“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” ~From the television show The Wonder Years
I love family photos. They capture a special moment in our lives and take us back to that time years later with one glance. Sometimes the outtakes are just as special as the perfect pictures.
Branson is a photographer’s dream. We have phenomenal outdoor scenery that makes the perfect backdrop when capturing special moments. Lucky for those of us that need professional photos, Branson has some amazing photographers that know the perfect places for photo shoots.
For our fall family photos, we used Studio 163 Photography. It’s a local family owned business run by a wonderful lady named Teresa Martin. Our shoot was on a Saturday and her husband tagged along to help entertain the children. Trust me, these two have no shame when it comes to getting the perfect picture– they will squeak, dance, yodle, whatever it takes to get the kids looking at the camera happily.
Teresa suggested we take pictures on the College of the Ozarks Campus in front of The Keeter Center. I have had pictures done at C of O in the past down by their lake by another wonderful photographer, Shann Swift with Swiftshots. There are many other amazing places to take pictures around the area, too. I’m glad we picked this location for our fall family photos because the scenery was wonderful, and the waterfalls entertained the kids.
It did end up being a pretty windy and somewhat chilly day. Thankfully Teresa was able to photoshop out red cheeks, snot and flying hair.
Luke was much more interested in the scenery than taking pictures. Luckily Teresa was fast and entertaining.
Elle, on the other hand, was quite the model ready to strike any pose that was asked of her.
I needed a new head shot for work, and ended up with several to choose from.
Then there was Mary. She was tired. It was her naptime. I was petrified that she was going to cry the entire time. She managed to squeak out some good pictures before being ready to go to sleep.
We had a great time getting our pictures taken, and the results were phenomenal. If you are coming to town, book a photo session here. What a wonderful way to capture a special moment in your life!
Other suggested photo opportunities in Branson:
- Engagement
- Wedding
- Anniversary
- Pet
- Seniors
- Reunions
- Groups
- Parties
- Modeling
Tips:
- Find photographers on Facebook. Many offer special seasonal promotions through their pages.
- Ask questions! Local photographers are very knowledgeable of the area. They obviously know a lot about photos too! Ask about them first– what is the cost for the sitting fee? What are the package costs? Can you purchase your photos on a CD? Once you choose a photographer: talk location, outfits, special considerations, etc.
- Bring snacks and prizes for little ones.
- Bring a change of clothes.
Luke managed to “fall” into the water and muddy his khakis. And by “fall” I mean “attempted to walk across a small waterfall”












Celeste, These are awesome! What an excellent location for great family photos. Thanks!