Fall on Empire Beach | The Bennett Family Pictures

There’s something truly special about fall family portraits on Empire Beach. The golden tones, crisp air, and gentle sound of the waves create a timeless backdrop for memories that last.

One of the reasons I love Empire Beach is the variety it offers. Within a short walk, you can go from a sandy shoreline to wooded trails. Even charming bits of Empire’s small-town architecture. Choosing a location that means something to your family adds an emotional layer to your images. It turns a photo session into a memory of its own.

For the Bennett family, they liked this beautiful location for their family memories it held throughout the years. Therefore, it made the perfect setting for their most recent photo session. With their sweet 1.5-year-old son full of curiosity, laughter, and energy, we spent the morning capturing those fleeting moments that make early childhood so magical.

Photographing little ones at this age is one of my favorite parts of being a Northern Michigan family photographer. Each session is a reminder of how quickly they grow and change. Sometimes it truly feels like you blink and they’ve entered a new stage.

Immortalizing these phases of childhood through photography gives families something meaningful to hold onto long after the toddler giggles and sandy toes have passed. These photos become a tangible reminder of love, growth, and the joy of this particular season in life.