This week I enjoyed traveling to Sanford, North Carolina for a lovely family session at Carolina Trace. The gated community lies south of Sanford just next to highway 87. Once I entered the area, I drove along the rolling roads until I arrived at the home with a beautiful view of the lake just next to the 18th hole of the golf course called the Creek Course. (Carolina Trace has two courses, The Creek Course and the Lake Course.) Even though it’s December the autumn colors and even flowers were abundant in the neighborhood next to Lake Trace.

Family Session at Carolina Trace’s Country Club

This family took me on a golf cart ride up to Carolina Trace’s country clubhouse. We tried out the nice light in the back facing the lake where we found a flower garden with a few roses in bloom. The garden had a short stone wall and steps we decided to use for some of the family portraits.

Portraits on the Golf Cart Path at Carolina Trace

Then we loaded back onto to the golf cart to explore back down the paths for more great lighting. I decided I loved the light along the path with the stone wall and the bridge as a backdrop. The colors that surrounded the family were too pretty to pass up. This timber bridge arches over the water just after then end of the 18th hole of the Creek golf course that extends out like a peninsula into the lake.

Family Photos by Lake Trace

Then just as our session began to end as the sun faded we heard a bugle begin to sound from across the lake there at Lake Trace. The resident played the national anthem and followed by playing taps. Carolina Trace by the lake proved to be great location for a family outdoor afternoon photo session.

“Ellen is such a joy. Our family session was scheduled on my birthday and it was the best gift I have received! Ellen is extremely skilled at reading the light, helping direct us on how to stand, where to put our hands, and even was able to get my husband and daughter to have a great time smiling for 1.5 hours! Every photo Ellen sent back was beautiful and it was hard to decide which ones to print. We will definitely be making our session with Ellen a yearly family tradition!”

– Megan

Nearness to Raleigh, North Carolina

Carolina Trace lies south of Raleigh. If you would like portraits in the Raleigh vicinity. I can recommend places such as Fred Fletcher Park downtown and Historic Oak View County Park just on the east side of Raleigh’s 440 highway and the intersection at Poole Road.

Read more about planning a family photography session here.