The first of them brought their two adorable girls wearing matching red and white dresses, which contrasted nicely with the wood siding on the Institute.

We worked our way over to the picnic area and then down to the sand to get some more family pictures. The girls had fun looking for a favorite rock.

It’s a family session, but why not grab a nice portrait of mom and dad while we’re at it?

Thanks to the T. family for heading down to Dana Point to spend the afternoon with us!

After that, we made our way down to the shore. Since the sky was clear that afternoon, we were able to take full advantage of the great golden afternoon sunlight.

And how awesome is it that Scott and Lacie met on Match.com.  They are perfect match, indeed.  It was great watching the two of them interact as we strolled along the sand.  We especially love how Scott knows how to make Lacie laugh.

Thanks so much to Scott and Lacie for such a fun afternoon.  We can’t wait to help you celebrate your big day next year!

Keith and I met up with Diana and Phil at one of their favorite locations, the Dana Point Ocean Institute in south Orange County.  We LOVED the location they selected.  The institute’s building has great architecture, not to mention fabulous wood siding, which makes for a great backdrop.

This series of closeups is one of our favorites from the session.

After exploring the grounds of the Ocean Institute, we made our way down to the beach.  It’s unfortunate that right as we reached the shoreline, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped.  But Diana and Phil were good sports—they willingly walked and explored the rocky coast despite the chilly blast.

Before the end of the session, Diana and Phil gave us a tour of a little gazebo that overlooks harbor.  The view is pretty special.

Thanks so much to Diana and Phil.  It’s been great getting to know you both over the last few months.  Keith and I can’t wait to help capture your big day in August.

The kids seemed to enjoy running up and into the gently lapping waves (under dad’s supervision of course). We may have allowed them to get a little wet in the process, but it’s all in the name of fun family photos they can enjoy for years.

Thanks so much to the G. Family for another memorable afternoon!  We hope you enjoy the slideshow!

The Abrego boys seemed to enjoy themselves as well. They ran up to and away from the surfline, kicked around the sand, slid down the sand hill, and even teamed up to dig their way through the remnants of a sand castle. They were adorable and the whole family was great to work with.  Need proof?  Just view the slideshow to see more from the fun morning we spent with them.

Emily loved digging in the sand and walking with her parents along the shore.  And what about Emily’s awesome dress?  The blues in her outfit contrasted well with the sand and gave the photos a pleasing punch for her portrait shots.  We were particularly lucky with the weather that afternoon, too.  The lack of cloud cover let us take advantage of the sun’s warm afternoon glow.  We can’t thank the K. Family enough for being so willing to try a new location with us.  It’s a spot we’ll definitely visit again.

It turned out to be a beautiful day for photography in south Orange County; we met in Laguna Beach, where we found some flower beds that just scream “take your picture with me!” Which we did. We headed down to the sand where the kids took advantage of the pristine beach and ran right up to the water. Someone had the great idea to bring some chairs and a sheet which we repurposed to create a portable studio right on the beach.

This is the first family to ask for photos on the beach, but I doubt it will be the last. I think the photos prove why everyone loves southern California. Just another postcard-perfect moment in south OC!

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