A sunny fall day, the Palos Verdes hills, a couple flower crowns, and this beautiful family make for the sweetest portrait session! Both of the girls were such a delight, and the little boy, born just a few weeks before the shoot, was such a trooper.

So happy we were able to get these images that they can use for their holiday cards this year!

This amazing little family – I can’t even begin to tell you how overjoyed it makes to have been able to document so many milestones in their lives. I still remember my very first meeting with Dawn to discuss her wedding – we talked about travel, and bicycles, and food (so much about food!) and I seriously walked out of that meeting feeling like we were old friends. I had the opportunity to photograph their engagement session and wedding, then maternity portraits when Dawn was carrying little Ryder, and this session, where they’re expecting their second little boy. He’s since arrived and I couldn’t be happier for them!

At the last moment, Dawn decided to bring the teepee from Ryder’s room, and I loved how it turned out in photos! :)

We didn’t plan for the fog.

We figured out sunset times and when to meet for the optimal golden light, and when I woke up that morning the sun was streaming in my window. It was cheerfully sunny on my drive over as I passed through 4 different cities, and literally just as I pulled up to the block before the beach, the sun hid away and we found the entire shoreline was blanketed in a cloudy mist. And now when I see these photos, I couldn’t imagine it any other way. The fog was perfect. Ala {my dear friend and fellow photographer} and her hubby Steve were perfect. The quiet, calm and empty beach was perfect. Her dress? That flower crown? The simplicity of just this one location, of following a couple and documenting their love? All perfect.

At the end of the session, I told them I could photograph this session all day every day, and I meant it.