Kate Sessions Park family photos in the spring might be my favorite thing. Green grass, big trees, jacarandas blooming, and that ocean view sitting in the background of basically every shot — it’s one of those locations that just does the work for you, which makes my job a whole lot easier.

This family was a dream from the start. They showed up with a colorful quilt, a kite, and watermelon, which is honestly the ideal energy. There was no warmup needed, no awkward first few minutes — they were just easy and relaxed and genuinely happy to be there, and it showed in every single frame. Clients like this are the whole reason I do what I do.

Once the quilt went down, it became home base for most of the morning. The baby was in full discovery mode — grabbing everything, reacting to everything — while the older sister was doing her own thing nearby. Mom and dad just moved through it all naturally, the way parents of little kids learn to do. Because nobody was performing for the camera, every moment felt completely real. That combination of a baby who’s fascinated by the world and a toddler with zero interest in standing still is genuinely my favorite thing to photograph. You don’t direct it, you just follow it.

As the morning went on, we moved through the park — spending time under the big trees and out in the open field where the ocean view opens up behind everything. Dad got the kite up at some point, and it was exactly what you’d hope. A kite in a wide open field with the city and ocean laid out below is just one of those inherently San Diego images. The wider shots from that part of the session are some of my favorites.

We wrapped up with watermelon on the quilt, which was — predictably — a hit. The baby had mixed feelings about it, the toddler was happy and sticky, and the parents were laughing. It was a really good morning, and honestly one of those sessions that reminds me why I love this work.

This is what I mean when I talk about bringing things your family actually loves to a session. The quilt, the kite, the watermelon — none of it was for the photos, it was just their Sunday. And that’s exactly why it worked.

Since Kate Sessions Park offers so much variety in one spot — big trees, open fields, that sweeping ocean view — it’s one of my favorite San Diego locations for families with little ones. Spring especially, when everything is green and the jacarandas are out, is a really beautiful time out there.

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