Family Photos at Crescent Bend Nature Park

Family Photos: Crescent Bend Nature Park

Schertz is a quiet but growing town on the East Side of San Antonio. There are so many beautiful neighborhoods, local parks, playgrounds, and outdoor sporting areas within a short drive. Many families, especially military, live here for easy access to Randolph Air Force Base. One of the locals’ favorite places for an evening walk, fall family photos, and picnics is Crescent Bend Nature Park.

I first came across Crescent Bend Nature Park when we moved here a couple years ago. We were looking for a nice place to get out for a walk on a Sunday afternoon. It was not too long a trail for the kids, had lots of shade, trees, clean bathrooms, and a babbling creek nearby. I wanted to take a client here ever since that day. I had the fun and privilege of shooting a cute family here last month.

Taking Cool Photos in the Heat

In the heat of July in San Antonio, we don’t often think of going out for family photos. However, I have extensive experience in San Antonio and know the work arounds. These family photos were a last minute ask. The family is military and received short notice that they were moving soon.

Sierra and her husband received orders to move to Colorado. To add to this stress, she was going to have to move a few months ahead of her husband. They had lived in Schertz for a few years- and their family had grown in that time. Sierra realized they needed to update their family portrait. They had a very short window for this photoshoot. She would have to pack up a hitch across the country in a few weeks.

Crescent Bend Nature Park: A Stress Free Location for Family Pictures

With the heat, stress, and urgency of this situation, a client might be stressed. Is getting good family photos is going to be difficult, unpleasant, or overwhelming? That’s where I come in. As the professional photographer I know exactly what times have not only good lighting, but also which locations. Crescent Bend Nature Park has several areas with flowing water, trees, and rolling hills. These make for a naturally cooler environment and excellent ambience. Add to this, it is often quiet and not busy.

While we had to work with the head and urgency of their situation. Add to this, we also needed to schedule around the heavy rain, and even tornados! After two reschedules for the weather, we caught a perfect, cool morning with a little cloud cover. We went early on a Saturday morning, when the golden hour overlapped with more pleasant temperatures.

The final worry on Sierra’s mind was likely one all us Mother’s have- getting the kids to enjoy the experience. We want to have as little upsets along the way. I have done over a hundred sessions for family photos, especially with little kids. Since I am a mother myself, I understand. Now, getting children to not only cooperate, but also have fun at a photoshoot is second nature. Sierra’s kids and husband from the get-go were having fun. At the end, we cooled off and captured so many beautiful, fun, and candid moments in the Cibolo Creek.

Why Summer is Actually a Good Time for Family Photos

Sierra now has these precious family photos at the park. But, unlike Sierra, clients often tell me that they want to wait until things “cool off” for updated family photos. Generally, this ends up being in Winter when they are more busy. Families fill their schedules with work, school, sports, and extracurricular activities. Then, the holidays roll around. Then the New Year. Before they know it, clients wait a whole year before they remember to take those photos again!

So, what makes summer, in Texas of all places, a good time to update the family photos? First, the kids are out of school. This usually means they are also out of sports and activities, except for a camp or two. Second, the kids have more energy and drive to just “get out and go somewhere.” Third, Summer is often when extended family and larger groups can get together more. Fourth, in San Antonio the Spring showers are OVER. Getting good sunlight is more predictable and easier.

But What About the Heat?

A lot of clients worry about the heat. Will it ruin our makeup? Am I going to get sweaty in my nice dress? Are the kids going to get fussy and overheated? Thankfully, these are rarely a problem in my photo sessions. The perfect time for taking photos is near sunset and sunrise. Often, sunrise is 20 degrees cooler, and stays cooler for a few hours. Sunset often means dropping temperatures. The angle of the sun makes whatever temperature feel less intense. Match these with the features of a place like Crescent Bend nature park, you won’t even notice the heat.

I pride myself on providing clients with plenty of photos per session. Often, they open their digital gallery and wonder how we got so many photos- candid and posed- in just an hour. The sweet spot from Sunrise to midmorning and early evening to sunset is an intimate time. It has golden lighting, and just enough time before the heat kicks in or the last bit of daylight is gone.

Want Your Updated Family Photos?

Summer isn’t over just yet! With kids in school again, you are about to be a lot busier! Interested in how I can give you those long-awaited family photos? Send me a message in the chat box below about your dream session. There is a lot to San Antonio outside of Crescent Bend Nature Park that you can explore!