Golden Hour with the Ashby Family
A hat that would not stay on, a field of long grass, and one very good tree.
The Ashbys asked for the last hour of the day, when the light turns gold and everyone slows down a little. I was greeted at the gate by Anna’s wide-brimmed hat, rolling across the lawn on its own.
We started in the garden while the kids still had energy to burn. They chased each other around the bushes, and every so often someone ran back to Anna for a hug, which is exactly the moment I wait for. Then Will gathered everyone by the bush with the red leaves for one proper family picture. It took one try.
When the sun dropped low, we walked out to the field behind the house. The grass there is long enough to hide a small person, and it did, twice. Will scooped up the littlest Ashby, Anna held on to the rest, and the whole family ended up in one big tangled hug in the middle of the field.
At the edge of the field there is an old tree the kids call their reading tree. Everyone flopped down in the grass under it, and for a few minutes nobody said a word. I love those minutes. They never last, so I work quickly.
On the way back, the light came through the trees sideways and turned everyone’s hair gold. The girls wrapped themselves around their mom one more time, Will held them all from behind, and that was the last picture of the evening.
Thank you, Ashbys, for sharing your golden hour with me. The hat made it home too.