Family of four holds hands walking on wet sand reflections, Coronado Beach

Hotel del Coronado Family Photos | From the Ranch to the Beach

Carla and Brent have a tradition I love. Every year, wherever vacation takes them, they book a family session. This year it was San Diego, and they found me on Google, which means I got to be the one behind the camera.

They’re a Texas cattle ranch family, and Brent kept his cap on for the whole session because, as Carla put it, it’s part of his personality (I wasn’t about to argue with a man who runs cattle). Brenlie is 16 and Carter is 11, and Carla warned me ahead of time that they were "all pretty easy to capture." She was right. We started in the gardens at the Del and ended on the sand at sunset. At one point I asked Brenlie to "mog" (a word I picked up from a family a few sessions back), and apparently it was the funniest moment of the session. This is like a magic word for photographers . . . it always gets smiles! Carla wanted photos with "the San Diego vibe in the background" that would end up as canvas prints on their walls at home. Her favorite: "Walking alongside the beach, laughing and enjoying the evening under a beautiful California sunset. The reflections in the photo were absolutely amazing, while the expressions on our faces were pricelessly perfect!"

They stayed at the Hilton Bayfront and packed the trip full with a Padres game, a sunset dinner cruise, the sea lions and Pop Up Bagels at La Jolla Cove, and the Zoo. Not a bad way to spend a week away from the ranch.

Family of four smiling together at sunset for Hotel del Coronado family photos
Couple shares a warm embrace in garden pathway at Hotel Del Coronado
Couple smiling together on garden path at Hotel del Coronado
Extended family of four sits together in garden, Hotel del Coronado behind them
Teen girl in teal dress poses for San Diego senior portraits
Woman in teal dress twirls on garden path at Hotel Del Coronado
Teen boy in blue shirt and khaki shorts stands for solo portrait
Brother and sister pose together in matching teal and blue outfits
San Diego senior portrait of teenage girl leaning against white brick wall
Teen girl in teal dress stands among palms near Hotel del Coronado
Extended family of four sits together in garden, Hotel del Coronado behind them
Family of four walks along sand dune at Hotel del Coronado sunset
Smiling woman in green dress poses along the Coronado Beach shoreline
Woman in teal dress glances back while standing on Coronado Beach
Teen boy in blue shirt smiles for San Diego headshots
Teen boy stands barefoot on the beach in blue shirt, khaki shorts
Sister and brother stand together on Coronado Beach at dusk
Couple holds hands dancing on Coronado Beach at sunset with reflections
Woman in green dress wades in shallow water at Coronado Beach
Father and son stand together barefoot on Coronado Beach
Mother embraces teenage son during beach family photos in Coronado
Couple hugs on Coronado Beach at sunset
Mother and daughter embrace during Coronado Beach family photos
Woman in white dress stands alone on Coronado Beach at sunset
Woman in white sequined gown smiles on the San Diego beach
Man in cap and gray shirt poses on Coronado Beach shoreline
Couple holds hands walking through shallow surf at Coronado Beach
Husband and wife pose barefoot on sand near Hotel del Coronado
Family of four walks hand in hand along Coronado Beach shoreline
Family of four holds hands walking on wet sand reflections, Coronado Beach
Family of four poses on blue lifeguard tower near Hotel Del Coronado
Silhouette of family of four holding hands at sunset on beach

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

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