A Joyful California Family Beach Session

I made my way up the coast that beautifully sunny, late afternoon and pulled into the large gravel lot that sat atop the sprawling, magnificent beach below. I always enjoy arriving early to sessions ~ it’s pretty therapeutic actually. I crave the fresh air and looking out onto that shimmering Pacific. It’s peaceful and really such a nice opportunity to clear my head. I like to take some time and walk around to see how the landscape has changed since my last visit. The seasons and the tide always seem to bring surprises. I am beyond grateful for my time in such awe-inspiring locations … and also for this wonderful family that was en route to meet me for this California Family Beach session!

I love them all so much. They are such a tight bunch. And while they are growing up so quickly, the one thing that remains constant year-to-year, is the way they treat one another. They are so present and so very good to one another. Little Perrie remains (understandably) completely smitten with her doting big brothers. She keeps up just fine. The little ones told me about their great love for Pokemon … and forts … and the little Mermaid. There was that excitement and those challenges of a first year of Kindergarten (without a best friend/cousin at their side) … and a wild visit from the tooth fairy (who so generously left double the amount she usually does after unintentionally passing by the house the first night).

I was thrilled that their beloved big sister popped over to the beach to join everyone as well! I have had the pleasure of photographing her and her husband (with their own young family) and was so excited to see her again. She’s pure kindness personified and is such great energy. Her brothers and sisters just gravitate to her. We all chatted in the cove, taking pictures and playing games as the ocean lapped at the shore.

It’s funny, when we first arrived, I noticed several other people along the beach; some with their boards who slipped into the chilly water with their wet-suits … and some who sat comfortably on oversized blankets at the base of the bluffs. But when the Fanoe family arrived, the other beach-goers completely disappeared into my periphery. Through my eyes, we could have been on a private beach. They are a family that just draw you in, in the most beautiful of ways. We stayed on the sand that afternoon until that last sliver of light disappeared behind the rocks. And when I looked up, we were really and truly the only people left. It’s always hard to leave the beach … but it’s especially hard to leave the Fanoes. ~ Kent Avenue Photography