FALL SESSIONS 2026

Hi everyone, it is that time of the year again! I’ve added a few new locations to my list. Please take a look and let me know what location you choose.

* Note * we don’t use some of the locations on weekends because they get really busy. Others work best only at sunset. You will find this information in the description, once you pick your favorite location, please check to see if it will work with the day you have scheduled.

Some of these locations work really well in the morning. If you have an infant and/or toddler, or if the family wakes up early, that may work best for you. Usually we meet between 7:30 and 8am depending on the location.

LOS PENASQUITOS RANCH HOUSE

Good for sessions any day of the week, morning or sunset

This is one of my favorite locations. It offers a beautiful, natural California feel with a variety of backgrounds all within a short walking distance. We’ll have access to beautiful trails, open fields, and a mix of trees, with a subtle touch of fall. After such a hot, dry year, the leaves are already beginning to fall, adding a warm seasonal texture to the setting. We can easily incorporate the buildings or keep the focus entirely on the natural surroundings.

For colors, I recommend warm, earthy tones such as cream, ivory, beige, camel, soft brown, rust, terracotta, olive, muted sage, and warm mustard. These shades will complement the golden grass, greenery, trees, and early fall leaves beautifully without competing with the scenery.

FELICITA PARK IN ESCONDIDO

Good for sessions any day of the week, morning or sunset

Felicita Park is a beautiful, peaceful park with a woodsy, natural feel. The gorgeous oak trees create a beautiful backdrop throughout the park, and the light at sunset is especially pretty and warm.

For outfits, I recommend earthy, natural colors like cream, ivory, beige, camel, rust, terracotta, olive, sage, warm browns, and soft blues. These tones look beautiful against the oak trees and greenery.

One thing to keep in mind is that Felicita Park hosts a Renaissance event every year. In 2026, it will take place on October 31, November 1, 7, and 8, so we won’t be able to use the park for sessions on those weekends. Weekday sessions are still a great option during this time.

IRON MOUNTAIN

Good for sessions at the sunset, weekdays and weekends.

Iron Mountain offers a beautiful mix of nature, with rows of lined trees that create a gorgeous backdrop for photos, along with mountain views in the distance. The setting is perfect for a natural, timeless look.

Neutral, earthy, and warm tones such as cream, beige, tan, rust, olive, and soft blue look beautiful against the greenery and mountains. Flowy dresses, simple textures, and classic, comfortable outfits photograph especially well.

OLD POWAY PARK

Good for sessions in the morning and sunset, weekdays and weekends

Old Poway Park is a beautiful, rustic location with so many fun backgrounds, including the museum, historic railroad, barn, and gorgeous mature trees. It can get pretty busy with photographers on weekends, so I prefer weekdays when possible, but weekends are definitely doable—especially for morning sessions. Sunset is my favorite time here, with beautiful warm, golden light, but morning sessions work well too.

This park is perfect for a little Western-inspired style, so don’t be afraid to bring out the cowboy boots! 🤎 For outfits, I love cream, ivory, warm beige, camel, rust, terracotta, dusty blue, denim, sage, olive, and burgundy. These earthy, muted tones photograph beautifully with the rustic buildings, wood, and greenery.

MISSION TRAILS

Good for sunset, weekdays and weekends

Mission Trails offers beautiful natural scenery, diverse textures, and stunning mountain views. Because this location involves some walking between stops, comfortable shoes are highly recommended—though you are welcome to bring a second pair to change into for photos.

To complement the natural surroundings, earthy tones like cream, beige, olive, rust, and muted blue can be great options. Choosing textured fabrics like linen, flowy dresses, or soft knits adds wonderful depth to your images. For families, aim for a coordinated rather than perfectly matching look by mixing different shades and subtle patterns within a chosen color palette. Most importantly, choose clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident so your photos truly feel authentic to you rather than match exactly, and most importantly, wear something you feel comfortable and confident in!

TIERRASANTA CANYON

Good for sessions in the morning and sunset, weekdays and weekends

Tierrasanta is a quiet, tucked-away neighborhood known as the “Island in the Hills.” This location is one of the many beautiful little canyons throughout the area, and it’s one of my favorites for families.

The light here is beautiful and softly filtered through the trees, which gives us a little more flexibility with timing and allows us to meet slightly earlier for golden hour. One of the biggest advantages is how peaceful and uncrowded this location is. It’s very unlikely that we’ll encounter other photographers or large groups—usually just one or two people walking their dogs. This makes it especially ideal for families with small children or puppies, and for little ones who are shy, easily distracted, or need a quieter environment to feel comfortable. It’s a beautiful, relaxed setting where we can take our time, let the kids be themselves, and capture natural moments without a lot of distractions.

SAN CLEMENT CANYON

Good for sessions in the morning and sunset, weekdays and weekends

his is a very popular and centrally located canyon between Clairemont and La Jolla UTC. It has an easy, natural California feel, with beautiful canyon scenery and a variety of backgrounds just a short walk from the parking lot.Sunset is my preferred time here, when the light is especially warm and beautiful, although it also works well for morning sessions. The canyon’s trees can take on warm golden and brown tones as the seasons change, adding a subtle touch of fall. Because we don’t have to walk far between backgrounds, this location is especially great for larger groups, extended families, and families with young children.

For clothing, I recommend warm, earthy tones such as cream, ivory, beige, camel, tan, rust, terracotta, olive, sage, and soft brown. These colors complement the natural California landscape beautifully.

SAN DIEGUITO PARK

Good for sessions in the morning and sunset, weekdays and weekends

I love San Dieguito County Park! It’s such a fun North County option, with lots of trees, open grass, trails, and little pockets to explore. Depending on your kids’ ages and energy levels, we can keep it simple and hang out in a couple of favorite spots, or make it a little adventure and explore more of the park together. Either way, we’ll get plenty of variety—and the kids can move, play, and just be themselves. It’s beautiful for both morning and sunset sessions!

For outfits, I love soft, earthy colors that work with all the greenery—creams, beige, tan, sage, soft blues, rust, and warm browns. Think coordinated, but not perfectly matching. And since we may be walking, playing, and exploring, comfy shoes are definitely encouraged! November and early December weekends can get a little busy with families and photographers, but it’s still totally doable. If you have flexibility, weekdays are my favorite because we usually have much more space to ourselves.

EUCALIPTUS GROVE

Good for sessions in the morning and sunset, weekends only

This eucalyptus grove at University of California San Diego is such a beautiful little woodsy escape right in the middle of the city! Located in the UTC area, it has gorgeous warm tones and a cozy, natural feel that works especially well with fall-inspired wardrobes. Think rust, terracotta, mustard, olive, warm browns, cream, beige, and muted blues—colors that complement the eucalyptus and give the photos that warm, earthy feel. It’s also a great spot for both morning and sunset sessions, so we have flexibility when choosing the best time for your family.

Because this location is on the UCSD campus, parking during the week can be challenging, I only schedule sessions on weekends. The good news is that weekend parking is much easier and we have plenty of options available! Once we’re there, it feels like we’ve stepped away from the city and into a peaceful little grove, making it a great choice for families who want that woodsy, nature-filled look without having to leave the San Diego area.

PRESIDIO PARK

Good for sessions in the morning and sunset, weekdays and weekends

A very centrally located park with easy access and a beautiful variety of photo backgrounds. Families can choose between the Spanish-style museum with its white walls, arches, and terra-cotta tiles, or the surrounding green hills, grass, and trees. Depending on the kids’ ages, we can explore both areas or keep the session simple in one spot.

The light is especially beautiful in the morning and around sunset. This is a popular location among photographers and can get busier on weekends, especially in November and early December. Weekdays are ideal, but weekends can still work well.

For colors, I recommend warm, earthy tones that complement both the architecture and greenery: cream, ivory, beige, camel, rust, terracotta, sage, olive, and soft blue. A combination of cream + camel + rust + sage would be especially beautiful here.

BALBOA PARK

Good for sessions in the morning and sunset. For sunset sessions weekdays only, for morning sessions any day would work, except when the park is hosting a big event.

I like to think of Balboa Park as a collection of beautiful little locations rather than just one spot! We are so lucky to have so much variety here, and it’s one of my favorite places for family sessions. If you have young children, I usually choose one or two areas so we can keep the walking manageable and follow their pace. One of my favorite routes starts at the Organ Pavilion, takes us by the big root tree, and can finish near the Art Museum, with lots of variety along the way. We can also explore the colorful Spanish Village, rose garden, or cactus garden depending on what works best for your family.

The downside is that Balboa Park can get really busy, especially on weekends, which is why I typically photograph here on weekdays. If you prefer a morning session, weekends can work since the park tends to be quieter earlier in the day; for sunset sessions, I recommend a weekday or choosing another location. We’ll decide on the best area based on the day, time of day, and ages of your children, so we can create a relaxed session without trying to squeeze the entire park into one visit!

STEEL CANYON BRIDGE

Good for sessions at the sunset, weekdays and weekends

Steele Canyon Bridge is another beautiful spot, especially right around sunset. The bridge is surrounded by pretty green leaves, making it a great place for family photos, and it leads right into nice trails so you get a lot of variety. It does get crowded with other families and photographers on the weekends. Weekdays are best, but if we do a weekend, we can still use parts of the bridge and the trails to get amazing shots.

For clothing, simple colors look best here. Warm neutrals like cream, beige, or tan will pop nicely against the bridge. Soft earthy colors like rust, terracotta, or a dusty rose look great with the green leaves. A soft, muted blue also looks very nice against the steel structure. The bridge leads to a beautiful hike giving the session a good variety.

What about something a little different this year? 🤍

Your family session doesn’t have to happen at a traditional photo location. We can photograph your family at home, in your backyard, around your neighborhood, or somewhere that holds special meaning to you.

This sweet family wanted to include their beloved dog, who couldn’t go to many places anymore. So instead, we photographed them doing something they loved—walking the same neighborhood paths where they spent time together every day.

Sometimes the most meaningful photographs happen in the places that feel like home. 🤍

CHRISTMAS TREE FARM – EL CAJON

🎄 Christmas Tree Farm Mini Sessions 🎄

This year, I’ll be offering a very limited number of Christmas Tree Farm Mini Sessions in El Cajon! ❤️

📅 Sunday, November 8th (3:30pm, 3:45pm, 4pm and 4:15pm)
⏰ 15-minute sessions
📸 15 edited images
💰 $300

There will be only 4 spots available, so these will be very limited!

Your gallery will include a variety of combinations:

Individual portraits of each child
All the children together
The whole family
Kids with Mom
Kids with Dad

For your outfits, you can choose whatever fits your family best! ❤️ Come in coordinating or matching Christmas pajamas for a cozy, playful look, or dress up in your regular holiday outfits for a more classic Christmas feel.

These sessions are perfect for capturing those sweet, cozy Christmas memories among the trees. 🎄✨

Only 4 spots available!

SUNSET BEACH SESSIONS

Since we live in San Diego, we have to have a beach session! 🌊 I always recommend sunset for the most beautiful light.

Windansea is one of my favorites because the rocks add so much interest and variety to the images. Coronado Beach is another beautiful option, and the best part is that we don’t have to worry about the tide.

Pacific Beach is great if you love the idea of including Crystal Pier as a point of interest, although parking can be tricky depending on the day. Mission Beach can also be a fun choice when we combine the beach with Belmont Park. Since the beach itself is quite flat and can feel repetitive, adding the park gives us more variety. Weekdays are best to avoid the crowds.

La Jolla Shores is gorgeous and has a beautiful open feel, but the tide can sometimes make the session more challenging. It’s also a very popular beach for both photographers and beachgoers.

Not sure which beach is right for you? I’ll help you choose! We’ll consider the tide, time of year, day of the week, crowds, parking, and the type of scenery and variety you want in your images.

Windansea Beach

Black’s Beach

This is a beautiful spot but we need to walk about 10-15 minutes down the hill, which is not hard. The hard part is the way back 🙂 This is a beautiful beach with less people than the other places.

BELMONT PARK/MISSION BEACH

Good for sessions at sunset on weekdays only

This is a fun spot for family photos. Lots of colors and textures for this location and often we finish the session with some ice cream! Note that for this location you will have some people in the backgrounds for some images, but it feels right at home with the amusement park vibe. Because this is a very touristic place and it can get really busy, we only go there on weekdays. About 10 minutes before the sunset we head to the beach for the golden light shots.

Coronado

Coronado Beach give us plenty of sand, so we don’t need to worry about high tide. We also have the chance to get some images with the hotel Del on the background.

La Jolla Shores

YOUR OWN HOME

Having a beautiful Christmas Tree this year? Baking cookies with the kiddos? Maybe photos in your pajamas, some milk and cookies? That is an easy and fun way to get some photos as well. Let me know what you have in mind!