I recently had the honor of photographing the Flietstra family during a very special trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. They were celebrating Craig and Kathy’s 50th wedding anniversary — such an incredible milestone! Craig actually reached out to me ahead of time to make sure we captured some special photos of the grandparents with all the grandkids. I absolutely loved how intentional he was about making those memories, and I made it a point to deliver exactly what he asked for.

This group was so much fun! With an extended family session, you always get a lot of opinions, and this crew kept me laughing as we worked together to choose the perfect location. After some back and forth, we decided to explore the trail behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center — and I think it turned out to be the perfect spot.

The trail gave us so many beautiful backdrops to work with — from charming footbridges to big fallen trees that the kids loved climbing and playing on. It was the best mix of structured portraits and natural, candid moments that really captured the Flietstra family’s fun spirit.

Craig and Kathy’s love for their family was so evident in every smile, hug, and silly moment. I feel so lucky to have been part of this special celebration. Happy 50th, Craig and Kathy — and thank you, Flietstra family, for letting me document such a joyful day!