Matthews Family Photos at Maclay Gardens

October 31, 2021

This year when I photographed this crew for their family photos, we had a surprise at arrival! It was the evening of the park’s annual, Moon Over Maclay music event. The area we were planning to work in was full of guests picnicking on blankets and enjoying some live jazz! Thankfully, this sweet family just rolled with the punches. We explored another area of the park to take these images and I love them so so much.

I think my first session with the Matthews family was when their little guy was only 1 year old. It’s such an honor to be a family photographer. I don’t take it lightly that clients would trust me enough to return for multiple years. I love doing this work for families.

Matthews Family at Maclay Gardens State Park

Interested in booking your own family photos at Maclay Gardens? Contact me here.

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sarahgrayphoto

874 1,684

Maternity • Newborns • Babies • Family
Photographer based in Tallahassee, Florida
Master Baby, Family, and Maternity Photographer awarded by @napcp

Beat the heat, caught the light, captured the love. Another beautiful morning at Dorothy B. Oven Park. ☀️📸
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#portraitphotography #portraiture #simplyportraits #portraitoftheday #portraitphotographer #portraitsmag #portraitshoot #photographerofinstagram #photographyofinstagram #photographerlife #instaphotography #justgoshoot #photographylover #baby #familyphotography #tallahasseebabyphotographer #ihearttally #tallahassee #tallahasseephotographer #850 #floridanewbornphotographer #themotherhoodanthology #tma #lifestylelighting

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 17886989259603240

Beat the heat, caught the light, captured the love. Another beautiful morning at Dorothy B. Oven Park. ☀️📸
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#portraitphotography #portraiture #simplyportraits #portraitoftheday #portraitphotographer #portraitsmag #portraitshoot #photographerofinstagram #photographyofinstagram #photographerlife #instaphotography #justgoshoot #photographylover #baby #familyphotography #tallahasseebabyphotographer #ihearttally #tallahassee #tallahasseephotographer #850 #floridanewbornphotographer #themotherhoodanthology #tma #lifestylelighting

250 years from now, someone in your family will find a photograph.

They won`t know about the chaos of this season — the packed schedules, the grocery runs, the ordinary Tuesdays. But they`ll see a face. Your child`s face. And they`ll know exactly who they were.

That`s what an heirloom portrait does.

This summer — the year America turns 250 — I`m creating Heirloom Portraits for a small number of families. Timeless, simple, and made to last generations. I`m even having them made of my own four
kids for exactly this reason.

Because this season of your child`s life deserves more than a photo on your phone.

July 12th. A few spots remain. Details in bio.

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 17918808189183819

250 years from now, someone in your family will find a photograph.

They won't know about the chaos of this season — the packed schedules, the grocery runs, the ordinary Tuesdays. But they'll see a face. Your child's face. And they'll know exactly who they were.

That's what an heirloom portrait does.

This summer — the year America turns 250 — I'm creating Heirloom Portraits for a small number of families. Timeless, simple, and made to last generations. I'm even having them made of my own four
kids for exactly this reason.

Because this season of your child's life deserves more than a photo on your phone.

July 12th. A few spots remain. Details in bio.

There`s a version of this summer that lives only in your memory.

The age your youngest is right now. The way your kids are with each other this particular year. The trip where everyone finally made it to the same place at the same time.

I`m not saying that to add pressure. I`m saying it because I think you already feel it, and sometimes it helps to hear someone else say it out loud.

These seasons are worth more than a blurry phone shot taken between sunscreen and dinner reservations.

If you`ve been sitting on the fence about booking a vacation session - or about Heirloom Portraits for your kids this summer - I want you to know that the planning is simpler than it probably feels right now.

Reach out. I`ll walk you through everything.
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#portraitphotography #portraiture #simplyportraits #portraitoftheday #portraitphotographer #portraitsmag #portraitshoot #photographerofinstagram #photographyofinstagram #photographerlife #instaphotography #justgoshoot #photographylover #baby #familyphotography #tallahasseebabyphotographer #ihearttally #tallahassee #tallahasseephotographer #850 #floridanewbornphotographer #themotherhoodanthology #tma #lifestylelighting #forgottencoast #StTheresa

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 18135483649605737

There's a version of this summer that lives only in your memory.

The age your youngest is right now. The way your kids are with each other this particular year. The trip where everyone finally made it to the same place at the same time.

I'm not saying that to add pressure. I'm saying it because I think you already feel it, and sometimes it helps to hear someone else say it out loud.

These seasons are worth more than a blurry phone shot taken between sunscreen and dinner reservations.

If you've been sitting on the fence about booking a vacation session - or about Heirloom Portraits for your kids this summer - I want you to know that the planning is simpler than it probably feels right now.

Reach out. I'll walk you through everything.
*
*
*
*
*
#portraitphotography #portraiture #simplyportraits #portraitoftheday #portraitphotographer #portraitsmag #portraitshoot #photographerofinstagram #photographyofinstagram #photographerlife #instaphotography #justgoshoot #photographylover #baby #familyphotography #tallahasseebabyphotographer #ihearttally #tallahassee #tallahasseephotographer #850 #floridanewbornphotographer #themotherhoodanthology #tma #lifestylelighting #forgottencoast #StTheresa

Our country turns 250 this year. I was in the middle of editing a gallery when that number actually stopped me.

I have four kids - 6, 11, 15, and 17. And I have spent years telling other families that childhood is fleeting, that these seasons pass before you`re ready, that photographs are one of the most meaningful ways you hold onto them.

I`ve said it hundreds of times.

And then I sat there and realized I needed to take my own advice.

So this summer, I`m photographing all four of my kids in what I`m calling Heirloom Portraits. Not elaborate. Not trendy. Just simple, timeless portraits that show exactly who they are right now, in the year America turned 250.

Because someday I want them to be able to show these to their own kids and say, `This is who I was that year.`

That thought made the decision easy.

I opened up a small number of spots for other families to do the same. Details are linked in my bio if this is something you`ve been quietly wanting.
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#TallahasseePhotographer #TallahasseeFamily #TallahasseeChildrensPhotographer #HeirloomPortraits #HeirloomPhotography #TimelessPortraits #ChildhoodUnplugged #PrintYourPhotos #ChildhoodPortraits #FamilyLegacy #MemoryKeeper #NorthFloridaPhotographer #FloridaFamilyPhotographer #DocumentYourDays #250thAmerica

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 18084779510159741

Our country turns 250 this year. I was in the middle of editing a gallery when that number actually stopped me.

I have four kids - 6, 11, 15, and 17. And I have spent years telling other families that childhood is fleeting, that these seasons pass before you're ready, that photographs are one of the most meaningful ways you hold onto them.

I've said it hundreds of times.

And then I sat there and realized I needed to take my own advice.

So this summer, I'm photographing all four of my kids in what I'm calling Heirloom Portraits. Not elaborate. Not trendy. Just simple, timeless portraits that show exactly who they are right now, in the year America turned 250.

Because someday I want them to be able to show these to their own kids and say, 'This is who I was that year.'

That thought made the decision easy.

I opened up a small number of spots for other families to do the same. Details are linked in my bio if this is something you've been quietly wanting.
*
*
*
*
*
#TallahasseePhotographer #TallahasseeFamily #TallahasseeChildrensPhotographer #HeirloomPortraits #HeirloomPhotography #TimelessPortraits #ChildhoodUnplugged #PrintYourPhotos #ChildhoodPortraits #FamilyLegacy #MemoryKeeper #NorthFloridaPhotographer #FloridaFamilyPhotographer #DocumentYourDays #250thAmerica

A family vacation checklist as I understand it:

Pack sunscreen. Forget to pack enough sunscreen. Buy more sunscreen at the gas station.

Wrangle the toddler.

Realize the cousins haven`t all been in the same place since last summer and someone should really get some photos.

Spend three days saying `we should really get some photos.`

Go home. Look at seventeen slightly-blurry phone shots taken at dinner.

I`m not judging. I`m just saying there`s a better version of this story available to you, and it doesn`t require much more planning than you`re already doing.

A vacation session works exactly because everything is already set up. The people are there. The place is special. All you need is someone to actually capture it.
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#ForgottenCoast #30A #StTeresa #ForgottenCoastPhotographer #FamilyPhotographer #VacationSessionPhotographer #FamilyPhotography #BeachFamilyPhotos #GulfCoastPhotographer #FloridaBeachPhotographer #FamilyLegacy #PrintYourPhotos #MemoryKeeper #FamilySessionPhotographer #TravelingPhotographer

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 17877880605672975

A family vacation checklist as I understand it:

Pack sunscreen. Forget to pack enough sunscreen. Buy more sunscreen at the gas station.

Wrangle the toddler.

Realize the cousins haven't all been in the same place since last summer and someone should really get some photos.

Spend three days saying 'we should really get some photos.'

Go home. Look at seventeen slightly-blurry phone shots taken at dinner.

I'm not judging. I'm just saying there's a better version of this story available to you, and it doesn't require much more planning than you're already doing.

A vacation session works exactly because everything is already set up. The people are there. The place is special. All you need is someone to actually capture it.
*
*
*
*
*
#ForgottenCoast #30A #StTeresa #ForgottenCoastPhotographer #FamilyPhotographer #VacationSessionPhotographer #FamilyPhotography #BeachFamilyPhotos #GulfCoastPhotographer #FloridaBeachPhotographer #FamilyLegacy #PrintYourPhotos #MemoryKeeper #FamilySessionPhotographer #TravelingPhotographer

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Memberships and Affiliations

Sarah Gray Photography | Professional Photographer of America Member

Sarah Gray Photography | The Motherhood Anthology Member

National Association of Professional Child Photographers Member 2026-2027

Sarah Gray creates timeless and joyful images that are designed for living room walls and photo albums. A tallahassee photographer, Sarah Gray also serves Thomasville, Crawfordville, St. Marks, Gainesville and throughout the Forgotten Coast and panhandle of north Florida and south Georgia.

email us | sarah@sarahgray.com

telephone (850) 321-0208

located in tallahassee, florida