Breanne wanted a photo session with her extended family during their vacation in San Diego this summer. I’ll let her tell the story:
San Diego was our family pick for a summer vacation. We love San Diego and thought it would be an amazing place for our little kiddos (3 under 3! and a 6 year old) to spend time relaxing and having fun! We opted to rent a large home in Pacific Beach where everyone could enjoy each other’s company even after the kiddos went to sleep. Highlights obviously included beach fun and a trip to the oh-so-famous San Diego Zoo. We splurged and added the discovery cart tour, a must with little kids.
Our last extended family photo was circa 2015. With the addition of 3 more kiddos to the mix, it was time for a refresh.
Setting the photo session date was easy! Next came the concerns, starting with “what will we wear?” For us, we were coordinating four families’ outfits states apart. Lots of text chains ensued, showing ensemble options until we landed on the perfect color combo. Next up, will the children cooperate? No worries here, Amy was a pro and had all sorts of tricks up her sleeve.
The absolute best was watching my family do whatever it took to get the kiddos to look at the camera and hopefully crack a smile. We were for sure the beach entertainment that evening. Here’s a behind-the-scenes shot of us being crazy!

Additionally, at the very end of our shoot, the water came up and splashed everyone from behind. Amy caught this shot on camera, a true gem!
It’s so hard to pick just one favorite from our session. I love, love, love our family photo that included the entire fam. This will always be a fave, as it’s a rare occasion to get everyone together and photo-ready! I also loved the images Amy captured of my kiddo smiling. He tends to be serious once a camera comes out, but Amy was able to catch his fun, laid-back side.
We will absolutely be printing and hanging these cherished photos that will bring lots of light, laughter, and love to the walls of our homes. I have all sorts of plans for these photos: album, wall display, holiday cards, you name it!
A few more of my favorites from Breanne’s session. Hope I get to see this sweet family again in a few years!