Lake Life Review

Take a look at these pictures. Seriously. They are fun. They are sweet. They are creative. They are full of what summer is all about! And honestly? They are basically a miracle.

Because behind these perfectly patriotic sibling photos was complete and total kid chaos. Tears. Sand. Running. Watermelon juice. A Bomb Pop meltdown waiting to happen. Yet somehow Emily Feller, owner and photographer of Emily Marie Photo Co. made it all look effortless. Want to hear the story behind these pictures?

If there’s one thing we learned during our Lake Life Review: taking pictures with kids is never predictable. But Emily already knew that!

And honestly? I think that is what made it so fun. Well for me anyway.

For this shoot, Tara brought her kids, Wyen (4) and Willow (1), for a patriotic-themed sibling session with Emily Marie Photo Co. Red, white, blue, the lake, a dock, some sandy toes, basically the perfect Iowa Great Lakes summer setup. That is what we had in mind!

Well… in theory.

Before Tara even arrived, Emily told me her biggest approach to photography is simply “going with the flow.” Especially with kids, she explained, “You truly never know what kind of mood they’ll be in or what direction the session might take.”

That became obvious almost immediately.

Wyen showed up absolutely ready to go. The problem? He was also very ready to explore the lake. Standing still for pictures was not nearly as exciting as the sand, docks, and endless adventures surrounding him. Thankfully, the chilly water kept him from diving in too early.

Emily immediately adjusted and started snapping photos of just Wyen first. She had him running toward the camera, laughing, smiling, and exploring all at once. Some smiles were perfectly aimed at the camera. Other times his eyes were already locked onto whatever adventure he wanted next.

And somehow… it worked.

At one point, I truly wasn’t sure who was directing the photoshoot, Emily or Wyen. “How about here?” “I should sit on this dock.” “I want to go over there!” Wyen had plans.

Emily simply rolled with it, gently guiding him while continuing to shoot, knowing somewhere inside the chaos would be the perfect photo. Maybe chaos is an understatement? How would we get any photos from this?

I had also brought along some patriotic props, sliced watermelon and Bomb Pops, hoping they might help keep the kids interested and add a little extra summer Americana feel to the photos. Wyen fully committed to the assignment.

By the end of the session, he had eaten three slices of watermelon and a Bomb Pop. Honestly, what’s more patriotic than watermelon juice on your cheeks and red drips down the front of your shirt?
Then came sibling pictures.

Willow was not interested. At all. She wanted Mom and only Mom. We shooed Tara away and then Grandma De Ann and I jumped in to help with distractions. Interesting enough a star barrette distracted Willow just enough for Emily to take a few shots.

Emily patiently tried every trick possible to get even the smallest smile. “This is just how it goes sometimes,” Emily said. “We’ll take what we can get.” And she truly did. There were tears, wiggles, cuddles, breaks, and plenty of moments where Tara was convinced the entire session was falling apart. Meanwhile, I was mostly laughing at Wyen’s energy and happily accepting Willow snuggles while Emily calmly worked through every challenge.

At one point, Emily mentioned there are sessions where she leaves thinking, “Ugh… I don’t know if that session went well.” And her mom steps in and says, “And somehow, you always end up delivering beautiful images anyway.”

Looking at the final photos, you would never know the behind-the-scenes chaos. You wouldn’t know Willow had tears 90% of the time. You wouldn’t know Wyen spent half the session trying to turn picture time into beach time.

You’d simply see summer memories. And of course, the evening ended perfectly. After the session was technically over, Tara called out, “WYEN! COME HERE AND GET YOUR SHOES ON!”
Since he was already knee deep in the lake water, knowing he might already be in a little trouble, he hurried toward shore. SPLAT.

He managed to keep his face out of the water, but the rest of him? Completely soaked. I was laughing so hard I was absolutely no help whatsoever. And the funniest part? Afterward we all went out for lunch, where Willow suddenly became the happiest, smiliest little ham imaginable. Laughing. Grinning. Charming everyone. Tara looked at her and said, “Really?! NOW? Why couldn’t we have this during pictures?” That’s kids for you.

But honestly, that’s also what made this session so real. While Emily photographs weddings as well, her specialty is family and senior sessions. Her style leans relaxed and natural, focusing less on stiff poses and more on capturing personality and genuine moments.

One thing clients love most is how flexible she is. Emily doesn’t necessarily create heavily themed sessions herself, but if families bring fun outfits, props, or a creative vision, she’s ready to make it work. Whether it’s patriotic summer vibes, downtown senior photos, greenery-filled family pictures, or lakeside sunsets, she helps clients find locations that fit their style while keeping the session feeling easy and authentic.

She has also created a location guide for clients filled with inspiration from around the Iowa Great Lakes area. From beaches and greenery to docks, downtown settings, and hidden gems throughout the region, there is a perfect spot for depending on the session and Emily will nail it every time.

After spending the time watching her work, it’s easy to understand why families trust her with their memories. Emily stays calm through the chaos, patient through the tears, and somehow manages to turn unpredictable moments into beautiful photographs families will treasure forever.

To see more of Emily’s work, explore her style, or contact her about booking a session, visit Emily Marie Photo Co. on Facebook or Instagram @EMILYMARIEPHOTOCO.