There’s a kind of December light that only shows up in the last hour of the day. Last year we found it at a Christmas tree lot in Laguna Hills, slipping low through the firs and turning every branch gold. The lot was full of color, with flocked trees in pink, red and bright blue, and a little carousel turning in the middle of it all. We met the Williams family there just before sunset for their Christmas tree lot family photos. It felt like walking into a holiday card.
Their little girl wore a red pinafore with the sweetest embroidered collar, and she matched those red trees perfectly. She touched the snowy flocking with careful little hands and took a spin on a painted carousel horse. Mom and Dad kept up with every bit of it, from a candy cane break to a giggly upside-down swing in Dad’s arms. My favorite moments were the in-between ones, like when she rode up on his shoulders and pointed at everything. Allen also brought a film camera for a few frames, and they glow with that warm, soft grain I love.
In Luke 2:10, the angel brings “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (ESV), and that joy was written all over her face that evening. Thank you, Williams family, for letting us tag along on such a sweet holiday tradition. If you’re dreaming of photos like these, go in the last hour of light and ask the lot ahead of time, since many tree lots and farms have their own photo rules. We would love to meet your family this season, too. Reach out at raeandreystudio.com/portraits and let’s plan something cozy together.
Looking for an Orange County family photographer for a Christmas tree lot, golden December light, or the whole family together? We’d love to hear from you.
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