Hello lovelies!

It's time for another adventure in Loudoun County! This time we went to Round Hill to visit a spot that I had always meant to visit but never found the time for. It's such a quiet spot that is so beautiful and I wish that we had started going there sooner! As always, please be sure to be mindful of ticks and poison ivy when enjoying nature. If you want more information on that, check out the beginning of this blog series here. At Fluttering Shutter Photography, I do many family portraits and while I have my favorite locations (which I'll highlight in another part to this series), this might be a new favorite place in Western Loudoun!

Sleeter Lake

Sleeter Lake Park is located in Round Hill, Virginia just outside of the Purcellville town limits. It is not packed full of things to do, but is more of a spot to relax and enjoy nature. There are not usually many people there, which makes it a quiet place to relax and bring a picnic, while enjoying the sunshine. There is no swimming allowed in the lake but you can bring a fishing pole, a kayak or a paddle board for some fun on the water. We went on a day when the Canadian fires were making everything hazy, but I can confirm after a second visit today that it's even more beautiful without the smoke!

Currently, there are port-a-potties, a few picnic tables, a dock for launching water craft, a monarch way-station, a pollinator garden, benches and grills. There is a plan for permanent restrooms and a pavilion, but for now it's still just a beautiful spot to quietly enjoy nature. And take some beautiful portraits, of course! One spot that I really want to use more is a little tricky because of the fencing around it, but I've always thought that overgrown/crumbling structures have such a unique beauty about them. If you know the story behind this house, I'd love to hear about it!

Portraits don't always need a gorgeous backdrop, though. I think you can find a great spot for portraits pretty much anywhere, and sometimes a single tree can help to form interest in a photograph. This tree leans out over the water, which I loved because it encouraged a more relaxed look.

This was a really quick trip and the kids weren't super excited, but they still modeled for me and I think the comparison of the next two images shows how much knowing your children (and patience) can influence a portrait. My kids are usually really good about being in front of the camera, but Photographer's Child Syndrome is real!

Was there some slightly elevated speaking on my part in order to get them where I wanted them (mostly)? Yes. Do they look cute? Also, yes. This was at the very end of our trip, so patience was running thin, but I knew that I already had a portrait that is likely going on my wall soon so I wasn't overly concerned. I wish that I had all four of them with me, but 15 year olds can have a really busy social life, so I'm going to have to settle for this beautiful portrait of my three younger babies.

That's all for today! I hope that you continue to follow along on our adventures in Loudoun County!