A San Diego Beach Session: The Bingaman Family’s Coastline Milestone

Some families book beach portraits for the milestone. For Angela Bingaman, this summer’s trip to San Diego was both a long-held dream and a reset. After years juggling life as a single mother, running her own business, and raising three kids, Angela realized she’d never had professional photos taken with her family. Their California vacation became the perfect occasion to change that.

“We’d never had any professional pictures—just us, just being ourselves,” Angela shared. “I wanted to take our vacation and make it into something bigger and beautiful to share with my extended family and the world.”

Authentic Joy

Angela’s vision was about authenticity over perfection. “I wanted to capture my family’s unadulterated joy and authenticity,” she explained. “I strive to instill values of happiness, awe, individuality, transcendence, and love into my children. I want them to shine as themselves and themselves only—no performance necessary. The relaxed and playful beach setting was perfect and glorious!”

When asked for a favorite photo, she laughed: “I cannot pick a favorite! But the pictures of all four of us together and the silhouettes are jaw-dropping.”

There were plenty of sweet moments during the shoot, including when her typically reserved teenage son, Gabriel, couldn’t help but light up. “Even my stoic teenaged son, who tried so hard to keep a straight face, couldn’t help but light up.”

Meet the Bingaman Family

• Angela (39): Political consultant, event planner, poet, reader, hiker, solo traveler, and nature enthusiast. Deeply inspired by intuition and the beauty of everyday moments.

• Gabriel (14): Wise beyond his years, perceptive, caring, and protective of his family.

• Eloise (12): The practical organizer, keen observer, and “social director” with a sharp sense of humor.

• Charlotte (8): The quiet, affectionate spirit with a sunny outlook and boundless love for animals.

Why This Year, Why the Coast

For Angela, the ocean backdrop was non-negotiable. “I have always wanted to get pictures taken by the sea. Our summer trip to San Diego was the natural landscape to make it happen.” The session was a celebration of everything summer means to their crew. If she had to sum up her family in three words: “Resilient, genuine, open-minded.”

California Memories: From St. Louis to the Pacific

The Bingamans traveled from St. Louis, Missouri. While Angela is no stranger to California’s deserts, this was their first time on the coast. “I love California. I hope to make the state my home at some point,” she said. “I have solo traveled to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Lake Tahoe, Death Valley, but never to the coast. I wanted my children to experience this milestone with me. San Diego and its beaches are more stunning than I could ever imagine—and I am humbled and overjoyed I can provide these travel experiences to my children. They will never forget California!”

While in San Diego, they adventured to the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and made side trips to La Jolla for sea lions and Carlsbad for strawberry picking.

I loved the connection I made with Angela’s family, and she was so kind in her review: “Amy pictured the true essence of my family—open, brilliant, luminous. I am so amazed to see my family captured so beautifully, and so true to who we are.”

Curious to follow along with Angela’s travels? See more of her adventures on Instagram: www.instagram.com/angelabingaman.

Woman and three children holding hands standing on sand at Crystal Pier
Woman, teenage boy, and two daughters standing hand in hand on beach
Young girl in light blue dress posing alone on sand, hand on hip
Girl in pink ruffled dress dancing with arms raised overhead on beach
Teenage boy sitting barefoot on sand, hand on knee near pier
Woman in pink dress standing alone on sand with pier and ocean behind
Woman holding hands with two daughters walking across wet sand
Teenage boy leaning against weathered pier piling on sand at dusk
Teenage boy holding onto wooden pier post on beach sand at golden hour
Young girl in blue dress leaning against pier piling on sand
Girl in pink dress posing with hand on hip against pier post
Teenage boy and young girl standing close together on sand near pier
Girl in pink dress standing by pier post on sand in golden light
Young girl in light blue dress by weathered pier support on beach sand
Woman in pink dress posing alone on sand with ocean in background
Family of four standing grouped together on sand at Crystal Pier
Woman and two daughters holding hands running through shallow waves
Family of four posed together on beach sand with pier visible
Woman holding young daughter on her hip, both beaming on sand
Two girls posing together close and hugging on sand by pier
Woman and young daughter embracing on sand in pink and blue
Woman and teenage son standing arm around each other on sand
Family of four holding hands and wading through shallow ocean
Woman in pink dress standing alone in shallow water at water's edge
Young girl in blue dress leaping joyfully on sand at beach
Family of four standing by lifeguard tower at pier in dusk light
Family of four silhouetted together in ocean waves at sunset

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