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The Lietha family’s San Onofre Beach family session was everything a summer evening by the ocean should feel like, unrushed, joyful, and grounded in genuine connection. With the steady rhythm of the waves behind them and the warmth of golden hour settling in, this session became less about a single photo shoot and more about preserving a moment in their family’s evolving story.
I’ve had the privilege of photographing this family for the past three years here in California, and returning to San Onofre with them felt especially meaningful. Each session builds upon the last, children growing taller, expressions changing, relationships deepening. That continuity is where family photography becomes something more enduring.
San Onofre Beach: A Setting That Honors Simplicity and Story
San Onofre Beach is one of Southern California’s most quietly striking coastal locations. Its long stretch of shoreline, natural grasses, and open horizon create an environment that feels timeless rather than trendy. There’s a softness to this beach, both visually and emotionally, that allows families to settle into the experience without distraction.
For family sessions, this matters. When a location doesn’t demand attention, it gives space for connection to take center stage. San Onofre offers exactly that balance: expansive scenery without overwhelming the intimacy of the moment. It’s why I often recommend it for families who value photographs that feel natural, calm, and lasting.
Coastal Family Photography Rooted in Real Connection
What continues to stand out about the Lietha family is how effortlessly they move together. Their children’s laughter, spontaneous hugs, and quiet moments in between are the kinds of details that can’t be manufactured, and shouldn’t be.
This is the heart of coastal family photography as I approach it. It’s not about perfect poses or overly directed moments. Instead, it’s about gentle guidance paired with freedom, allowing families to interact naturally while I create space for images that feel both composed and honest.
Over time, sessions like these become visual markers of a family’s history. Not just how everyone looked, but how it felt to be together in that season of life.
Golden Hour Along the Shoreline
As the sun dipped lower, we moved closer to the water’s edge, where the light softened and wrapped around the family in that unmistakable coastal glow. Golden hour at San Onofre has a painterly quality, warm highlights, subtle shadows, and a sense of stillness that settles into the images.
The resulting gallery blends guided portraits with candid moments, children darting toward the waves, parents pausing to take it all in. It’s this balance that creates images that feel elevated without feeling staged.
Why San Onofre Beach Works So Well for Family Sessions
San Onofre remains one of my favorite locations for coastal family photography because of its versatility and natural rhythm. The landscape encourages movement, exploration, and ease, three things that translate beautifully into photographs.
Tips for families planning a San Onofre Beach family session:
- Schedule during golden hour for soft, flattering light
- Choose wardrobe tones that complement coastal neutrals and textures
- Allow room for movement, walking, playing, and barefoot moments create authenticity
Looking Ahead: Coastal Sessions on the East Coast
While this session took place along the California coastline, it also represents a chapter that has deeply shaped my work. As my family and business prepare for our move to the East Coast, I’m carrying these experiences with me, translating the same legacy-driven approach to new coastal landscapes.
From the historic shorelines of the Northeast to the quieter beaches along the Mid-Atlantic, my approach to family photography remains unchanged: calm guidance, intentional composition, and imagery designed to live on beyond the moment it’s captured. These San Onofre sessions have laid the foundation for the coastal family work I look forward to creating in this next season.
A Family Story Preserved
Photographing the Lietha family year after year has been a reminder that the most meaningful photographs aren’t created all at once. They’re built slowly, through trust, familiarity, and shared history.
This San Onofre Beach family session is now part of that larger story, a collection of images that will live on not just as photographs, but as tangible reminders of a season filled with laughter, closeness, and time together.
Family sessions like this are never isolated moments within my work. They are part of longer relationships, often beginning on a wedding day and continuing as families grow and seasons change. This intentional, relationship-driven approach is central to how I work and is reflected throughout the EKP experience.
