How on earth do I begin to describe this GORGEOUS extended family session in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota? Well, I’m certainly going to give it a try! I couldn’t think of a better crew to head out in celebration of Jerry and Donna’s 50th anniversary. They were supposed to have a 50th anniversary party last year. But…well…COVID. Need I say more?
So this summer they had a different plan, and I was so thankful that my camera and I were invited along! I met Jerry and Donna twenty-six years ago at Kort and Rebecca’s fairytale wedding in the mountains of Wyoming. And I have loved this entire family ever since–whether they knew me or not! Because I flew in to also take Jackson’s senior pictures–you can see more from his session HERE–we made the most of our time there shopping for session clothes and eating all sorts of fun things. I think I want to be adopted as a Forster sister because I don’t remember laughing as hard as I did when I got to join them on a sister lunch. I hadn’t even snapped a picture, but I knew our time when they were all in front of the camera would be amazing.
Josh and John helped with location choices, and they were spot on! Everything came together so beautifully, with plenty of love and laughter to go around. Extended family sessions can feel overwhelming in the planning stages, that is for sure. But was it worth the effort and planning? Absolutely it was! In fact, before I left South Dakota, I quickly found the best images of the entire family together so Donna could choose which one she’d like to hang as a canvas on her wall. Talk about an amazing anniversary gift from her daughters! Who would’ve thought fifty-one years ago that this couple’s wedding vows would lead to this incredible legacy? Well it did. And what a beautiful legacy it is. Be sure to scroll down to see several of my favorites from their Black Hills extended family session…
