boosting, I’m here for you and would love to capture your family’s connection, unpredictable kids, weather, and all. You can book your family photo session here or email me at katie@katrinawinterphotography.com with any questions.

XO, Katie

Favorite Family Read Alouds

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Years ago, when we were in the throes of homeschooling and raising little ones, I began a tradition of reading a book aloud at the end of the day. There is something special about taking a journey through a good book together. On some of our toughest days, we could wind down reading a book together, and all was right in the world again. What I didn’t anticipate is that I would enjoy the tradition even more as my kids got older. Yes, you can still read books aloud with your high schooler. Making time to connect is key at this age when keeping the lines of communication open can be a challenge. Following are some of our absolute favorite read alouds.

First up, a classic. When I asked my son what some of his all-time favorite books were, he immediately responded, Where the Red Fern Grows. I remember reading this as a child, and it was a joy to share this gem with my kids and see their engagement as the story progressed. There are moments in this book that will be a struggle to read aloud. This book teaches us lessons about tenacity, hard work, connection, and compassion. It has been said that reading fiction books is one of the best ways to learn empathy.

The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie has excellent recommendations for family read alouds. She even breaks down the recommendations into age groups, which is super helpful when determining what books are best for your kids. One of her recommendations was the The Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser. It is a delightful series that takes you on a journey with a family of five kids who work together to face and overcome challenges. Family values are woven into each book along with many adventures.

In addition to the books recommended in The Read-Aloud Family, we also appreciated several of the books from the Newbery Medal winner section at our local library. A few of our favorites from that section were Amos Fortune, Free Man; Carry On, Mr. Bowditch; Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH; Bridge to Terabithia; Crispin: The Cross of Lead; and Last Stop on Market Street. The Newbery Medal winner books exposed us to different cultures and times gone by.

I discovered my favorite author while exploring different family read aloud options. When we exhausted the Newbery Honor Medal Winners section in our library, I browsed the librarian’s picks section and found the book Pax by Sarah Pennypacker. This author has a way of delivering poignant stories that draw you into the characters’ lives. There hasn’t been one book of hers that we haven’t been enamored with, but our all-time favorites of hers include: Pax, Pax: Journey Home, and Here in the Real World for middle schoolers, and her Clementine series for elementary aged kids. I could read her books time and again and never tire of them.

Including an evening read aloud in our family routine is still my favorite way to end the day. As my kids have gotten older, it has opened the door for richer conversations as we have all learned to have more compassion in our quest to digest fiction that inspires us, challenges us, and pulls at the heartstrings. I encourage you to make family read aloud time part of your daily routine.