When a family reaches out saying they want to create lasting memories, you kind of want to make sure you deliver. That’s exactly what this session was all about. Capturing a moment in time for a sweet, easygoing family who genuinely enjoyed being together.

La Purisima Mission was the perfect setting. It’s hard to beat those weathered adobe walls and open trails. The whole place has a calm, rustic charm that just works for family photos. And even though I’ve photographed there a lot, it always feels new depending on who’s in front of my camera.

Now, let’s talk toddlers. The Becks brought their little one along, and like most toddlers, he wasn’t totally sold on the idea of smiling at a stranger with a camera. And that’s fine. Actually, that’s pretty normal. Most kids don’t know me and are suddenly expected to act “normal” in front of a camera while a grown-up they just met tells them to smile. It can feel a little intimidating, so we take our time. I always tell parents not to stress if their kid isn’t immediately into it. We’ll find our rhythm.

Somewhere in the middle of the session, it came out that Mom is a photographer. Cue the mild internal freakout. But honestly, it made total sense. Their outfits were beautifully curated, everything coordinated without being too matchy, and she just had that eye for what works. Once I got over the pressure of photographing another photographer’s family, it was a breeze.

The Beck family brought such warmth from the start. The parents had that quiet, knowing look that comes from raising a little human together, and even with the toddler unpredictability, there were plenty of sweet moments in between. Whether it was walking hand in hand or wrangling their kid mid-wiggle, they rolled with it and made the session feel easy.

Thank you, Beck family, for trusting me with these memories.