The Dillon Family - Sunlight, Pines & A Day That Almost Never Happened

The Dillon Family - Sunlight, Pines & A Day That Almost Never Happened

Some shoots come together with no effort. Others? They test your patience, your optimism, and your belief in weather apps.

This session was one of those shoots where the weather tried everything to stop us. Stellenbosch was caught in a sulk—endless rain, cold snaps, and clouds so grey they deserved their own soundtrack. We rescheduled, refreshed the forecast again and again, and finally, the skies gave in… and gave us that kind of morning.

You know the one. Mountains looking hand-painted. Pines standing tall like extras on a film set. The light doing that soft, golden thing photographers mouth “yes” to in Lightroom later.

It was my first time at the location—a tucked-away combo of mountains, vineyards, and forest so photogenic it should charge rent. Ideal for midday light, sheltered from the wind, and full of textures that make a gallery feel layered and rich. Honestly? I wasn’t sure what to expect—but now? It’s bookmarked for life.

Like most family shoots, it started politely. That “what do we do with our hands?” energy. A couple of tentative glances at me—like I was holding a tax form, not a camera. But ten minutes in, a few truly terrible dad jokes later, and boom—we were in.

Framing the Day:

1. Wide family portrait with the mountain backdrop

   

2. Close-up – family mid-laugh

   

From there, it just went off. The boys climbed, spun, and smiled - full gremlin mode (in the best way). They pulled Mom and Dad into a ring-around-the-rosy circle in the pine grove. Pine needles flew. Dignity wasn’t required.

These are the moments you can’t script—the ones where everyone forgets the camera and just lives the moment.

We moved between shady forest and sunlit clearings, capturing every side of the Dillons:

• A family hug that looked more like a rugby huddle.

• The boys leaning casually against a pine trunk—like they owned the place.

• A quiet stack of hands—no direction, no fuss—that said this is us in the simplest, most beautiful way.

More Highlights:

• Family hug – everyone smiling

  

  

• Matching brown shoes mid-kick

  

  

  

• The boys at the pine tree

  

  
  

By the end, we had a gallery that blended clean portraits with candid in-between moments—the ones that make your heart squeeze.

And for me? A reminder that sometimes—the best sessions are the ones that almost didn’t happen. The sky cleared, the light showed up, and the Dillons brought the rest.