These sessions are an invitation to step into the frame. With your children. With your partner. In your carefully curated home. In the spaces you’ve shaped with intention and love.

My youngest son has been growing his hair out for a few years. It started with the need to have Steve from Stranger Things (yes, I let my 10-year-old watch that show… don’t judge, I’ve been a mom for 24 years, I’m tired) to go with his “Scoops A-hoy” costume for Comic Con San Diego. The costume only lasted a few hours into the con, but the hair has endured.

Black and white family photos have a way of pulling us in—past the surface smiles and curated details, straight into the emotion of the moment. They strip away the distractions of color and leave only what truly matters: connection, expression, and the energy between the people in the frame.

Okay, let’s be real. Summer is beautiful… but long. And if your kids are anything like mine, they’re bouncing between “I’m bored,” “I’m starving,” and “Don’t talk to me” about 12 times an hour while being glued to a screen of some kind. So here it is: my lovingly curated list of magical (and some free!) things to do this summer with your kids in San Diego.

Styling your family for a photo session can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you're dreaming of a soft, earthy palette, something a little more bold and fashion-forward, or timeless neutrals with beautiful texture, you have so many options. And good news: they don’t all involve shopping from scratch.