Summer is finally in full swing in Seattle. I swear we were the last ones in the country still in school! We have only had a week out of school, and all of us are enjoying the luxury of not having to wake up early and a less structured schedule (which means less running around for us, and less chauffeur services for me!)

I personally love summer and here are a few reasons why:

• I don’t have to layer (and I love tank tops, shorts & sandals).
• Berries are so, so sweet and yummy!
• I love sitting in the warm sun, basking in the warmth.
• We can eat dinner outside in the yard.
• We can go to the beach, and I can pretend I’m at the Pacific Ocean instead of Puget Sound. (And it almost works except for the rocky beaches and freezing cold water!)
• I can keep the kids up late with less guilt.

Summer also means I get busier with family photo sessions. I love summer sessions for so many reasons. Here are my top 3 reasons I love doing family photo sessions during the summer:

1) The weather is so much more predictable than the fall.

• It’s also much warmer, and my nose isn’t running because of the cold. It’s just stuffy from allergies, haha!
• In the fall, setting a date for a photo session is like Russian Roulette. It is so beautiful, but sometimes you don’t know whether or not photos will actually happen until a few hours before your scheduled time because of rain, hail or windstorms.

2) Relaxed vibe of Seattle in the summer.

• Seattle is at its best during the summer, and that ripple effect carries over to everyone.
• Seattleites seem to be happier and more relaxed. If my families are more relaxed, they have more fun and that comes across in photos.

3) Sunsets (and sunrises) are THE BEST in the Pacific Northwest!

• Their game is on-point during the summer!
• Yes, you have to get up early or stay up late to catch them, but I promise it is so worth it.
• Every sunset is unique, what will the one you keep the kids up late for look like? (You don’t have to worry about school the next day either!)