As a photographer, my greatest privilege is stepping into a family's current chapter and helping them document the beautiful, messy, wonderful reality of their lives. This fall, I had the immense pleasure of working with the amazing Tarantino family at one of my favorite locations: Carmel Beach.
Their session was truly special—a perfect collision of major milestones, new life, and profound, enduring love.
Carmel Beach in the late afternoon is pure magic. It’s not just the sweeping views and the white sand; it’s the quality of the light as it hits the coast.
We began our session away from the water, utilizing the rich texture of the surroundings that are so familiar to this family. We took our time walking the long pathway, the boys leading the way.
I particularly love the area with the shrubbery and coastal ice plants. The plants provide a gorgeous, deep green and purple contrast to the soft sunset colors, and the diffused light here allows for those intimate, close-up portraits before the wind picks up near the surf. It felt like walking through their memory lane, capturing the simple joy of a family stroll before the grand reveal of the ocean.
The Tarantino family is in a season of incredible growth. They are celebrating first year of toddling around, they are navigating the hilarious energy of a five-year-old, and they have a sweet new arrival due soon!
My approach was to embrace their energy. We let them run, we captured Mom snuggling the busy one-year-old, and we focused on the tender glances shared between Mom and Dad as they balanced the beautiful chaos of their two little ones. These are the moments that feel most authentic: the hands-on love, the genuine smiles, and the occasional shared look of "we are doing this!"
The most poignant element of their session was the focus on their beloved family dog. He’s been their constant companion, their first "baby," and they made the heartfelt decision to dedicate a significant portion of the session to honoring him, anticipating this may be his last holiday season with the family.
It was a privilege to witness and document that deep connection. We captured gentle head rests on laps, long slow walks, and moments where the boys draped themselves lovingly over their furry friend.
These aren't just photos of a pet; they are heirloom images of a family member whose presence helped shape their journey. The raw emotion and tenderness in those shots were incredibly moving, reminding us all that the deepest love often comes on four paws.
What Tarantino's left with is more than just pretty pictures on a beach. They have a visual story of their family: the joy of their little boys, the excitement of the new chapter, and the quiet, profound love for their dog, all set against the beautiful, familiar backdrop of Carmel Beach.
It’s a reminder that every family story deserves to be told, imperfections and all.
