Family Photos at Lake Murray | San Diego Family Photographer

It was so great to meet Christina and her family for a Signature Family Session at Lake Murray in La Mesa. I knew we would get along splendidly after chatting in our pre-session consultation, so I was really looking forward to meeting the whole gang in person. 

This was my first time shooting at Lake Murray, and I really loved it. It’s a fantastic option for family photos in East County San Diego. The sun setting over the lake makes for gorgeous light. There’s a ton of variety within the location and lots of spots to explore. The terrain is easy to walk on, so it’s great for families who don’t want to walk too far or have small children with strollers and gear to wrangle. There’s also a ton of available parking, which is always a plus. I’ve definitely added Lake Murray as one of my go-to options for family photography sessions.

The day of their session started out cloudy with a bit of rain drizzle. My favorite thing about San Diego is that I can shoot outdoors all year long, so this was not the weather I was expecting. But luckily, the sun came out and the sky cleared just as our session was about to begin. 

As Christina said after our session, “My daughter was NOT cooperating (as toddlers do), but she turned it around and she made the session so comfortable and got the best shots!” Here’s the thing… toddlers rarely cooperate, and I never expect that they will. And that’s totally normal and completely OK! My job is to get great, real, authentic photos of your family… despite your toddler having a completely different plan for how the session is going to go.

I’ve got lots of tricks up my sleeve to turn your craziness into magic. If your kids are active and energetic during the session, we won’t fight it. We’ll lean into it and follow the kids’ lead. I’ll incorporate a ton of movement, exploration, and game to keep them from getting bored and keep everyone in the family engaged. It’s so much better to get authentic photos of your family’s *real* vibe that capture who you actually are - not a gallery of awkward, stiffly-posed portraits with fake smiles. 

If you’re looking for a family photographer in the San Diego area, I’d love to help you out! Let’s chat about how we can make some awesome memories for your family.