Family Photos at Home

Judy started with the newest addition to the family by herself. Look at that smile and those cheeks!

And these photos of the three children all together on the bed is probably one that they’ll recreate in 20 years.

Walking to the beach in Manhattan Beach

After their home, we started walking to the beach, where there were trails available for more family photos.

Manhattan Beach Family Photos

We caught the sunset at Manhattan beach for some amazing sunset family photos on the beach. We do a variety of photos, including both natural light (this first series) and strobed, off-camera lighting (the sunset photos after). The strobed lighting allows us to get more dynamic range into the photo, since the sun is too bright (and HDR can look to fake sometimes).

Here are the sunset family photos that use strobed, off-camera lighting. Notice the gorgeous colors and tones.

And how cute is it when kids go running after seagulls at the beach?! The low tide and low beach slope made for a prefect reflective surface.

This shows us doing Manhattan Beach family photography with a gorgeous sunset. We started at their home for more casual, lifestyle family photos, followed by a short walk to the beach, and ending with a multi-colored sunset and a reflective, mirror-like beach. This is a growing family with three children (two boys and a baby daughter).

For more examples of Los Angeles Family Photography, make sure to check out the rest of our blog and the many family portrait sessions we have done. You can also find more examples of family portraits done in Manhattan Beach and the surrounding beaches.

You can also find more examples of our recent family photography and portraits on our Instagram.

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Starting with family photos under the Manhattan Beach Pier

We started with family photos under the Manhattan Beach Pier, with the daughter holding some flowers. Look at that laugh!

Using a Tent in Family Photos

Here is a tent that they made for the family photo session, for their cute little baby boy.

A most unique Manhattan Beach sunset

Here is the instagram post that day of Judy shooting this family:

That post is taken with her cellphone, so you can see what we had to start with. Oh and Judy was super duper pregnant with Hayden at that time.

We had them walk it out along the beach waterline.

And how cute are these mommy daughter family photos!?

More Manhattan Beach Family Photos

As the sun set under the clouds and smoke in the background, we got more remotely lit family photos with sun fading away.

And here are some super cute daddy daughter photos.

We went back to our little picnic setup with the blanket, tent, and stuffed animal toys.

And more family photos of everyone all together before wrapping up the shoot.

Family Photos – Manhattan Beach

Here is a great example of Manhattan Beach family photography in Los Angeles County, but also a great example of how a good photographer can take advantage of a unique situation. The sunset that day was very unique due to the huge wildfire happening in Orange County that day. The smoke drifted out over the ocean, giving a soft haze that the sun would diffract through. We saw other family photographers that day that didn’t use any light to take advantage of that unique scenario. This leads to images with a white background (like the ones seen above of the family walking along the beach), which has a place and makes for good photos. But the difference between a good photographer and a great photographer is in that ability to adapt and capture that moment and setting.

Make sure to look around our blog for more examples of Manhattan Beach family photos, along with family photography with sunsets.

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Starting at the Huntington Hyatt Regency

We started the session at the large water fountain at the Huntington Hyatt. Here are their two loving daughters hugging each other.

And it’s always fun having the two children play during a shoot. It breaks up the family photography session, making it easier on the kids.

Family Photos at the Huntington Hyatt Bridge over PCH

We then walked over the bridge that connects the Huntington Hyatt resort with the beach (of Huntington Beach). It has great converging curved lines that frame a family photo so well.

We can see the sun starting to get closer to the horizon, so it’s off to the beach to capture that sunset.

Family Photography under the Huntington Beach Pier

We did some quick family photos under the Huntington Beach pier, right before the sunset. Again, the Huntington Beach pier has awesome converging lines that help frame a family photo so well.

Sunset at Huntington Beach

Then we caught the sunset, which was a glorious rich orange tone that day. We love how the sunlight was bouncing off the swash zone and beach face.

Huntington Beach Family Photography

This is a great example of Huntington Beach family photography, starting at the Huntington Hyatt Regency Resort and ending at the Huntington Beach Pier for the sunset. We got family photos at the Huntington Hyatt water fountain and the bridge that spans PCH, along with under the pier. Make sure to look around our blog for many examples of family photography, including more examples of family photos with piers.

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Starting Maternity Photography at Victoria Beach

We started with some maternity photos in the “swash zone,” or where the water comes in and out of the beach.

Because of how beautiful the clouds already looked before the sunset even started, we busted out our remote lighting early in the pregnancy photos to get that dramatic and unique look.

Maternity Photos in Laguna Beach Tidepools

We then captured them standing in tide pools at Victoria Beach, getting the light reflection in the still water along with the green from the algae. We advise each person to be careful to not disturb the wildlife, while also pointing out the sea animals in the tide pools. We find that with an understanding and love of a natural environment comes a respect for it.

Beach Sunset Maternity Photos

And the sun started to set with a strong yellow hue…

…that was surrounded by dramatic clouds and a blue sky.

And here is where the sunset really starts to come in, where the horizon and the layers of atmosphere soften the intensity of the sun.

Here is the half-disk sunset as it finally dips below the horizon.

They brought one of the baby toys to pose with it.

Along with other props like letters and the name of their baby, Penelope.

We ended the maternity photos with a blue hour (after the sunset) photo with a backlight.

Laguna Beach Maternity Photography

This is a great example of how we handle a beautiful Orange County sunset during a Laguna Beach maternity photography portrait session. Victoria Beach is one of the best beaches for pregnancy photos and is also the most common one that they issue photography permits for. Our expecting mother wore a light green or turquoise maternity dress, which was light and airy along with comfortable (very important for our pregnant mothers). Make sure to look around our blog for more examples of maternity photos with pregnant mothers.

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Starting on a Blue Wall on the Santa Monica Pier

We eased the family into the portrait session using a well-shaded wooden blue wall on the pier.

And we got individual portraits of each kid while we were at it.

Family Photos on the Sands of Santa Monica Beach

We then walked down to the sands of Santa Monica Beach, which is a great opportunity to get the kids to stretch out their legs and run!

But some not as well as others…

And we absolutely love the way the Santa Monica Pier looks in the background of these family photos! It fills the frame well and is distinctly Santa Monica.

The Santa Monica Beach Boardwalk

After that we walked down the wooden boardwalk, with the sun starting to set in the background. The solar flares looked awesome.

And then they flipped the youngest son upside down and started tickling him!

The Monkey Bars and Swings on Santa Monica Beach

There are public monkey bars and other playground/gym equipment right there on the boardwalk, so we used them for some fun family photos.

And yeah that little boy can climb!

Sunset Family Photos on the Beach

We then went over to the other side of the Santa Monica Pier for sunset family photos.

And a wave came up and surprised them while we were taking pictures.

Family Photography Santa Monica Beach

This is a great example of Santa Monica family photos at the infamous Santa Monica Pier and Beach. We took family portraits on the pier, along the wooden boardwalk, the Santa Monica Beach gym equipment (monkey bars, rope climb, and swings), and then got the sunset along the waterline. This is a family with three children (one girl and two boys), wearing white with pastel tones. The historic Santa Monica Pier was in the background of many of the family photos, giving the pictures a very distinct southern California look and feel.

Make sure to check out our blog for many more examples of our family photography. We have tagged many of the articles to help you see family photos closer to what you want for your own portrait session, for example seeing family photos with sunsets in them. When you are ready to book a session, don’t hesitate to contact Judy!

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Starting with family photos at their home in Manhattan Beach

Here they are in their yard, with Judy easing them into the portrait session.

She then focused on the two boys.

And then got individual family portraits of each son.

Walking down to Manhattan Beach

After easing into the family portrait session, we walked down to the beach, getting them as they walked toward the sunset.

Family Photos of Playing on the Beach

There is a public swing set right there on the sand, which made for some fun family photos of them together.

And then we had them run across the sand while holding hands.

Manhattan Beach Sunset

It was time for the sunset, so we used remote lighting to get a nice family photo of the Manhattan Beach sunset. This is the everyday view of the South Bay in Los Angeles County (unless the marine layer comes in).

We had them walk along the sand and the waves at low tide, which made for a swash zone so smooth it was like a mirror.

The Moon after the Sunset!

The full moon was in the background 180 degrees from the sun, rising in the east.

Look at that moon rise!

Manhattan Beach Family Photos

This is a Manhattan Beach family photography portrait session that starts in the home residence of the family, has family photos in their yard at their home, shows them walking down to the beach along the streets of Manhattan Beach, the sunset across the horizon of the Pacific Ocean, them playing on the swing sets on the beach sand, and with the moon rise in the background. They have two adorable sons, and I think that family photos with two children is our most common combination. This took place in the South Bay of Los Angeles County, in the area known as the Beach Cities. Manhattan Beach is one of the many beaches along that stretch from Palos Verdes to Malibu, neighbored by El Segundo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach.

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Starting at their home in Manhattan Beach

We started at their home residence, getting more lifestyle photos of their son in his natural and comfortable environment.

I think that guitar is a little big for him!

And here they are getting ready for a walk down to the beach.

But not before getting a family photo on their bed.

Walking down to the Beach for more Family Photography

We then started walking along the streets of Manhattan Beach, getting family photos when opportunities presented themselves.

And on to the boardwalk of Manhattan Beach.

Family Photos with the Manhattan Beach Pier

Underneath the pier, the columns created beautiful converging lines and patterns, along with soft shade for our family portraits.

But even then we like to use remote lighting to get different and better photos when we see the opportunity for it.

Manhattan Beach Family Photography

This is a great example of a Manhattan Beach family photography portrait session. It started at their home residence, with us walking down to the beach, walking along the boardwalk, and then walking under the Manhattan Beach Pier and along the sands of the beach. Manhattan Beach is part of the South Bay and the Beach Cities, including the neighboring Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and El Segundo.

Make sure to look around our website for more articles of family photography in many different locations and settings. For example, here is page that just has family photos with piers. If you are planning a family portrait session and wanted an idea of how Judy can help you execute that vision, take a look.

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