Every family who sits down with me for a consultation asks some version of the same question: “Where should we do this?”

I get it. This stretch of coastline is ridiculously photogenic — that’s half of why I moved my whole life and business here. But that also means there are dozens of gorgeous options, and choosing wrong can mean fighting crowds, bad light, or a toddler who’s over it by the time you park the car. So here’s my honest, working list: the spots I actually send my own clients to, and why.

Carmel Beach

If you only have time for one location, make it this one. Carmel Beach has soft white sand, cypress trees leaning out over the bluffs, and — this is the important part — some of the most reliably beautiful golden-hour light on the whole Peninsula. It’s easy walking for little legs, there’s metered parking along Scenic Road, and it never feels like you’re competing with a crowd of other shoots.

Best time: the hour before sunset. Good for: families with young kids who need flat, easy ground to run around on.

Lovers Point, Pacific Grove

Lovers Point gives you something Carmel Beach doesn’t: dramatic rock formations right alongside a wide, walkable beach, plus a grassy park above it if sand isn’t your family’s thing. I love this spot for families who want a mix — some frames on the rocks with the water behind you, some barefoot-in-the-sand candids, all in one session.

Best time: early morning, when the light is soft and the point isn’t yet full of tide-poolers. Good for: multi-generational groups, since there’s flat grass nearby for grandparents who’d rather not navigate rocks.

Asilomar State Beach

Asilomar is the wild one — rugged shoreline, quiet dunes, and a wooden boardwalk winding through native coastal scrub. It photographs completely differently from Carmel Beach or Lovers Point, which makes it a favorite for families who’ve already done a “classic beach” session in past years and want something with more texture and drama.

Best time: sunset, when the light rakes low across the dunes. Good for: families who want a more adventurous, editorial feel rather than a straightforward beach portrait.

Garrapata State Park (Calla Lily Valley)

This one’s seasonal, but if your family session lands in spring, it’s unforgettable — a creekside valley that fills with blooming calla lilies, tucked just off Highway 1 south of Carmel. Park at mile marker 63, Gate 19, and it’s a short, easy walk in.

Best time: spring, mid-morning. Good for: a genuinely once-a-year backdrop — I always tell families to grab this window if the timing works out, because it won’t wait for you.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Point Lobos is, without argument, the most dramatic scenery on this entire list — the coves, the cypress groves, the turquoise water. It’s also the one spot on this list with real logistics to plan around: entrance is a paid day-use fee, the reserve closes its gates in the evening (no lingering for that last-light shot), and professional or commercial photography sessions require advance coordination with the park’s Special Events office rather than just showing up with a camera. If a family really wants their session here, I always sort out the permit side of things ahead of time — it’s worth it for this backdrop, but it’s not a spontaneous, walk-up location the way the others are.

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea

Don’t overlook the village itself. The cobblestone paths, ivy-covered cottages, and fairy-tale architecture around Carmel-by-the-Sea make a genuinely lovely backdrop for families who want something softer and more storybook than a beach session — especially nice for families visiting in winter when the coastal wind isn’t as kind to little ones.

A Few Practical Notes Before You Book

• Tides and weather move fast here. I always check the forecast and tide charts the morning of a coastal session and will suggest a location swap if conditions call for it — this is part of why I don’t lock in the exact spot until a few days out.
• Golden hour is golden hour for a reason. Nearly every recommendation above leans toward early morning or the hour before sunset — it’s when this coastline does its best work.
• Not sure what to wear once you’ve picked a spot? I’ve got a full guide on that coming soon — for now, natural fabrics and a shared color palette (rather than a matchy-matchy uniform) photograph the most timelessly against these backdrops.

At the end of the day, the location is the frame — but it’s never the point. Whichever spot we choose, my job is the same: to catch the real, in-between moments of this season of your family’s life, the ones you’ll actually want to look back on in twenty years.

Ready to pick your spot and get a date on the calendar? Check out session details and pricing → or see current mini session dates →. Have questions about which location fits your family best? Reach out here — happy to talk it through.