If you’re looking for the best beach for maternity photos in San Diego, I’m going to make a case for Swami’s Beach in Encinitas — with a few honest caveats first.

The parking is tough. It’s a popular beach. And there are a lot of stairs to get down to the water. If any of that is a dealbreaker, this might not be your spot. But if you’re willing to look past those things, Swami’s is genuinely hard to beat.

Meaghan and Bryce were totally down for the trek, and it paid off. They’re expecting a baby girl in a few months — their toddler is already on the job as big brother — and they wanted something beachy and golden for their maternity session. Swami’s delivered exactly that. The pampas grass and palm trees that back the cove give you this lush, tropical texture that you don’t get at a typical San Diego beach. The cliffs, the rocky shoreline, the way the light hits everything at golden hour — it’s a lot of different looks packed into one location, which is why I keep coming back to it.

Meaghan wore a blue bikini top with white linen pants and a straw hat which fit the vibe perfectly. We started in the cove with the tall grasses and palms behind them, moved down to the water as the light got warmer, and finished on the rocks with the cliffs in the background. The toddler had his own agenda throughout, which honestly made some of the best frames of the session.

Meaghan booked the maternity and newborn bundle, which saves $150 when you book both sessions together — something worth knowing if you’re thinking about documenting both. It’s a good deal and it means the two galleries will have a consistent look and feel, which I love.

When she got her gallery back, she said: “Katie, are you kidding me?! These photos are incredible. I truly could not have hoped for more, you captured our family at this moment in time so so well.” That kind of response is why Swami’s is always going to be on my list — the location does a lot of the work, and when the light cooperates, the results speak for themselves.

You can learn more about Swami’s Beach in Encinitas if you’re scoping it out as a session location. Just plan for the stairs.

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