Coronado Beach Family Photos | Embracing the Chaos with Three Boys

Steffani and Brandon brought their three boys — Hayden (15), Wyatt (10), and Brecken (4½) — out from home this June for a sunset session on Coronado Beach. The boys ran the entire time (the entire time), and that turned out to be the best thing about it. For this one, I’m stepping back and letting Steffani tell it, because she said it better than I could:

“I have always dreamed of doing sunset family photos on the beach. After my mom took my sister and me on a birthday trip to Coronado in November 2025, I completely fell in love with it. When I decided to bring my family to San Diego and Coronado this June, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to capture our family of five in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.”

“Our three boys were absolutely wild! They spent most of the session running, chasing each other across the beach, and having the time of their lives. I’ll admit, I was worried Amy wasn’t going to get enough good photos because they were constantly moving! I was also stressing about messy hair and wet clothes, but none of that mattered… I’m so thankful she embraced the chaos instead of trying to control it. Those are the moments that truly represent our family.”

“I honestly have way too many favorites to count! If I had to choose just one, it would be the photo of all five of us standing in front of the Hotel del Coronado. Our smiles look so genuine and full of happiness… We hadn’t had family photos taken since our youngest son was born, and now that he’s 4½ years old, I knew these photos would become some of our most treasured possessions.” “We celebrated Father’s Day with the famous breakfast buffet at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse before visiting the USS Midway. We kayaked through the La Jolla sea caves, spent days at SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and the San Diego Zoo, and watched two unforgettable sunsets at Sunset Cliffs. It truly was one of the best family vacations we’ve ever taken.”

“As a mom, I’m usually the one behind the camera, making sure everyone else is in the picture while I’m missing from it… Our boys won’t stay little forever. Before we know it, they’ll be grown, starting families of their own, and these photographs will become even more priceless. Looking at them instantly takes me back to the warm June evening on Coronado Beach, the laughter, the waves, the chaos of three boys running everywhere, and the overwhelming feeling of gratitude that this is my family.”

Steffani described her family in three words: adventurous, loving, joyful. The photos agree.

Family of five stands at Hotel del Coronado during golden hour
Three boys standing together at Hotel del Coronado during golden hour
Toddler in cream shirt and blue shorts, portrait at Hotel del Coronado
Child in blue striped shirt and glasses at Hotel del Coronado
Teen in cream shirt and glasses, standing at Hotel del Coronado
Man and woman standing together at Hotel del Coronado, golden hour
Woman in cream off-shoulder top smiling at Hotel del Coronado
Family of five standing among palm trees at Hotel del Coronado
Toddler climbing on wooden pier structure at beach during sunset
Child hanging from wooden pier railing at beach, golden hour
Teen in cream shirt leaning on wooden pier at beach at sunset
Man and woman leaning on wooden beach pier railing at sunset
Family of five on sandy beach near blue lifeguard tower at sunset
Family of five standing in shallow water on Coronado Beach at sunset
Toddler running along wet sand on beach during golden hour
Child standing in shallow water on Coronado Beach at sunset
Family of five walking together on beach with wet sand reflections at sunset
Woman and man walking on Coronado Beach in shallow water at sunset
Man and woman standing in shallow ocean water on Coronado Beach at sunset
Family of five running together on wet sand at Coronado Beach at sunset
Woman and child holding hands in shallow water on Coronado Beach at sunset
Close-up of child's hands holding seashell on Coronado Beach
Woman kneeling on beach holding child at sunset, Coronado Beach
Woman and child embracing on beach at sunset, Coronado Beach
Woman and teen standing together on Coronado Beach at sunset
Toddler on teen's shoulders on beach at golden hour, Coronado
Teen running along wet sand on Coronado Beach at sunset
Teen standing on beach looking at ocean at sunset, Coronado
Man holding toddler in shallow water on Coronado Beach at sunset
Child and man standing together on Coronado Beach at sunset
Man and teen standing together on Coronado Beach at sunset
Woman walking alone on wet sand at Coronado Beach at sunset
Toddler playing with toy sailboat on beach at sunset, Coronado
Man and woman on Coronado Beach looking at each other at sunset
Man and woman standing in shallow water on Coronado Beach at sunset
Silhouette of family of five holding hands on beach at sunset

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