Chasing Waves and Making Memories: A Joyful Beach Session

There’s just something magical about photographing families at the beach — the way the light dances on the water, the soft sand underfoot, and the pure joy that always seems to bubble up when kids are near the ocean.

For this beautiful session, I had the joy of meeting a truly sweet family… and we weren’t alone — Nana and Mimi came along for the fun, too! With a whole crew of adorable kiddos, we had a blast capturing genuine giggles, silly faces, and those fleeting little moments that make childhood so special.

We met at Rocky Neck Beach in Connecticut, one of my favorite hidden gems for family photos. We played in the sand, explored the shoreline, and found the most beautiful beachwood to pose by — nestled right next to a patch of wild beach flowers that felt like nature’s own photo backdrop. It was picture-perfect (literally)!

Now, while we didn’t get that golden sunset glow photographers always cross their fingers for, the soft overcast sky gave us the most beautiful, even light. No harsh shadows, no squinting — just dreamy tones and bright, happy faces. Proof that magic can happen no matter what the sky looks like.

As always, we saved the water shots for the very end — because if you’ve ever done a beach session with kids, you know the odds of someone ending up soaked are pretty high. 😉 Spoiler alert: we were right!

At one point, a little one tried to race the waves — spoiler alert: the ocean won. 😂 Eventually, he gave up and just stripped down to his undies to splash in the water. And yes... the water was freezing. But in true kid fashion, that didn’t stop him for a second.

Some of my absolute favorite moments from this session were the candids — the kids running wild and free along the edge of the water, their faces lit up with the kind of joy only childhood can hold. Those unscripted, joy-filled seconds? They’re magic.

And don’t worry — Moms, dads, and grandpa didn’t miss out either. We made time for plenty of love-filled, memory-making photos with the grownups, too. Watching everyone together — laughing, hugging, just being a family — was such a beautiful reminder of how special these moments are.

...Watching everyone together — laughing, hugging, just being a family — was such a beautiful reminder of how special these moments are.

Whether it's golden light or a cloudy sky, sandy toes or soaked socks, these are the kinds of sessions that stick with me. Real joy. Real connection. Real memories.

Thank you to this incredible family for letting me spend the evening with you at Rocky Neck Beach. It was truly a joy to capture all the love, laughter, and chaos in the best possible way.

<3 Karin