There is something special about summer evenings in Alexandria, Minnesota.

The warm sunshine, calm lake water, tree-lined walking paths, and beautiful parks create the perfect backdrop for family portraits that feel natural and genuine. Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph the Kling family during an evening session at Alexandria City Park, and it quickly became one of those sessions that reminds me why I love family photography.

What started as a traditional family session turned into an evening filled with laughter, splashing water, sibling shenanigans, and the kind of moments families never want to forget.

A Beautiful Summer Family Session in Alexandria, Minnesota

Alexandria City Park may not be the largest park in the area, but it offers a surprising variety of backdrops for family portraits. During the session we explored several different locations throughout the park, giving the Kling family a gallery full of variety while keeping everything within a short walking distance.

We started beneath the beautiful canopy of trees where the filtered sunlight created a soft, natural setting for classic family portraits. Using off-camera lighting allowed me to create bright, vibrant images while still preserving the natural beauty of the park.

The tree-lined pathway became one of my favorite locations of the evening. The repeating lines of the trees naturally draw your eyes toward the family and create a timeless look that works beautifully for both color and black-and-white portraits.

Real Moments Matter

While every family wants a few traditional smiling portraits, some of the best photographs happen in between the poses.

One of my favorite moments came when Mom and Dad shared a quick kiss and the kids immediately reacted with the classic "Oh my gosh, Mom and Dad!" expressions. Those reactions were priceless and instantly became some of my favorite images from the session.

We also created a variety of storytelling photographs, including images focused on hands, family connections, and sibling interactions. These little details often become the photographs families treasure most because they capture relationships, not just faces.

Sibling Sneak Attacks and Lots of Laughing

The Kling family has two older sisters and one younger brother, which meant there was absolutely no shortage of entertainment.

To help create natural expressions, I encouraged the girls to launch a surprise sibling attack on their little brother. The result was exactly what you would expect—lots of laughing, and genuine smiles.

These candid moments created some of the most authentic images in the gallery and perfectly captured the relationship they share right now.

Years from now, those are the photographs that will bring back memories.

Ending the Session at the Beach

As the evening continued, we made our way down to the beach for one final adventure.

The lake was calm, the water was beautiful, and the evening light was absolutely perfect.

I encouraged the family to kick, splash, laugh, and have fun. While I was quietly hoping my camera and light stayed dry, the family fully embraced the moment.

The splash photographs ended up being some of the highlights of the entire session.

At one point, one of the girls completely wiped out her little brother with a giant splash. Thankfully, he survived—and thankfully, I captured the entire sequence.

Those unexpected moments are often the best part of family photography.

By the end of the evening everyone was soaked, laughing, and having a great time.

Exactly how family sessions should end.

Why I Love Alexandria Family Photography

Alexandria offers so many beautiful locations for family portraits, from lakeside beaches and walking paths to parks filled with mature trees and open green spaces.

Whether you're looking for traditional family portraits, playful candid moments, or a session that feels more like an evening adventure, Alexandria provides the perfect setting.

My goal is always to create images that feel genuine and tell the story of your family exactly as you are right now.

Because years from now, the perfectly posed photograph is wonderful—but the laughter, the splashing, the sibling chaos, and the real moments are what you'll remember most.

Looking for an Alexandria Family Photographer?

If you're looking for family photography in Alexandria, Minnesota, I'd love to help create a session that feels relaxed, fun, and uniquely yours.

Whether you're visiting the Alexandria lakes area, spending time at one of the local parks, or simply want updated family portraits, we'll create a session filled with genuine moments and beautiful images you'll treasure for years to come.

Novel Images Professional Photography LLC

Serving Alexandria, Minnesota, Montevideo, Willmar, Marshall, and families throughout West Central Minnesota.

Family of five posing together in a lush green park with trees and a lake in the background.
Black and white family portrait of five people posing together in a tree-lined park on a sunny day.
Family of five posing outdoors in a lush green park, parents kissing while children playfully cover their eyes.
Happy family of five smiling outdoors in a lush green park setting for a summer portrait photo.
Black and white family portrait of five people smiling outdoors among trees.
Family of five posing outdoors in a lush green park with trees and a lake visible in the background.
Family of five posing outdoors in a lush green park with trees and a lake in the background on a sunny day.
Family of five smiling in a sunny park, two adults holding hands in foreground with three children behind them.
Couple holding hands outdoors with three children smiling in the background in a lush green park.
Family of five standing together on a wooden deck surrounded by lush green trees near a lake.
Family of five posing under a pergola outdoors, surrounded by lush green trees in a park setting.
Family of five posing together under a wooden gazebo with black railings in a lush green backyard.
Family of five posing together under a vine-covered pergola outdoors on a sunny day.
Family of five posing outdoors on a deck with lush green trees and a black iron fence backdrop.
Happy family of five posing on sunny outdoor steps, smiling together in casual summer outfits.
Happy family of five posing on wooden deck steps outdoors on sunny day.
Happy family of five sitting and posing on wooden deck steps in a sunny backyard setting.
Family of five sitting on outdoor steps by black iron railings, smiling together in warm golden light.
Black and white family portrait of five people sitting on outdoor steps near iron railing.
Family of five posing on outdoor stone steps beneath a covered structure with lake views.
Two teenage girls hugging a young red-haired boy while posing together in a lush green park.
Black and white photo of three siblings posing outdoors in a park, two teenage girls hugging a young boy.
Smiling redhead boy in navy polo shirt stands in front of two teenage girls in a sunny green park.
Black and white photo of two teenage girls and a young boy smiling together outdoors in a sunny park.
Two sisters hugging their younger brother outdoors in a lush green park during a family photo session.
Two teenage girls with long brown hair hug a smiling redhead boy in a sunny green park.
Three siblings smiling together outdoors, two girls with long hair hugging a young red-haired boy.
Two teenage girls hugging a young red-haired boy while laughing outdoors in a sunny green park.
Two teenage girls hugging a red-haired boy outdoors in a sunny green park, all smiling joyfully.
Two teenage girls and a young red-haired boy posing together in a sunny green park setting.
Black and white photo of a woman and three children laughing together in a sunny park setting.
Smiling redhead boy in a navy polo shirt posing in a sunny green park for a portrait photo.
Smiling boy in black polo shirt standing outdoors in black and white portrait photo.
Young redhead boy crouching on green grass in sunny park wearing navy polo and khaki shorts.
Young teenage girl in a gray dress posing with hand on hip in a sunlit green park.
Young teenage girl in a gray dress posing in a tree-lined park in a black and white photo.
Smiling teenage girl in a gray dress standing on green grass in a sunlit park.
Teenage girl in a gray dress posing confidently in a bright green park with bokeh background.
Smiling teenage girl in a blue floral sundress standing in a sunny green park.
Young woman in blue floral sundress smiling in lush green park during golden hour.
Young girl in blue and white floral maxi dress standing barefoot on green grass in sunny park.
Young woman in a floral dress sitting gracefully on grass in a park, black and white photo.
Smiling teenage girl in a blue floral dress sitting gracefully on green grass in a sunny park.
Young boy smiling in foreground with two girls standing behind him under green trees in a park.
Black and white photo of two girls and a boy with arms crossed posing in a park.
Smiling couple posing together outdoors with a green park and lake in the background.
Black and white romantic portrait of a couple sharing a tender moment outdoors at golden hour.
Happy couple embracing and smiling outdoors near a lake on a sunny day.
Two teenage girls embracing and smiling together in a sunny green outdoor park setting.
Black and white portrait of two teenage girls embracing and smiling outdoors in a park.
Two young women embracing and smiling at each other in a sunny green park.
Family of five smiling together by a lake at sunset, with parents and three children posing on a waterfront.
Happy family of five posing together on a sandy lakeside beach at golden hour.
Black and white family portrait of five people standing together by a lake shore.
Family of five standing together on a sandy lakeside beach during golden hour sunset.
Family of five smiling together outdoors near a calm lake at sunset in casual summer attire.
Family of six standing together from behind on sandy beach shore overlooking calm lake.
Smiling family of five standing in shallow lake water during a warm summer evening.
Family of five splashing in shallow lake water, smiling and holding hands on a sunny day.
Joyful family of five splashing and walking through a lake in the golden evening light.
Joyful family of five splashing and playing together in a lake at sunset.
Happy family of five splashing and playing in a lake on a sunny summer day.
Happy family of five splashing and playing together in a lake during an outdoor photo session.
Joyful family holding hands and wading through shallow lake water during a summer photo shoot.
Group of people laughing and splashing each other in a shallow lake on a sunny day.
Three kids laughing and splashing each other in a lake while a girl watches during family photos.
Excited family members falling and splashing in lake water during a fun outdoor photo session.
A dog splashing energetically through lake water on a sunny day.
Person splashing dramatically in shallow lake water during a playful outdoor family photo session.
Two children laughing and swimming together in open lake water on a bright sunny day.
Two children sitting together in shallow lake water, smiling and enjoying a sunny summer day.
Child and adult playing in shallow ocean waves near the shore on a sunny day.
Young boy playfully pushing a woman into the lake water during a fun family photo session.
Two children laughing and splashing through shallow lake water on a sunny day.
Boy and girl running and splashing through shallow lake water on a bright sunny day.
Woman in blue floral dress wading in a lake at golden hour with water splashing around her.
Two women standing in a lake bending forward letting their wet hair hang down over the water.
Two women in dresses flipping their wet hair in a lake creating water arcs in the sunlight.
Two girls flipping wet hair creating water arcs while standing in a lake at sunset.
Two girls tossing their wet hair while standing in a lake on a sunny day.