Absolutely in love with how these super sweet family photos at Torrey Pines State Beach turned out! Kelsey reached out to me for a last minute session as they were just a few weeks away from a cross country move and wanted to document their final days on the West Coast with some family photos at Torrey Pines.

I could not love this gallery more. As most people with toddlers know, small children aren’t typically super duper down for being compliant during photo sessions, and so of course this big brother had his own agenda. Truly, the best thing parents can do during a shoot is follow their toddlers lead and HAVE FUN WITH THEM! Let kids be kids! Enjoy each other! Kiss your wife! Love on your babies! Roll with it all! Eat pizza from your fav pizza place half way through your session. Let your kiddo get soaked at the end. Bring some gummies or M&M’s for some good ole bribery.

I know family photos are an investment and of course we really want to make the most out of them… But the one sure way to ruin a whole shoot is when parents get super bothered that their toddler isn’t down to behave perfectly and smile at a stranger with a camera! 🙂 As a toddler mama myself, I could truly never imagine my 2.5 year old being super smiley for a stranger. The only way we’ll ever get fun and happy photos is if we engage authentically with her and make it a fun experience for her. This mindset makes all the difference!

It is always my intention to create a comfortable space for families to relax and have a good time, so that they can have a gallery that feels true to them. This also needs to be a collaborative effort, and the energy of your family really makes all the difference for photos.

I absolutely loved photographing this family, and it really stood out to me that they truly just had a good time with their kids. There was never any tension or frustration, just love. It’s not like their older child was misbehaving what so ever, he was just enjoying his time at the beach. The more we let them play and make it seem like they’re “in charge”, the better the outcome. Promise. Anyway, kind of a ramble, but please enjoy these family photos at Torrey Pines as much as I do! 🙂

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