There’s a myth I’d love to gently put to rest: that beautiful family photos only happen in that last golden sliver of light right before the sun disappears. Because here’s the truth — Sarah and Nick’s session near Pleasure Point last night wasn’t shot at true golden hour at all. We started earlier, with the sun still up and bright, and we still came away with soft, glowy, dreamy photos of them and their sweet baby. If you’re a parent of a little one, I want you to hear that, so keep reading.

Midday Light at Moran Lake Beach

We began down at Moran Lake Park Beach, that little pocket of coast tucked right off East Cliff Drive. Toes in the sand, waves rolling in behind them, and this tiny person with the biggest blue eyes taking in the whole wide ocean. The light was still high and strong — but that’s exactly where the craft comes in. I turned the family so the sun fell behind them, using it as a backlight instead of pointing it straight into their squinting faces. Out on our coast, the marine layer and the haze coming off the water act like a giant natural softbox, wrapping everyone in gentle light instead of harsh midday shadows. No squinting, no blown-out sky, no waiting around — just that soft, hazy glow, hours before actual sunset.

Soft, Dappled Light in the Eucalyptus Trees

From the beach we wandered up into the eucalyptus trees at Moran Lake, and this is another one of my favorite tricks with the light. If you’ve never walked that grove, it’s a whole different world just steps from the water — tall silvery trunks and a canopy that filters the sun into something dappled and dreamy. Those trees do the diffusing for me. It’s shade, but it’s glowy shade, and it’s one of the reasons I love the East Side of Santa Cruz so much: you get the open beach and the soft cover of the woods in one evening, without ever moving the car far.

Why Earlier Sessions Work for Little Ones

Here’s why any of this matters to me, and why I’m writing it all down. If you’ve got a baby or a toddler, you already know the math — a true sunset session in the summer can run right up against, or straight past, bedtime. And a session timed for an overtired little one is a hard session for everyone. So much of the “wait for golden hour” advice just doesn’t fit real life with young kids. My whole approach is built around meeting families where they actually are: an earlier, gentler window that works with naps and bedtimes, and the skill to shape the light we’ve got so the photos still look like magic. Happy kid, relaxed parents, gorgeous photos. That’s the goal every time.

Golden Glow on East Cliff Drive

We finished up along East Cliff Drive with the light finally starting to warm and soften, backlighting the three of them while they walked and snuggled and worked hard to make their baby giggle. And the way Nick tucked their baby into his chest, the way Sarah closed her eyes and just breathed them both in — that’s the stuff you can’t get back.

Sarah and Nick, thank you for trusting me with this season of your lives. These early months move so impossibly fast, and getting to slow one evening down for the two of you was the sweetest way to spend a night on the coast.

If you’ve been putting off family photos because the timing never seems to work with your little one’s schedule — this is your sign. You don’t have to choose between good light and a good bedtime. I photograph beach and grove sessions all around the Santa Cruz and Monterey area, and I’d love to make it easy for you.

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