Coronado Island has a way of holding on to family stories. For Melissa’s family, this beach already carried a sweet memory: the last time they were here, she was expecting their daughter. Coming back with two beach-loving kids made this visit extra meaningful.
Melissa’s family was overdue for updated photos and had never done a beach session, so their San Diego trip was the perfect time. She wanted to capture Coronado’s beauty, the glow of the water, and her kids’ real smiles as they played along the shore. With Maxine turning nine that week, it was the perfect moment to document this stage before it slips into the next.
Melissa describes their family as “tight-knit, goofy, and lovable.” Maxine loved collecting sand dollars and shells and is already asking when they can go back. Boaz, 4, usually goes straight for the mud and water, so the fact that he stayed clean for photos was a win, and his playful spirit still shone through.
Melissa especially loves the timeless silhouettes and the relaxed family photos by the rocks. The kids loved having room to run and play during the session, and afterward, Boaz told his mom, “That was fun! I was a very good boy huh mommy?!” which might be the best review a session can get.
Back home in Northern Colorado, Melissa runs NoCo Pumpkin Co., Northern Colorado’s original pumpkin concierge, bringing all the fun of fall to your doorstep without the decorating hassle (www.nocopumpkinco.com). She spends her days helping other families make their spaces feel special, and this Coronado session was a chance to do the same for her own—pressing pause for an evening and coming away with images that feel honest, warm, and very “them.”
