La Jolla Family Photography | Making a Splash at Windansea

September 1, 2023

Charlene’s family is in that in-between season when the kids are young adults, but it’s not quite time for grandkids yet! This is a time of life when family portraits sometimes gets skipped because there aren’t the tiny little childhood faces to capture . . . but the relationships and personalities are just as valuable, and these years are just as fleeting. Charlene says that if she were to give her younger self some advice, it would be this: “Absolutely book the shoot!! More frequently, yearly if possible. Everyone changes so quickly, and most of my kids are adults now.”

Big Extended Family in Front of the Hotel del Coronado

Extended Family Photography Hotel Del Coronado | A Tradition Continues

August 27, 2023

This big extended family and I have gotten together every summer since 2014 for their annual portrait session! The kids are getting older and, to be honest, a whole lot easier to photograph! Here’s their 2017 session, for comparison’s sake!
This year I was so happy to see a giant cloud covering the sun, creating perfect portrait light with the Hotel Del in the background! We have squeezed in a few hotel shots at the end of some of our sessions in previous years, but this was a whole different opportunity, and I loved it. While I grabbed the posed family shots in front of the Del, Everin got individual portraits and less formal shots, resulting in the usual gigantic gallery combining traditional posed images and candids. Then, to end everything off, the sunset was incredible!

San Diego Beach Portraits of Girls in Green on the Shore on Coronado

Girls in Green on Coronado | San Diego beach photographer

August 26, 2023

It was a gorgeous day on Coronado when I met up with the B family this year! Their last session was right at the end of 2020, and it was a December session—a little chilly, but still sunny. This time we hit the beach in the summer and enjoyed warmer temperatures and a really similar, sunny day. It’s fun to see the contrast between the two sessions and Airisha’s flair for styling her girls in adorable matching dresses—2020, winter blues; 2023, summer greens.

Corporate Headshots | Fairmont Grand Del Mar San Diego

August 16, 2023

There’s no better time than a company off-site retreat to get some great team and individual images for the website. I loved meeting the team from SBS Comms, a public relations agency enjoying their time in San Diego for meetings and team building. The Fairmont Grand Del Mar provided beautiful backgrounds for their headshots and group images, and I think we all had a great time making natural images that show what joyful, smart people make up the SBS Comms team.

Little Boy with Sword Dodging Waves on the Beach

La Jolla Family Photography | San Diego Weeks

August 14, 2023

I consider it a gift to be able to capture this little growing-up family, even when their favorite beach choices take us somewhere extra-splashy, like La Jolla! I never thought to include a pirate sword in a family portrait session, but after Coco’s demonstration, I’m beginning to think I might need to add one to my prop bag, along with a cowboy hat. It was a magical evening with lots of flouncy dresses, spinning, and getting clobbered by waves. A+

Hotel del Coronado Garden

August 6, 2023

Parents kissing near teenage kids at the Balboa Park Organ Pavilion

Balboa Park Family Portraits | Capturing a Season

July 30, 2023

It was wonderful to photograph the Sundermeyers again this summer after four eventful years. Seana recently finished her doctoral degree in teaching English, so she had wonderful words for me when I asked her to describe her family and our session together.

High-Key Family Portrait on the Beach at Scripps Pier

Candid Family Fun on the Beach | La Jolla’s Best Sky of the Year

July 18, 2023

Sometimes it’s too bright on the beach to start a session right on the shore, but I was thrilled to find this incredible sky hovering over La Jolla at just the right time! Portia and her guys, including two sets of adorable boys, were most interested in candid photos, so we spent most of our time doing what I love best—running all over the place and playing games on the shore. I think I will remember this session forever.

Beach Family Portraits at the Hotel del Coronado | Professional Photography

July 12, 2023

JT’s family was ready for a new round of portraits, since their last session was four years ago during his proposal. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and they were a dream to photograph in the buttery light. We got all the sweet sister, daddy-daughter, and step-mom poses, along with some fun couple shots of the not-so-newlyweds!

Girl in Red Posing on a Rock on Coronado

Brooklyn’s Coronado Senior Session | San Diego Beach Photographer

July 3, 2023

Brooklyn came all the way from Wisconsin and made a point to get senior portraits while she was on Coronado. She was the perfect model, and I tried out ALLL the poses with her, including a really fun long-exposure shot at the end. Love that two of her favorites were photos with her mom. ❤️

Family Running on the Shore in San Diego

Family Portraits at Crystal Pier | San Diego Photographer

July 2, 2023

Lisa said she would be back again this year, and she was true to her word! I loved meeting this New York family last year at the Hotel del Coronado, and this year, though they were staying in La Jolla(https://lajollabythesea.com/), she took my advice and we shot at Crystal Pier(http://www.crystalpier.com/) in Pacific Beach(https://amygrayphotography.com/gallery/beach/crystal-pier-pacific-beach/). Her family was decked out in blue check gingham, and although some parties were not too happy about getting in the water, you can’t tell it from the photos, can you? It was a memorable time for sure, and I love the way their family interacts with each other in such a fun way. Hope to see them again in 2024!

Graduate and Friend Walking on the Beach

Ana & Matthew’s Grad Portraits | San Diego State and Coronado Beach

June 13, 2023

Ana graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Nutrition, and she and Matthew celebrated with a photo session on campus at Hepner Hall and then on Coronado Beach. The June gloom broke up just as the sun went down, and we enjoyed a gorgeous sunset on the shore.

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