Three years ago, I met Kate and her kids at a playground in Lexington. She introduced herself when our boys started playing and realized that she had just gotten a mailer from me and had planned to call me about doing their family photographs.

As we became closer friends and I photographed her family each Autumn, I learned that her family LOVED the beach. When Kate approached me in August with the idea to do a family photography session on the beach, I was so excited. Sunset on the beach is my happy place, and it is clearly theirs too! Her husband envisioned sweeping views, the family playing and laughing, and some interesting terrain. Wingaersheek Beach was the perfect backdrop for this as it provides gorgeous sand, dunes, a lighthouse, beautiful rocks and tidal pools. We chose a September date, post-Labor Day, hoping for less crowds and boy did the weather deliver the sweeping beach views we were envisioning.

We began the session with some traditional (read: clean) family photographs and then ended by letting the kids (and adults!) go wild running through the waves and getting wet and sandy. I know I say this all the time, but I absolutely love working with the same families year after year. The great thing, especially with kids who can be shy or reserved, is that they tend to warm up SO much more quickly when they’ve seen me 3 or 4 times. Mister 4 Years Old was directing and composing the photographs soon after we started our session– I love that! One of the best things about doing family photographs on the beach during sunset is that the light changes SO rapidly the hour before sunset that you get a fantastic variety of colors and light in your gallery.

I know it’s common in Massachusetts to get your annual family photographs with foliage, but have you ever considered a family beach session?