Every spring, people in the Texas Hill Country do the same thing — they pile their families into the car and go hunting for bluebonnets. And every spring, I get to be part of that tradition in the best possible way. This year, I partnered with the Martin family to host bluebonnet mini sessions on their private property right here in Marble Falls, and honestly? It was one of my favorite shoots of the year.
A private bluebonnet field in Marble Falls — yes, really
You know those beautiful wildflower fields you see people photographed in and think, "where IS that?" This was one of those spots. David Martin — one of the owners of Backbone Valley Nursery right here in Marble Falls — spent years intentionally cultivating his property to grow wildflowers, bluebonnets included. The result is genuinely stunning: lush, private, and completely different from the side-of-the-road scramble that bluebonnet season usually turns into.
A huge thank you to the Martins for opening up their property and making these sessions possible. It made all the difference.
Same backdrop, completely different families — that's the magic of minis
One of my favorite things about mini sessions is watching how different each family makes the same space feel. In one session, you've got a couple sitting in the bluebonnets, golden light everywhere, completely in their own world. In the next, a little boy has already lost his shirt and is standing in the middle of the field doing whatever he wants. That's not a problem. That's the photo.
The Cummings-Morales family brought something extra special to their session — Amanda and her wife Isela came with their son David and Amanda's mom with a mission: to recreate a photo of Amanda and her mom from when she was a kid. In the same bluebonnets, a generation later. I don't know if I have words for what it feels like to be trusted with something like that, but I can tell you the photos delivered.
The Ricks family brought their little boy, and that kid had a plan from the moment he arrived. When it was time for mom and dad to smile for the camera, he posted up right behind me and started telling jokes. Full stand-up set. His parents didn't stand a chance — their smiles in those photos are completely real, and completely his doing. I love when kids take over the session and accidentally make it better.
And then there was Owen — a solo session for a little guy who had absolutely no notes on the whole experience. Shirtless, hat slightly askew, standing in a sea of purple like he owned the place. One of my favorite frames from the whole season.
Want bluebonnet photos in 2027? Here's what to know
Bluebonnet season in the Texas Hill Country is short — we're talking a few weeks at most, typically peaking in early April. Mini sessions book fast, and this year we had several sessions reschedule around rain. If you've been thinking about getting your family in the bluebonnets, the move is to get on my list early so you're not scrambling when the flowers show up.
These sessions are quick, low-pressure, and the results are the kind of photos you'll actually print. You don't have to have a perfectly coordinated family. You don't need kids who cooperate. You just need to show up — I'll handle the rest.
