A fun photoshoot on the beach at La Jolla
San Diego family photographer - Recently, a mother phoned me wanting to capture her seventeen-year-old daughter at a particularly precious period in her life. Caroline was about to graduate from high school.
The following year, she’d leave home for the first time when we she went off college.
The family was from Massachusetts, but they maintained a summer home Southern California.
They wanted to take advantage of the beautiful light and stunning backdrops for the portrait. The mother gave me an idea of the vibe she wanted, and I responded with a list of suggested locations and ideas of what her daughter should wear, along with accessories that would express her own personality.
They chose to shoot the portrait at the pier in La Jolla, near San Diego.
San Diego County offers a wide selection of terrific locations for photo shoots, and as a So-Cal photographer I enjoy photographing at so many different locations from the small-town charm of Encinitas and Del Mar to the spectacular beaches of La Jolla, Solana and Carlsbad. Other locations to consider can also be a private residence or more urban like North Park.
The Southern California light is good year round!
For the Caroline’s shoot, we began in the late afternoon, the “golden hour” for photography, when the sunlight on the beach was soft and flattering. After shooting two or three outfits on the beach, we moved five minutes inland to a lovely wooded area, and another change of clothes.
SAN DIEGO FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER
To make my portraits a true reflection of the subject, I always guide them step-by step, making suggestions about what to wear, and helping them to have fun and relax. Together, we create an overall vision for the portrait during a pre-session consultation. I listen closely to their ideas and desires as we choose outfits, location and styling. Once I understand what their dream portrait would look like, I suggest color and details to incorporate into the image. I want to get to know my clients before I shoot their portraits, so that I can give them a perfect portrait, with dozens of images to choose from, included full figure, headshots, candid and formal shots, details and a wide range of expressions. More than a portrait, these images capture the subject’s authentic personality.
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This guide will take you through my process as well as a few tips and tricks that will help make your senior photo experience a great one. Inside the guide, you’ll find ideas from what to wear, themes to choose and personal interests to integrate into your portrait session.