A Celebratory, Coastal Carmel Family Session

Of all the days on the calendar to gather for this coastal Carmel Family session, our date happened to fall on Mom & Dad’s anniversary! I felt especially excited (and honored) to capture their love and their three wonderful children that very special day. We headed out to the coast to celebrate all things family … and these two beautiful people who started it all.

The air was crisp and you could hear the ocean gently lapping at the shore. Brilliant slivers of warm light cut through the fragrant, coastal-lining Eucalyptus trees, creating beautiful shapes on that Pacific-facing beach below. We made our way up the embankment, meandering along the winding gravel pathways, through the tall trees, until we came to the entrance for that hidden gem of a spot. Holding tightly to the little one’s hands, we slowly and carefully worked our way down the steep set of rickety, wooden steps …. to the larger sandstone steps … until our toes finally hit the white sand of that whimsical, Peter-Pan-like, coastal alcove. There is rarely a soul down on this beach, but we surprisingly had the pleasure of some company that day, so we tucked ourselves back into a little protected pocket to have some fun and capture some images together!

Later as the sun began to slip closer towards the horizon, we worked our way back up the steps and out along the bluffs, to enjoy the sunset at a higher elevation and take in all the local birds who came to gather on the massive rocks in the distance. And by “all the birds”, I mean quite literally, all 3,000 of them. The spectacular view that late afternoon was really and truly like something out of a dream ~ the most beautiful lavender ombre sunset, a periphery of tall Cypress and Eucalyptus trees perched atop bluffs that dipped down to magical coves, magnificent rock formations, and a vast expanse of ocean whose surface danced with the twinkling light of the setting sun. It was breathtaking.

Funny enough, in all the loveliness that unfolded that day, the most beautiful moment to me by far, was at the very end ~ a moment that was a bit ‘uncomfortable’, but a moment that otherwise spoke volumes. On our walk back at dusk, there was a swarm of large bugs that seemed to descend on us. We attempted to shoo them away, however much to our dismay, they seemed to want to stick around and enjoy our company!

As we scooted down the path to try to get away from them, I saw Mom with one child in hand, look ahead to Dad glancing back with two children in hand. I was blown away with how quickly in that one moment (with very few words exchanged) they were able to convey to one other how to best care for and comfort their kiddos. You could feel right then and there what a force they were together, how beautifully entwined their lives were, how well they knew their children and how well they knew one another. It was awesome.

Thank you Stefanis for such a wonderful night. Thank you for celebrating your anniversary with me and for showing me the power of family. I really appreciate you all so very much. ~ Kent Avenue Photography