There’s something timeless and delightful about capturing a family portrait session at San Luis Obispo creek. The soft sounds of the water, the beautiful natural light, and the lush surroundings created the perfect backdrop for this memorable shoot. This precious family has a special place in my heart as I photographed Bonnie and Beau’s wedding at the Tiber Canyon Ranch over 12 years ago and have been photographing their family portraits for the past 10 years.
Before heading down to the creek, we started the session off at the San Luis Obispo Mission as it provided the perfect backdrop with its surrounding architecture, foliage and trees as our backdrop. We chose this spot because it’s not only scenic but also has a laid-back, outdoorsy vibe that really matched their personalities as well as their clothing choices. Right away, we all felt at ease—sometimes nature has a way of bringing out the best smiles and genuine interactions, especially in family photos. We used their playful energy to get some spontaneous shots that really captured their fun, adventurous spirits. The creek itself provided so many different looks for the session. We started with a few classic poses near the edge of the water, taking advantage of the soft reflections and warm afternoon light. It was a perfect way to capture the closeness of this family. We also took a little stroll further down the creek, where the trees open up just enough to let the light stream through.
As we finished up I’m always overwhelmed that I have the honor of documenting all the love and connection with this beautiful family during our San Luis Obispo creek family photo shoot. XOXO
