A family session in the Valles Caldera

There are few places in Northern New Mexico that feel quite as expansive as the Valles Caldera. Rolling meadows, dramatic mountains, rock formations, and pockets of forest create a landscape that captures the wildness of our state. For this family session, we spent the evening wandering through the valley, letting the kids run, climb, play, and simply be themselves. The result is a collection of photographs that feels less like a portrait session and more like a record of this particular season of their family life.

The Valles Caldera is one of my favorite locations for families who want their photographs to feel connected to the landscape. Explore my Valles Caldera location guide for more about the scenery, seasonal changes, timing, and what to expect when planning a session here.

Three young children stand on a metal fence gate in a scenic outdoor setting with rocky cliffs and green grass.
A joyful family plays together in a green meadow with rocky cliffs, mom in floral dress, dad in brown shirt.
Family of five walking hand-in-hand through a meadow with rocky cliffs and pine trees in golden hour light.
A young blonde boy in a striped shirt leans on a metal railing in a green outdoor field.
Smiling young girl with curly blonde hair wearing a red lace dress, standing by a railing outdoors.
Smiling toddler girl with blonde hair holding a dandelion flower while sitting in green grass outdoors.
Happy family of five posing in a green meadow with rocky cliffs, wearing coordinated red and brown outfits.
A smiling redhead mother in a floral dress poses with her three young children in a mountain meadow.
A redheaded mother in a floral dress kisses her toddler while two children embrace her in a scenic outdoor setting.
Two happy children run through a green meadow during a family photo session in a scenic outdoor setting.
A father smiles outdoors with three young children, one sitting on his shoulders, in a green meadow with rocky cliffs.
Black and white photo of a happy family with two children walking in a grassy field with rocky cliffs behind them.
A laughing toddler girl in a green dress sits on a smiling mans shoulders outdoors in a natural setting.
A family of five walks hand-in-hand through a sunlit green meadow surrounded by tall pine trees.
A couple embraces and shares a kiss in a green meadow with pine trees, as children play behind them.
Red-haired boy with blue eyes smiling softly in a field, wearing a striped shirt in a warm outdoor portrait.
Young girl in a red dress running through a vast green meadow with dramatic mountain scenery in the background.
Family tossing a child in the air in a vast green field under dramatic stormy skies in an outdoor portrait.
Family of five posing in a green meadow with mountains and dramatic cloudy sky in the background.
Family running joyfully through green meadow with mountain backdrop under dramatic cloudy sky.
Family with children joyfully running through a green field with mountains and cloudy skies in the background.
Child in a striped dress lying in tall grass, looking up at the camera with a peaceful expression.
Black and white photo of a joyful family playing in a meadow with rolling hills and dramatic clouds behind them.
Family enjoying outdoor photoshoot in grassy meadow, father lifting child overhead, mountains and cloudy sky backdrop.