Four Generations at Del Monte Beach | Monterey Extended Family Photos

Some sessions stay with you. These Monterey extended family photos are from one of them: four generations together on the sand at sunset.

This family flew in from Illinois, New York City, and Michigan, and Gigi came from Vacaville, so everyone could spend a few days together on the Monterey Peninsula. That made four generations in one place: Susan and her husband, their grown kids, a toddler grandson, a six-month-old granddaughter, and Gigi at the center of it all.

A wish to walk on the sand

When Susan first reached out, she told me the thing Gigi wanted most was to walk on the beach with her family. So we planned the whole evening around that. I chose Del Monte Beach in Monterey because everyone, from the baby to Gigi, could get down to the sand easily, and we took our time.

And she did it. Some of my favorite frames from the night are of Gigi standing at the water’s edge with her grandson, both of them grinning, the waves rolling in behind them.

Why these photos matter

Susan told me something when she booked that I haven’t stopped thinking about. Her mom has always wished she’d taken more family portraits before her own mother passed. Susan didn’t want that regret for her family. So she gathered everyone in one place and made it happen.

I can’t think of a better reason to book a session.

Extended family photos in Monterey at golden hour

Then we let things get a little wild. Barefoot races along the shoreline, a toddler collecting rocks in both fists, and Grandpa and Grandma soaking up every second with the grandkids. Del Monte Beach at sunset gave us soft light, cypress trees, and views across the bay, and this family brought the rest.

Planning Monterey extended family photos?

If you’re bringing several generations together on the Monterey Peninsula, here are a few things that helped this session go smoothly:

• Choose an accessible beach. Not every beautiful spot is easy to reach. I’ll help you pick a location with a short, easy path to the sand so grandparents and little ones can join in comfortably.
• Plan around nap times. With a toddler and a baby in the group, we chose a start time that worked for the littlest people first.
• Give yourselves time. For bigger groups, I recommend my Legacy session. With 90 minutes, nobody feels rushed, and there’s time for the full group, each family, the grandparent-and-grandkid pairings, and the candid in-between moments.
• Coordinate, don’t match. This family wore soft greens, denim, creams, and browns, and it looked beautiful against the sand and cypress. My guide to what to wear to a beach family session on the Monterey coast has more ideas.

To Susan and the whole family: thank you for trusting me with such a meaningful evening. It was an honor to spend it with you, and I hope these photos are treasured for generations. 🤍

Planning a multigenerational family session in Monterey, Carmel, or Pacific Grove? I’d love to help. Reach out through my contact page and let’s start planning.