Looking for a unique location for family photos in North Texas? Windmill Stables in Richardson, TX, might be one of my new favorites! With horses, rustic barns, wooden fences, and plenty of outdoor space, it's a great option for families wanting something a little different from the typical park setting. I also think this would be a great spot for engagement photos, a senior session, and maternity pictures.
I recently photographed a family here who had a very specific vision for their session. They aren't originally from Texas, and they wanted their photos to have a Western feel they could share with family back home.
Cowboy boots, horses, and a little Texas personality? This location delivered.
A Little Texas Western Style for Family Photos
One of my favorite parts of planning family sessions is helping clients find a location that fits what they're envisioning.
For this family, the goal wasn't just updated family photos. They wanted something that represented Texas and the experience of living here.
Windmill Stables was a great fit.
Located in Richardson, Windmill Stables is an active equestrian facility that offers riding lessons and other horse-related activities. They also allow scheduled professional photography sessions on their property, including opportunities to incorporate their horses.
The property has several different backdrops, from the barn and stable doors to fenced areas surrounded by trees. It gives us plenty of variety without having to travel between locations.
And you really don't have to go overboard with the Western theme. A few cowboy boots, denim, and the right setting are enough to create that Texas look.
This family's outfits worked so well together. Mom's denim dress and white boots, Dad's black cowboy hat, and the kids' coordinating outfits brought everything together without looking overly matched.
Family Photos with Horses at Windmill Stables
Obviously, the horses were a big part of why we chose this location!
One thing I love about photographing families at Windmill Stables is that the horses add something completely different to the session.
Instead of everyone standing in one spot and looking at the camera, we can photograph interactions between the family and the horses.
For this session, we captured the family walking beside a horse, spending time around the barn, and letting the kids get a closer look at the animals.
Those interactions gave us some of my favorite photographs.
Windmill Stables provides staff to handle the horses during photography sessions, which helps us incorporate them into the photos while keeping the experience organized.
Of course, when photographing young children around horses, we follow the stable staff's direction and let the kids participate at their own comfort level.
And even if you don't want horses in every photograph, the property has plenty of other areas to use.
Keeping Family Photos Relaxed with Young Kids
Let's talk about something every parent with little kids understands.
Their attention spans have limits!
This family has three young children, so I knew we needed to keep things moving. We weren't going to spend the entire session asking everyone to stand still, smile, and look at the camera.
That's just not realistic with little ones.
Instead, I focused on getting a good variety of images early in the session, while everyone was still interested and cooperative.
We started with the whole family together, then incorporated movement, interaction, and time with the horses.
Walking together, holding hands, getting picked up by Mom or Dad, and exploring the property all gave us opportunities to capture natural moments.
And yes, eventually the kids were done.
That's completely normal!
The goal isn't to make young children cooperate for an entire photo session. It's to work with their personalities and attention spans so we can get photographs you'll love before they've completely checked out.
We were able to capture a great collection of images without expecting the kids to behave like little adults.
The Candid Photos Are Usually My Favorites
When I look back through this family's gallery, some of my favorite images aren't the traditional family portraits.
They're the little in-between moments.
The kids holding hands outside the barn. One of the boys smiling while standing beside a horse. The excitement of getting close enough to touch one.
Those are the moments that tell you something about the experience.
I always make time for the classic photograph of everyone together. I know parents want those, and they're important.
But I also want you to have photographs of your family interacting naturally.
Especially when your children are young.
The way they hold your hand, the expressions they make, and how small they look standing beside you won't stay the same for long.
That's why I use movement and simple prompts throughout my family photography sessions.
It takes some of the pressure off everyone and allows me to capture more than just smiling faces.
Why This Family Session Would Make a Beautiful Album
I can already picture this family's photographs in a custom album.
One of the reasons I love offering albums is that they allow us to tell the complete story of a session.
A single framed photograph might showcase the entire family walking beside a horse. But an album can include that photograph along with the smaller moments that happened throughout the afternoon.
The kids exploring the barn, their interactions with the horses, and those candid photographs of everyone together would all have a place.
Imagine the album opening with a beautiful family portrait, followed by a mix of full-page images and smaller photographs showing the kids enjoying the experience.
It's a way to preserve the whole session rather than choosing only one or two favorites.
For this family, the album would also serve another purpose.
Because they wanted these images to represent their time in Texas, an album would give them something tangible to share with family back home and eventually pass down to their children.
I offer custom-designed albums with linen, leather, and vegan leather cover options. During the design process, we choose photographs that work together and create a layout that tells your family's story.
And years from now, when these kids are older, I think they'll get a kick out of seeing themselves in their cowboy boots hanging out with horses in Texas.
Windmill Stables Is Now on My Photography Location List!
I'm excited to officially add Windmill Stables in Richardson to my list of photography locations.
Although this was a family session, I can also see this location working really well for senior portraits, couples, and maternity sessions.
For seniors wanting a Western-inspired look, the horses and rustic surroundings would be a fun option. You can explore more of my senior photography experience if you're starting to plan your senior photos.
The best part is that you don't have to be an experienced rider or own a horse to consider this location.
Photography sessions at Windmill Stables require advance arrangements and have a separate property rental fee, so we'll discuss those details during planning.
You can also learn more about their photography options on the Windmill Stables website.
If you're looking for family photos with horses in the Dallas area, or you simply love the idea of something with a Texas Western feel, this is definitely a location worth considering.
Ready to plan your own family session?
I'd love to help you choose a location that fits your family, plan the details, and create photographs you'll enjoy both in your home and in a custom album.
