Viewing entries tagged
family photos on the beach

Post-Thanksgiving Multi-Generation Family Portraits @ Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz CA

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Post-Thanksgiving Multi-Generation Family Portraits @ Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz CA

Wow. What an amazing family to photograph at iconic Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz tonight. I always have families meet me at the rear entrance so we can get some forest-vibes shots before we head over to the beach. I’m SO glad I did because the sun coming through the trees + some fresh grass was absolutely beautiful. This was a big group, with grandma at the top, 4 adult kids, each with their own families. It’s tough to get all the combos, but I feel like we most definitely did. Enjoy my 50 favorites from the session, in both forest and beach environments, below. And if you’re looking for a photographer in the Santa Cruz are to expertly capture your rambunctious family, I’m your guy!

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A Vibrant Tapestry of Moments: Capturing Family Memories at Capitola Beach

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A Vibrant Tapestry of Moments: Capturing Family Memories at Capitola Beach

As I arrived at Capitola Beach, the day seemed to promise a session brimming with color, emotion, and scenic beauty. It was going to be a somewhat atypical family shoot - centered mostly around the verge-of-adulthood teenager, almost echoing the essence of a senior portrait session, yet intertwined with moments that encapsulated the family's close-knit bond. The anticipation in the air was palpable, as the family eagerly awaited to explore the picturesque corners of the beach, creating a vibrant tapestry of memories that would be cherished forever.

The beach was more than just a setting; it was a character in their story, adding layers of texture and color to each photograph. We ventured to moss-covered rocks that bore witness to the passage of time, each mossy nook holding secrets of the ocean. Under the sheltered tranquility of the shaded wharf, the family found moments of connection, where candid smiles and spontaneous laughter were captured, becoming the precious tokens of their bond. The colored buildings that stand as iconic witnesses at Capitola Beach added a whimsical and vibrant backdrop, harmonizing perfectly with the joyous spirit of the session.

As the shoot unfolded, it became a beautiful blend of individual portraits and group shots, a dance between posed elegance and candid charm. Each frame encapsulated the personality of the individuals, as well as the special synergy that they radiated as a group. The session transformed into a series of memorable snapshots, a melange of singular moments that, together, painted a vivid portrait of love, unity, and the vibrant hues of familial bonds. As the day drew to a close, we left with not just photographs, but a rich narrative of a family, beautifully etched against the colorful canvas that is Capitola Beach.

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Family Portrait Photo Session @ Capitola Beach, CA

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Family Portrait Photo Session @ Capitola Beach, CA

Sometimes I’ll have a family that is applying for adoption or want to show their family interaction to a prospective private school. The reasons don’t really matter to me, but I take pride in really bringing out the true personalities of everyone I photograph. Sometimes it takes a little while for people to warm up, but once they are comfortable, the real them starts to show through. Capturing that is always one of my goals, and is very satisfying. This family of three was photographed at Capitola Beach, one of my favorite photography destinations.

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Forest and Beach Family Photos @ Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, CA

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Forest and Beach Family Photos @ Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, CA

Natural Bridges is a great spot as you can start in the forest/field setting at the rear entrance, and end at the beach. The beach is often crowded, especially the money-shot angle that has the natural bridge in the background, so I always start with the more private forested region off Delaware Ave.

This family I swear could all be models, and I had such a fun time capturing how much they adore each other. They even pulled off some pretty well-matched outfits, which is always risky. I think they nailed in, and I’m pretty sure they think I did too!

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Hidden Beach, Aptos Family Photography

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Hidden Beach, Aptos Family Photography

It’s always an honor and great responsibility to be a client’s first ever family photographer. I mean, their experience will literally set the tone and frequency for their next 18 years of shoots. If it goes horribly wrong, they may not do it again, with ANYONE, for years. But if you make the experience fun and easy, they’ll come back to you every couple of years and refer you to boot. I’m pretty sure this lovely family falls in the latter category, but for now let’s just enjoy a few precious gems from this shoot – especially the keepers of their first furbaby, who’s getting on in age.

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Windy, Fun Family Photos @ Pajaro Dunes, Watsonville

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Windy, Fun Family Photos @ Pajaro Dunes, Watsonville

I’ll be honest, I fully expected this family to cancel their photo shoot. They are multiple generations, coming together at a rental house in Pajaro Dunes to celebrate Mom/Grandma’s 70th, so it was a special occasion for everyone. However. Something happened with the weather that day in the early afternoon. A light breeze turned into steadily increasing winds. The marine layer came in and blotted out the sun, rendering the environment in flat, gray tones. And it was cold, more so as the wind picked up. Not the ingredients you want when you have a bunch of people to capture at their best. But I showed up, they showed up – and were like, “we’re dressed, we’re here, let’s do this!” I immediately perked up and saw that there was opportunity here. I stressed that if they were expecting perfect hair and a California sunset, that they would be disappointed – but if they wanted someone (me) to capture some fun, authentic moments in the face of 40mph winds, well I’M YOUR GUY!

So we did it, we did the shoot, it was great and we managed to get a few keepers along the way. It just goes to show that attitude beats the weather any day! Enjoy a few of my faves below:

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