If you’re visiting Laguna Beach with your family and you want to take home something more than the usual posed set on the sand, it’s worth booking a local photographer who knows the beaches and how to get down to them. Treasure Island Beach, just below the Montage Resort, is one of my favorite spots in town for this, and it’s where I spent a recent evening with a family of six.
They wanted to see their kids’ personalities
This family takes photos every year, but this time they wanted something different. What mattered most to my client was seeing her kids’ personalities come through, something she felt was missing from past shoots. Relaxed, casual, true to how they actually are together. That was the request.
She had seen some of my work around Laguna Beach, including a family session at Victoria Beach, and wanted a pretty backdrop for this one. I suggested Treasure Island Beach. There’s a particular arch there I thought would be fun for a family this size. We timed the session so the tide was out far enough to shoot at the arch and then move through the rest of the beach. The arch makes such a natural frame, and the light came through at just the right angle with the palm trees behind them.
A summer before everything changes
Their eldest was days away from leaving for college when we shot this, and I’m glad they didn’t wait. Getting six people in one place only gets harder once the first one goes. Now they have this evening documented instead of hoping everyone’s home at the same time again.
Getting to Treasure Island Beach
Access is easy. A series of stairway ramps leads down to the sand, and there are showers at the base. There’s plenty of room to set up a blanket and leave your things. Parking is available along PCH, and there’s a small paid garage about a five minute walk away. If you want to make an evening of it, walk the pathway toward the Montage Resort. The views are worth the detour, and it connects to several neighboring beaches if you feel like wandering.
If you’re planning a trip to Laguna Beach and want photos while you’re here, send me an inquiry and I’ll help you figure out the right beach and the right time of day for your family. Or if you already know what you want, feel free to book directly on my services page.
