I’m so lucky that my parents live in Dennisport year round, and it’s so special to get to visit for a few weeks every summer. The kids love visiting the different beaches, floating in Scargo Lake, crabbing, searching the tide pools at low tide, collecting shells, building sand castles and digging trenches in the sand. As any photographer who is also a mom will tell you, I always find it so hard to take photos of my own kids. But the night we captured these new Cape Cod portraits, they let their personalities shine and just loved on each other and we captured the most adorable sibling portraits.

Both Grayson and Adelaide were 100% agreeable and excited about taking photos at the beach one evening at sunset, and knowing that they would be rewarded with a cookie afterwards certainly helped with the cooperation. ;o) We finally found a night with good weather at Corporation Beach in Dennis and I’m so happy that we were able to freeze time together.

I’ve been doing beach portraits of Grayson since he was 1 year old, and it’s bittersweet watching him grow up a little more every summer. He looked at this portrait of him and he said, “That’s not me! That’s a 10-year-old!” because I had told him during our little session that that pose was for really big kids. And it’s true – he looks like he’s ready to grab the keys and go for a drive! It makes my mama heart stop for a beat just seeing how quickly it goes by. It’s one of the reasons that I love capturing these portraits in Cape Cod every summer. My babies won’t stop growing (though I so wish they would!).

six year old sits on sand dune on Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Fun little fact about our session on Corporation Beach – I ended up with a gallery of 34 favorite portraits, and we took them in less than 12 minutes. You don’t need a lot of time to capture great portraits of your kids – just someone who knows all the tricks to get them to hug & smile. ;o) After doing this for the last 10 years, I’ve got plenty of tricks that even work on my own kids!

My goal was one good one to hang on the gallery wall in our dining room, but with so many that I love like this, I don’t know how I’m going to choose which one to print & frame! I hope you enjoy this little peek into our family’s summer tradition!

brother and sister sit between sand dunes at sunset on Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

My top 8 tips for beach family portrait sessions

sister leans to give brother a kiss between sand dunes at sunset on Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

See Grayson's portraits on the beach!

brother and sister sit between sand dunes hugging and laughing at sunset on Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

brother picks up sister making her laugh on sand dunes on Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

boy in white polo and blue shorts runs in front of sand dunes on Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Adelaide's cake smash on Cape Cod

boy in white polo and blue shorts holds knees sitting and smiling on Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

toddler in pink and white gingham gown walks on sand dunes at Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

toddler in pink and white gingham gown twirls on sand with big brother on Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA photographed by Cape Cod family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Cape Cod portrait session at Corporation Beach in Dennisport MA for siblings photographed by Cape Cod MA family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

The email started a little something like, "Hey Nicole! We're going to Cape Cod in July. We'd love to have you come join us at the beach for a photo session. Are you free then?"

July 4 Photo Shoot on the Beach with New York Photographer Nicole Starr Photography, Cape Cod portrait session

Without missing a beat, I was 100% in! I absolutely love photo sessions on the beach, creating beautiful sandy & salty memories for the most amazing families. Plus, I was thrilled to see this family again. We first met last winter for baby Amalia's newborn session, and we've stayed in touch throughout the year planning more opportunities to capture some gorgeous memories for their family. I was so happy to join them at the beach for a large, extended family session when all of their family would be in the same state, and when I learned the meaning behind this session I loved it even more. Read on...

Many years ago, when their own children were little and before they were known as "Gigi and Grandpa" and were instead just "Mom and Dad", this grandmother was in her dentist's office when she saw a beautiful family photo taken on the beach. Her kids grew up going to Corporation Beach in Dennis every summer, driving there in their sandy beach buggy every day to splash in the waves, dig in the sand, and soak up the sun. Right then she knew that she wanted to do a photo session like that of her own family one day, but the years passed and her children grew, and eventually they had children of their own. And still, no photo session.

So this summer they decided to make it happen. Both of their granddaughters would be back in Boston at the same time, and all three of their children would be here. They decided to bring the whole family to the Cape for a fun vacation and a gorgeous session together, and this grandmother FINALLY got her portrait session on the beach that she had first dreamt of twenty years ago.