Back in July there was a message on my phone from Chris, otherwise known as Dad in the B Family. He was calling to set up a beach session for his kids and wanted to use a voucher he and his wife, Patty, had won at the local library auction 5 years ago! I was blown away that they still had the voucher and of course I was going to make this session happen!

After a really good game of phone tag, we finally connected to go over the session details and setup a time/place. I KNEW this was my kind of family when he said “Sunday would be perfect for us. We’re all going to wedding and the kids will be clean that day.” Loved that!!

When Chris and I originally spoke we talked about doing individual and group portraits in black and white. As this was what Chris and Patty specifically asked for, I wanted to make sure we started here.

*Complete Aside – This is one of my favorite images from the shoot! I know, I know, doesn’t exactly fall under the kids portrait category, but I love how Chris and Patty where totally game to help out.*

Then it was time for some color and fun! I had eyed up the ice cream truck when we pulled in and so wanted to incorporate it some of the images. Not only did we use the truck as a back drop but the driver also invited the kids in to sit in the window! Completely love how the colors of the girls’ dresses matched up with the colors on the truck.

Now before they were all whisked away to the wedding (and before the kids got dirty!) there was one last setting I wanted to use.  You see, the beach we were shooting on, White Sands, was the same beach I spent all the summers of my childhood.  Very, very little has changed.  The ice cream truck still parks in the same place and the changing rooms have never been updated (except for possibly a new coat of paint). So, for years, I’ve been thinking of ways to incorporate the changing rooms into some images. Something about them just says White Sands Beach to me. I’m so very, very happy with the final images!