Crystal Pier Beach Family Photos | Four Years in the Making

Trisha had been meaning to book family photos for four years, but life kept happening — and every year their photos ended up “in the dead grasses or springtime grass.” Two weeks before their San Diego trip, she decided this was finally the year for the beach. Richard, Trisha, Trisha’s mom, Raelynn (14), and Trever (11) met me on the sand. Here’s Trisha:

What were you hoping to capture? “Our family as a whole, individually, and in different groups. I wanted ones where we were all looking, and the candid photos. The ones that show the true us, and the love and joy between all of us.”

Do you have a favorite photo from the session? “How can I pick a favorite?! There is one of my daughter and me holding hands, standing in the ocean with our backs to the camera. It probably wouldn’t be a typical ‘favorite photo,’ but it brought a tear to my eye. It’s all the life lived that no one else knows about that is wrapped up in that picture. I’m her person — the one helping her navigate life as a neurodivergent. So many tears, so many laughs, so many hugs, so many conversations. I will cherish this one photo so much.”

Any sweet or funny stories from the shoot? “Funny would be all of the seaweed that kept attacking us, and my husband almost letting go of me while we were spinning. Sweet would be my daughter and her stuffed animal. She takes ‘Strawberry’ everywhere with her, and we make sure there is at least one photo of her anytime we do professional photos.”

(I lobbied for a shot of Strawberry solo in the sand. Raelynn was not going to let that happen.)

Describe your family in three words: “Kind, outdoorsy, loving life.”

Did you do anything else fun while you were here?SeaWorld, surfing, a wedding, swimming, beach day, boogie boarding.”

Trisha couldn’t narrow down which photos she wanted for her wall, so she’s getting a giant digital frame to display all of them . . . plus a few big canvas prints. That works too.

Five family members stand together on sand at Crystal Pier, smiling
Family of five sitting closely on a log with the pier in background
Teen girl stands alone on beach facing camera at Crystal Pier, smiling
Teen girl holds pink stuffed animal while standing at beach at pier
Teen boy stands in profile facing left, looking thoughtful at pier
Man and woman stand together embracing on beach, both smiling
Teen boy with curly hair stands smiling for portrait at the beach
Man and woman stand together at beach, man kissing woman's head
Teen boy stands looking downward in striped shirt on beach at pier
Woman and teen girl sit together on sand near pier, embracing
Woman and teen girl hold hands standing in ocean with backs to camera
Family of four stands on sand with elderly woman seated at Crystal Pier
Man and woman holding hands wading in shallow water near Crystal Pier
Teen boy and man dance playfully together in shallow water at beach
Man and teen girl embrace while posing together on beach at pier
Silhouettes of four people holding hands on beach at sunset
Family of four wading in water together at beach during golden hour
Family of five wading hand-in-hand in shallow ocean water at beach
Teen girl holds pink stuffed animal while standing in white dress
Man and woman stand together smiling at beach with pier behind
Woman and older woman stand together smiling for close-up at beach
Family silhouettes stand holding hands on beach with sunset sky
Family of four stands together wading in water at beach at pier
Family of five wading in shallow water walking toward camera
Woman in blue patterned dress stands alone at beach, smiling
Teen girl in white dress stands alone in shallow water smiling
Man and woman hold hands while spinning together in shallow water
Teen boy in striped shirt stands alone on beach, hands in pockets
Teen girl in white dress holds pink stuffed animal at ocean beach
Two young girls sit close together on sand, smiling at camera
Teen boy in striped shirt stands alone smiling on beach at pier
Older girl and younger boy embrace playfully from behind on beach
Older girl hugs younger boy from behind in shallow water, playful
Man and teen boy embrace while standing in water, both smiling
Teen girl in white dress stands alone in shallow water at beach
Man in light blue shirt stands alone on beach, smiling at camera
Man and woman hold hands while spinning together in water at beach
Teen girl in white dress holds stuffed animal at ocean, smiling
Teen girl in white dress stands in shallow water at beach alone
Woman and teen girl sit together on sand, leaning close at pier
Woman and teen boy stand together smiling at beach at Crystal Pier
Man and teen boy embrace closely together for portrait at beach
Teen girl and older woman face each other holding hands at beach
Family of five stands together at beach with pier in background
Woman in patterned dress wades in shallow water at ocean beach
Man carries teen girl on shoulders while boy and woman stand in water

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