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Fall has always been a season filled with meaning — a time when the world around us shifts colors, families draw closer, and the familiar rhythm of life seems to slow just enough for us to truly appreciate the people we love most. The crisp air, the golden light, and the gentle rustle of leaves underfoot create a backdrop that feels almost magical, reminding us how precious these fleeting moments are.

This year, I had the joy of photographing three wonderful families — the Green, Ingraldi, and Zehnder families — each bringing their own warmth, connection, and beautiful stories to their sessions. Watching parents gently embrace their children, siblings laugh together, and families simply be themselves in the heart of autumn reminded me why this season is such a powerful time for portraits. Every smile, every squeeze, every shared glance carried a story worth preserving.

But beyond the portraits themselves, fall reminds me of something even deeper:
the extraordinary beauty of family traditions — the ones passed down through generations and the meaningful new ones we create as life evolves.

Fall has a way of bringing these traditions to the surface. Perhaps it’s the annual visit to the pumpkin patch, the Sunday walk through colorful trails, or the family portrait session that marks another year of growth and togetherness. These rituals, whether big or small, weave the fabric of who we are. They ground us. They connect us. And they remind us that the love we share today becomes the legacy we pass on tomorrow.

In every family I photographed this season, I saw traditions being honored and new traditions being born — moments of connection that I know will be looked back on with warmth for years to come.

The Green Family – A Beautiful Bond Surrounded by Nature’s Glow

The Green Family’s session took place by a peaceful lakeside surrounded by glowing autumn trees. Their warmth and closeness were unmistakable — the kind of bond that radiates through every gentle touch, shared smile, and quiet in-between moment.

This year’s Green Family session was extra meaningful because it blended both a senior session and a family portrait session into one. Moving naturally between celebrating a senior milestone and capturing the family together created a beautiful reflection of this special season in their lives. Senior year marks such an important transition, and photographing it alongside the love and support of family added even more depth to every image.

Watching them come together, share proud smiles, and enjoy relaxed, joyful moments as a family highlighted how connected their stories truly are. It was a session filled with laughter, pride, and the unmistakable warmth of a family embracing this moment in time together.

The Ingraldi Family – Embracing the Bonds of Generational Love

Celebrating a monumental 50th wedding anniversary for their parents, the Ingraldi sisters united to create a heartfelt moment for their family.  

Photographing the Ingraldi Family was like witnessing the heart of family tradition come to life. Their session brought together three generations — grandparents, parents, and children — each one adding their own unique thread to a beautifully woven family story. Standing together under the soft glow of the fall foliage, they were a reminder that the love shared across generations is one of life’s greatest gifts.

There was such tenderness in each interaction: the way the children held onto their parents with confidence and affection, the quiet pride in the grandparents’ smiles, and the gentle way the entire family moved together as one. These moments weren’t posed — they were lived. And they represent the kind of memories that grow more meaningful with time.

The portraits from this session don’t simply capture one afternoon; they reflect a legacy — the values, history, and traditions that have been passed down and will continue to shape this family for years to come. These are the images that will one day rest in frames on mantels, shared with new generations as stories of where it all began.

Family traditions come alive in gatherings like this, where love expands with every new face added and every new memory made. It was an honor to preserve a chapter of their story, one that beautifully mirrors the strength and connection that only family can offer.

The Zehnder Family – Finding Comfort, Joy, and Togetherness in the Heart of Fall

The Zehnder Family session was filled with an easy, genuine warmth that made the entire afternoon feel effortless and intuitive. Nestled on a set of leaf-covered steps with their lovable pup by their side, the Zehnders embodied the kind of quiet, grounding love that defines what family truly is. There was no rush, no need for anything elaborate — just togetherness, laughter, and the gentle comfort that comes from being with the people who know you best.

Every moment felt authentic: the relaxed way they leaned into one another, the shared smiles that came naturally, and the little in-between pauses where their bond was the most visible. These are the kinds of family moments that so often go undocumented — the soft, everyday connections that become the foundation of family traditions over time.

Photographing the Zehnder Family was a beautiful reminder that traditions don’t have to be grand gestures; often, they’re built in the quiet spaces — in shared smiles, gentle embraces, and time spent together. These portraits capture more than a season; they preserve a feeling, a chapter, and a story that will continue to unfold for years to come.

Why Family Traditions Matter So Deeply

Every family has traditions — old ones passed down lovingly, or new ones created in the everyday moments that become something more. Traditions say:
“This is who we are. This is our story.”

Some traditions are large and lively. Others are quiet and tender.
And sometimes, traditions begin with a single moment — just like my own family’s December 23rd baking day, a cherished celebration of my grandmother who lived to be 101. What started as a simple birthday tribute grew into a tradition that bound generations and friends together, filled with flour-dusted counters, sweet laughter, and a single treasured photo of her hands shaping dough — an image that means more to me than words can capture.

Traditions evolve as families evolve.
They stretch, shift, and make space for new faces, new dreams, new seasons of life.
But what remains constant is the love at their center.

And that is the beauty of family photography:

It honors where your family has been, celebrates where you are, and preserves the stories you’ll want to remember.

A Heartfelt Thanksgiving Thank You

To the Green, Ingraldi, and Zehnder families — and to every family who stepped in front of my camera this fall — thank you.
Your love, your energy, and your trust continue to inspire me in the most meaningful ways. Being welcomed into your family’s world, even for a short moment, is an honor I hold close to my heart.

This season has filled me with so much gratitude. Thank you for allowing me to capture your beautiful memories, your cherished traditions, and the bonds that make your family uniquely yours.

As we head into the holiday, I want to wish you and your loved ones a warm, joyful, and love-filled Thanksgiving. May your homes be full of laughter, may your traditions bring comfort, and may your hearts be reminded of all the moments that matter most.

Happy Thanksgiving from Lisa Mongulla Photography! 🦃🍁🧡

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