Every year, Diane Giles gathers her extended family for updated photos, capturing the grandkids as they grow and change faster than she can believe. I was so happy to be their photographer this year, as Diane’s family and mine share deep East County roots. Years ago, her two children were students in my eighth-grade English class, and now her daughter is a principal at one of the schools we photograph with Patriot Photo. Her cousin happens to be my optometrist, and her uncle was my own high school principal. San Diego may be a big city, but moments like these remind me how much it still feels like a small town.
The Giles family had done beach portraits recently, so we headed for the Rancho San Diego hills this year. It was a clear day, and as the sun set behind the family, its soft golden glow wrapped everyone in light—a photographer’s dream.
Of course, no family session is complete without a little mischief. The kids were all wonderfully behaved, so the family dog Panda stepped in to show off her escape skills. The grandsons did a great job of rounding her up, and we got some fun shots of the whole family, including the pup.
For Diane, yearly portrait sessions are part of an important tradition. Once the session wraps, everyone heads to dinner together to celebrate another year. Diane says she treats her family to “thank them for giving Nana another great year of memories to enjoy.”
It’s always an honor to photograph families like the Gileses, who value the result as a part of their legacy.
