Ten-person extended family gathers on the beach at dusk

Captiva Island Family Photos | Racing a Lightning Storm for Our Big Reunion

Our summer vacation was in Florida this year . . . Captiva Island. It was beautiful. Hot. Humid. But there were people we loved everywhere we looked in our big Airbnb, the Gulf of America just down the street, and abundant coffeehouses, ice cream shops, and restaurants within walking distance. It was a great place to get away from the usual and experience a different kind of beach.

Ten family members pose together on Captiva Island beach

We arrived on July 4, the 250th anniversary of the USA, and we joined the mosquitos in enjoying a picnic on the sand while watching fireworks in the distance. We’d already been to Celebrate America at Shadow Mountain Community Church the week before, so we’d checked the "fireworks up close" box, and this was an adequately patriotic end to our big travel day. For our professional photos by Amy Weiler Photography, we chose a blue and white palette with a splash of red for the celebration.

Father and son embrace on Captiva Island beach at sunset
Teen boy in striped shirt smiles on Captiva Island beach

Of all the many, many photo sessions I’ve attended or administered, this one turned out to be the most terrifying. I mean, there’s definitely something scary about your battery dying or your SD card filling up, or your shutter breaking midway through a session, but it’s a whole different thing when the weather threatens to take you and your family out all at once.

Mother and son pose together on Florida beach shoreline
Family of four in blue and white poses on Captiva beach
Extended family group of six stands on Captiva Island shore

We were all dressed, hair done, make-up applied, teenagers bossed. We hit the road, ready to pretend to be naturals in front of the camera. Halfway to the meeting place, Amy (the photographer . . . the Florida photographer) called me to say there was a STORM hitting that beach and we needed to change locations. She wasn’t kidding. The storm was coming fast . . . and it had lightning!

Teen boy in blue shirt stands barefoot on sandy beach
Two women in matching white dresses embrace beachside
Young couple stands close on the sandy shoreline
Mother and daughter in flowing dresses smile by the sea

Long story short, we marched our family out to the sand and drill-sergeanted the fastest, most efficient 20-minute extended family session I have ever been part of, all the while watching the lightning flash in the distance and hearing the thunder answer back RIGHT AWAY. Terrifying. Our only comfort was in knowing that in comparison to the Rickert boys who were with us, we Cothrans were short. When photo sessioning in Florida, BYO lightning rod!

Mother and daughter in white dresses smile on the sand
Extended family holds hands in a line on the beach
Ten family members pose together on Captiva Island beach
Family of four holds hands on Captiva Island beach
Ten-person extended family gathers on the beach at dusk
Four siblings walk hand in hand along the shoreline
Older couple embraces on the beach at golden hour
Older couple holds hands smiling on Captiva Island beach
Father and teenage son smiling together on the Sanibel Island beach
Six women in coordinated outfits pose along the shoreline
Three generations of men stand together on the sandy beach
Extended family of six women smiling for a group beach portrait
Young woman in striped dress with red belt stands on the beach
Two teenage brothers stand side by side near the ocean waves
Mother and son embrace during a family beach portrait session
Three young women in colorful outfits smile together
Three cousins pose seaside in blue, red and white
Young man in blue shirt stands confidently on the beach
Young man in cream shirt smiles on the sandy Sanibel shore
Extended family holds hands walking along Captiva Island beach at sunset
Mother and daughter smiling together on the beach, Captiva Island reunion
Four siblings pose together on the sand during Florida family reunion
Young couple share a romantic moment on the Captiva Island shoreline
Whole extended family gathered smiling on the beach for reunion portrait
Four siblings standing close together for a Sanibel Island beach portrait
Family reunion group photo taken by San Diego family photographer on location
Father and son in blue shirts embrace on Sanibel Island beach at sunset
Extended family of six poses together on the sand in Captiva Island
Two young men in beach attire stand side by side on the shore
Woman in floral dress smiles for a seated beach portrait
Two brothers in patterned shirts pose arm in arm on the beach
Curly-haired young man and redhead woman smile together by the ocean
Redheaded woman leans affectionately on boyfriend during Captiva beach photos
Redhead woman in striped dress smiles on Captiva Island beach
Couple holds hands walking along the shore at Sanibel Island
Grandfather, son and grandson pose together on Captiva Island beach
Mother and teenage son smile together on the Sanibel shoreline
Two daughters and parents gather together for a Sanibel Island portrait
Family group linked arm-in-arm facing the ocean on Sanibel Island shore

I’m so grateful to Amy Weiler for NOT cancelling on us and, instead, risking her own life to make sure we had beautiful Florida memories.

Dreaming of photos like these for your own family? Let’s plan your session.

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