Grayson's Summer on Cape Cod

Another summer come & gone. How is that even possible?!?! We only get 18 childhood summers with our kids, and the years are just going by so fast.

This was Grayson’s third summer on Cape Cod. My parents live in Dennisport and we love spending a few weeks with them in June, July, and August. We’re so lucky to get to enjoy so much time in the sunshine & salt air, and it was just what we needed after months at home! Every September is so bittersweet to see another beachy summer come to an end, even more so this year.

This year was especially fun because Grayson was so excited to go to “the beach house”, as he calls it. He lovesssssss the beach, so every time we started talking about going to the Cape he would throw all of his favorite things in a bag and tell me he was ready to go right now — even if it was days before we were actually going to make the trip! We visited our favorite beaches at least twice every day and he was obsessed with chasing the seagulls and plovers, throwing seashells into the waves, and filling up his dump truck with sand. At the end of each visit he never wanted to leave, and I have the feeling he’s really going to miss these laid back beach days!

I brought Grayson to one of my favorite little spots in downtown Dennisport where there is a giant DENNISPORT mural painted across an entire building. I have a photo from his first summer on the Cape when he was 3 months old all snuggled up in my arms in front of this same mural. Now this summer he was so happy and fun and he loved exploring this little pocket garden and checking out all of the details in the paintings! I can’t wait to add these to our annual family photo album!

We also managed to sneak in some sunset portraits at the beach on our very last night on the Cape. You know how the cobbler’s kid never has any shoes? Well, the beach photographer’s kid never has any beach photos! All of my nights were booked with family sessions and rain dates were filled up, so we snuck his photos in after I finished my very last session of the summer at one of my favorite spots in Harwich.

I promised Grayson we’d bring this sailboat prop that I have used with other families for years. I was so happy to use this with my own little boy, and I never want to forget his windblown blonde hair and those sturdy toddler legs running through the sand!

Plus a few cell phone photos of our summer fun! Seriously, this kid LOVES the beach! In July he insisted on walking to the beach with a pool noodle under each arm every. single. time.

Such an awesome summer!

Classic Cape Cod Portraits in Downtown Chatham

What a summer! I have been loving all of our time on the Cape this summer, and especially all of these beautiful family portrait sessions! Last summer this family of three met me at the beach, and this year we decided to do their portraits in downtown Chatham for a change of scenery.

We met up early in the morning before the sidewalks were busy, and we had the streets all to ourselves! Two year old Rosie LOVED the attention, and she was seriously adorable with her classic vintage-style dresses and bows!

One of my favorite family portraits from their session! The colorful awnings and flower boxes on the shops in Chatham are the perfect backdrop for family portraits.

These hydrangea bushes are so classically Cape Cod, and I loved how they coordinated with Rosie’s gingham dress! She borrowed one of the little flags decorating the sidewalk and couldn’t stop waving it around!

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Love this classic Chatham family session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

Best of 2019 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod - Cape Cod Family Photographer

Every year I start counting down to July & August because our Salt Air Sessions on Cape Cod are some of the most magical moments that I love capturing on camera every summer.

And guess what???? Summer is almost here, and we are now filling up the calendar with family portrait sessions on the beaches of Cape Cod!

A salt air breeze in your hair.
Sandy toes.
The gentle waves crashing over your feet.
A symphony of seagulls overhead.

It doesn’t get any better than that!

I’ve been spending summers in Dennisport for more than 20 years, and I have so many favorite beaches in Dennis and Harwich, and even a few favorite ones in Eastham & Falmouth! Every year a family introduces me to a new hidden gem, a stretch of sand that I haven’t explored before, and if we’re lucky it becomes one of my very favorites — like this beach in Bourne with a gorgeous weathered pier leading up to the sand!

I am so grateful for all of the families that trust me to capture these beautiful summer memories for them. You only get 18 summers with your little ones, and these are the sun-soaked memories you want to cherish. The ones that will define their childhood summers and make Cape Cod hold a special place in their heart. That is why I love these portrait sessions so much!

We still have a few dates available in July & August 2020! I would LOVEEEEE to see your family then!

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Inspired by these portraits? Save this image or any from the post above as inspiration for your beach portraits!

Sea, Sun, and CAKE! Holden's Cake Smash at the Beach with Cape Cod Baby Photographer

How is this sweet boy already ONE?!?!

It feels like we were just welcoming him to the studio for his newborn portraits. Then we blinked and it was time for his 6 month milestone session. And now suddenly this Baby Planner is one and we’re celebrating his first birthday with a cake smash at the same beach where we did his mama’s maternity portraits a year earlier!

This was my first cake smash in the sand at one of my favorite beaches on Cape Cod, and it was so much fun! This coastal family loves everything about the beach, and it was only fitting that we tie that into every single one of their son’s portrait sessions during the first year.

When I mentioned the idea of doing his cake smash at the beach, his mom was so excited and started envisioning her sweet boy smashing his birthday cake on the boardwalk where they had posed as a family of four a short year earlier. And now, can you even handle how much cuteness is packed into one portrait?!?!

These big brothers dote on their little brother, and Holden soaks it up! He is such a happy baby, and I love watching the ways that his family showers him in love!

When planning a cake smash at the beach, figuring out what to wear is simple — a swimsuit, of course! Holden looked adorable in his little swim trunks, and they showed off his cute belly and arm rolls to celebrate this stage of “babyhood on the brink of toddlerhood” that he is in right now!

This boy LOVED the frosting!!!

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Brothers at the beach - a family portrait session at south village beach with cape cod family photographer

The beach is the perfect place for making sandy memories, and I loved this relaxed & playful session with brothers Taylan & Altan on Cape Cod!

We spent the evening running up and down the sand, climbing the lifeguard chair, and looking for clams. It was the perfect evening, and we had so much fun capturing their beautiful family portraits at the beach.

Weeeee!!!! This might be one of my favorite prompts with families — everyone always has the best expressions when their little one goes flying up into the air like a monkey! Altan loved it!

And of course big brother wanted a turn to swing, too!

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Inspired by this playful and fun beach session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.  

Celebrating 40 Years - An extended family portrait session on Cape Cod

Extended family sessions are always so much fun. While some may think that they are complicated & logistically challenging (You want me to get HOW MANY people looking at the camera at the same time?!?! And smiling, too?!?!), I actually really enjoy them!

I look at every extended family session as a beautiful opportunity to enjoy a peek into this whole family’s life together. It’s like being invited to their Thanksgiving table when everyone is so excited to be around one another, inside jokes are flying, and the kids are off having a blast at the kids’ table. Stories circle around the group, and the grandparents are always up for some tickles for the grandkids.

My favorite part is looking at the two grandparents and thinking that everyone is here because the two of them fell in love.

And that’s exactly what this family portrait session on Cape Cod felt like. This couple was celebrating 40 years of marriage, and 40 years of family vacations in Harwich. Their daughters and their grandchildren all got together for family portraits, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN.

We always start off with the kids to capture a few individual & sibling portraits, and the kids love running along the beach, telling me stories, and singing songs to get comfortable in front of the camera. These kids absolutely rocked it and I love how cute they were!

Did I mention how much fun we have during our sessions? Dancing, running, twirling, piggy back rides. All of your favorite things about childhood, captured in your portraits.

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Love this extended family session on the Cape? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

My favorite sunset at the beach - cape cod family photographer

I enjoyed the most perfect sunset of the entire summer with this sweet family! Looking through their portraits takes me right back to that warm summer evening on Cape Cod filled with gorgeous golden light, sandy toes, and the cutest little giggles from the kids. I’m already missing these summer sessions, but I’m so excited to share this one on the blog today!

One of my favorite things about spending my summers photographing families on Cape Cod is discovering new beaches. Every family has “their” beach, and it’s amazing because many families introduce me to beaches that are new to me that they have been going to for 10, 20, 30 years! I first discovered this beach a few summers ago with another family that always vacations in the neighborhood, and when Aimee contacted me and told me they were staying near the bridge, I knew we had to meet at this perfect spot for their portraits!

Catherine is the cuddliest, and she was so happy to be in her daddy’s arms! I love all of her adorable expressions, and especially her laugh!

Tickle fight for big brother Charlie! Our family sessions are always so much fun and very relaxed, and it shows when your portraits have big belly laughs and grins in them!

Little Miss Catherine has been working very hard on her walking skills, and it was so special to be able to capture the whole family’s effort and encouragement in these portraits. Look at her go!

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Inspired by this Cape Cod family portrait session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.  

Family Portraits at Red River Beach in Harwich - Cape Cod Family Photographer

I am always so honored when families come back to me year after year for their portraits, and it truly is so special to get to document your family as your children grow. I’ve been photographing these girls since they were teeny-tiny newborns, and now they’re singing, dancing, tickling, and talking up a storm! It really is incredible to witness these little snapshots of their lives during their portrait sessions and to observe just how much they’ve grown since the last time I saw them.

We had so much fun at the beach during their Cape Cod family photo session this summer, and I was so grateful that they rolled with the weather when an unexpected storm cloud blew in for about 5 minutes in the middle of their session. A few rain drops didn’t dampen their spirits, and when the clouds quickly blew away we were left with the most breathtaking sunset and a long beach completely to ourselves.

Dancing with dad!

Swaying with mom!

Just look at that post-rainstorm sky with the sun peeking through the fluffy clouds. Isn’t it GORGEOUS?!

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Inspired by this beach session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.

Seaside Smiles - family portraits at their beach house | cape cod family photographer

This summer was all about finding inspiration in new places on Cape Cod for our family portrait sessions.

For the first time ever I brought families to cute little downtowns with shingled buildings, a handful of new beaches, and I was even lucky enough to photograph this family’s portrait session at their waterfront beach house!

I love that the white trim, gray shingles, rocking chairs, blue hydrangeas, and Lilly Pulitzer print dresses all scream CAPE COD IN THE SUMMERTIME!! But even more meaningful was that they will get to enjoy these portraits up on their walls, bringing them right back to those warm summer memories on Cape Cod.

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Salt air & smiles | Family portraits at the beach with cape cod family photographer

Lisa & her son Luca joined me at Earle Road Beach in Harwich for a sweet & cuddly session by the sea! I absolutely loved catching up with this sweet family (check out Luca’s newborn session here!) on Cape Cod this summer, and I had so much fun capturing the special bond that these two share.

Luca is so affectionate & fun, and he really let his personality shine during their session! We had so many laughs watching him play, run, and explore on the beach.

I’m going to miss these sunset sessions on the beach! Until next year, Cape Cod!

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Inspired by this beach Mommy and Me session? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.

And Baby Makes 3! A seaside family portrait session at the beach | Cape Cod Family Photographer

Little Miss Rosie was such an adventurer during her family’s Cape Cod portrait session at the beach! We met up at sunset to catch that perfect golden light, and it was truly a gorgeous evening. Rosie marched all around the beach and into the water, and made us all laugh with her endless giggles and babbling!

It was a windy evening (the beach usually is!) but we made it work in our favor and captured family portraits with plenty of movement & action!

A salty sea baby taking first steps on the beach!! Love this!

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Save this image or any from the post above for inspiration for your beach session!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.

Outfit ideas for your photo session at the beach

Our Cape Cod family sessions at the beach should be fun, relaxing, and sandy… just like a day spent dipping your toes in the water and collecting seashells!

However, one of the biggest worries that mamas always tell me is that they have NO IDEA WHAT TO WEAR. That’s where I come in. This might be your first time planning coordinating outfits for a family photo shoot, but lucky for you I have done this hundreds of times and I have a few simple tricks to make it easier for you.

Plus, once you have a few outfits in mind you can always email them to me to get a second opinion on which ones will photograph best together!

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White looks amazing in the summer.

Everyone looks a little more sun-kissed when they wear white, and it really pops against the scenery at the beach. When in doubt, wear white.

SHADES OF BLUE

Pull inspiration from the colors at the beach. Many shades of blue look incredible by the seashore. I especially love light blue, chambray blue, and other muted shades of blue. Navy blue is classic, too!

HINT: Avoid any overly saturated, super bright blues because it just looks a little unnatural at the beach. Notice how most of the blues in this blog post have a touch of gray in them. That’s perfect.

Use colors you would find in nature.

Think of a sunset at the beach, and plan your colors accordingly. Blues, beiges, white, light pink, lavender, mint green, aqua. These all look incredible at the beach. A faded red also looks really nice (like those classic Nantucket red shorts that are everywhere in New England in the summertime).

PLAID

It’s super classic, and very summery. Also, gingham is very in this year, too!

How to style lots of family members?

If you stick to the tips above, it’ll actually be really easy. When in doubt, tell everyone to wear shades of muted blue with neutrals like white, cream, and khaki. That’s the easiest option when working with extended family and trying to coordinate 3-4 households for a large group portrait.

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Inspired for your session? Pin this image or any from the post above for your session!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region, and she also works with families at her Attleboro, MA studio and on location in Boston and on Cape Cod. 

Having spent more than 20 summers on Cape Cod, this area truly feels like home when we get together for family photo sessions at the beach. Trust Nicole to capture your family beautifully while having fun out in the salt air!

Best of 2017 Beach Sessions | Cape Cod Family Photographer

Honestly, if I could live near the coast and photograph families there every day, I would be one very happy photographer!  Sandy toes, salty windswept hair, the sound of waves crashing on the shore, and always bringing home a little bit of sand in my camera bag are a few of the things that make me smile in June, July, August, and September when we head to the beach for our portrait sessions.

Our beach sessions on Cape Cod in the warmer months are some of my favorite sessions that we do all year, and I love planning these summer vacation sessions with families each spring as they begin the countdown to their trip over the Bourne & Sagamore Bridges to the Cape.  

This year was filled with so many fun families, and I spent the entire second half of July and all of early August on the Cape, heading to a different beach every night with families for their sunset session.  We photographed in Dennis, Yarmouth, Hyannis, Harwich, Falmouth, Mashpee, Eastham, Bourne, and off-Cape in Marshfield.  

2017 was also the year of SO MANY RAIN DATES!  All of the unexpected thunderstorms meant that we took advantage of the backup rain dates we had planned ahead of time for many of these beach sessions.  I was so grateful to all of the families for their flexibility in reserving two evenings of their vacation for their session just in case the weather wasn't cooperating. 

Oddly enough, in 2016 we didn't need to use a single rain date for our beach sessions, but in 2017 we used so many of them!  It all worked out in the end, and those overcast evenings at the beach resulted in the most magical moments that were enveloped in fog & mist.

One of the things I love most about our summertime portrait sessions on Cape Cod is reuniting with families that I have photographed for years, and meeting their friends that they have referred for their own family portraits! 

We have so much fun running across the sand, laughing, climbing on jetties, and exploring the coastline that the hour passes quickly and before we know it, the sun is going down and everyone is heading out for an ice cream treat before bedtime.  

This year the families were not afraid to get wet, and almost every single family ventured into the waves for a few truly beachy photos!

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable sandy moments at the beach from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits

A Cape Cod Family Portrait Session at Bass River Beach in Yarmouth - Cape Cod Family Photographer

What's a little wind matter when your family is this adorable?

Baby Sophia and her family joined me at Bass River Beach (Smuggler's Beach) in Yarmouth for a family portrait session.  With summer coming to an end, it was a windy evening and we had the beach all to ourselves.  It was such a perfect evening!

I have spent the past 15 years coming to this beach since it is close to my family's home in Dennisport, but this was my first time shooting a portrait session there and I fell in love with the landscape.  There's beautiful seagrass, a gorgeous jetty, a boardwalk and a fishing pier, and it overlooks West Dennis Beach and the Bass River.  The sand dunes protected us from the wind, and also gave us a little extra shade as the sun was setting.  

Sophia didn't mind the breeze in the least, and she was happiest when her hair was blowing all over the place!  This little sweetheart loved the sand, and of course she kept trying to eat everything in sight.  

Grandma joined us for a few family portraits, and she told me that this is the beach that her children grew up going to.  This is their family beach, and it'll be the same one that is home to so many summertime memories for Sophia as she gets older.  

Just look at her!  She is already a beach baby!

We enjoyed SO many family sessions at beaches all over Cape Cod and the South Shore this summer and fall, and I'm already looking forward to creating even more sandy & salty memories next year!

Family Portraits with Twins at Rexhame Beach | Boston Family Photographer

Another beautiful family portrait session at Rexhame Beach in Marshfield!  I just love this expanse of beach, and it's a new favorite spot for our sessions in the summer and fall.  

I have been photographing Finley & Bella since they were teeny-tiny 4-pound newborns.  These girls have come to me every few months for portraits, and I have loved watching them grow into happy, playful toddlers!  At the same time, I have such a hard time believing that they are growing up so quickly and that they're already running around and starting to talk!

This little ticklish moment below is my absolute favorite portrait of them -- those chunky little toddler legs peeking out from their dresses, their smiles, the nose wrinkles, and the way they stick their tongues between their teeth.  Perfection.  This one shot makes me fall so in love with this stage of toddlerhood!

The girls were all about the TICKLES.  They loved tickling each other and receiving tickles from mom and dad.  Bella even started tickling herself and cracking up, which of course sent all of us into peals of laughter!

Beautiful Finley.  We couldn't tear her away from the water, and later in the evening she sat down in the waves and let them wash right over her!  Once she was wet, she was happy and kept going back to get even more soaked.  Thankfully we captured a lot of photos BEFORE she was wet & sandy!

Bella wasn't as much a fan of the water, and every time her mom tried to lower her toes into the waves she would pick her legs up the second the water came near.  She loved the sand, though -- give her some sand to sift through her fingers and a few rocks to collect, and she was a happy girl!

Watch Finley & Bella grow!  Check out a few of their other sessions in the links below:

Relaxed Family Portraits at Popponesset Beach in New Seabury | Cape Cod Family Photographer

I just love this family!  I've been following them on their journey of parenthood since before Lizzie was even born -- from maternity portraits to newborn sessions & cake smashes, we have captured so many memories together over the years!

This was our first time doing an outdoor session with the kids, and Lizzie & Gavin had so much fun running around Popponesset Beach and playing in the sand.  It was an overcast evening, which made for the perfect misty backdrop for this family's memory-making session.  Plus, the beach was almost empty and we had the entire stretch of sand to ourselves!

Our family sessions at the beach on Cape Cod are always playful and relaxed.  See a lifeguard chair?  Climb it!  Want to run on the board walk?  Go ahead!  Fan of collecting rocks?  Have at it!  Kids can be themselves -- curious explorers who can't help but laugh and chase each other, and we capture so many real memories for your family!

The first time I ever met Kate she had just gotten engaged, and now she's a mom of two amazing little kids with such big personalities!  I really do love getting to develop these amazing lasting relationships with the families that I work with while watching their kids (and families!) grow!

Gavin loved the sand, and of course he figured out that if he threw himself face-first into the sand we would all start laughing.  So it happened again and again, and we got the best smiles out of him!  Such a carefree and fearless kid!

As the weather cools off, I'm already feeling nostalgic for our beach sessions!  Thankfully we'll continue beach sessions on Cape Cod through October, so there is still time for some salt air memories!  Plus, beach portraits on your holiday cards are so refreshing.  Email us to book your session today!  

A Large Family Portrait Session at Sagamore Beach - Cape Cod Family Photographer

Summer vacations are a time for family.  

They're a time for cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to all cozy up together in the same house, cramming way too many kids into a bedroom with limbs and pillows taking over every inch of the space.  

Summer vacations are a time for leisurely dinners, brushing the sand off in the outdoor shower, and popsicles after the beach.  

You're busy making all of these memories with your family, which makes summer vacation the perfect time to slow it all down with a family portrait session and celebrate the fact that you're all together.  Grandma, Grandpa, all of their kids, and all of their grandkids.  This never happens often enough, and it's definitely a time you'll want to remember with your children many years from now.

I love it when families tell me they're planning a session with all of the cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  We choose a beautiful location outdoors, and we just have fun together!  We capture some great shots of the entire group, and then break off into smaller families, siblings, cousins, and all of the other combos for lots of variety in your gallery.

Of course, the kids always steal the show!  These girls were no exception!

It was another misty evening at the beach, which is my favorite kind of evening at the beach.  Everything is bright and airy, and the landscape is naturally blurred out in the mist, making the families really pop in their portraits!

Plus, we always embrace a little extra humidity, salt, and wind at the beach.  Beach hair, don't care!

The four cousins were such a blast, and they loved running all over the beach, picking each other up, and playing games during our session.  So happy we were able to capture these portraits for them to enjoy for years!

A Salt Air Session in Eastham | Cape Cod Family Photographer

I always feel so lucky that I get to do this job every single day.  I get to hang out with families, play on the beach, enjoy lots of baby cuddles, and watch families grow and change over the years -- from babies to toddlers, from kids to teenagers. 

I first started photographing families in 2012, and that is when I met the G family!  Five years ago we enjoyed a session at the beach near their summer home in Eastham on Cape Cod.  Their youngest, Lulu, was a tiny little preschooler back then.  This year she was missing a few teeth, telling me all about how she's going into 4th grade next year.  And her oldest brother is a teenager now!  That, of course, made me feel quite old!  All of the kids must be a foot taller than they were when we first met, and they're all turning into such interesting young adults!  

We started their session off on the same private pathway leading to the beach that we did last time, winding our way through the sand dunes and sea grass to the beautiful expanse of beach at the end.

I absolutely LOVE working with this family!  They're all so close and playful, and it makes for a very easy-going session filled with laughter.

The kids ended the evening splashing in the saltwater, and the best surprise was when their dad joined in!

A Colorful Family Photo Shoot on the Beach | Cape Cod Family Photographer

Family photo sessions at the beaches of Cape Cod are one of my favorite things about summer.  They're right up there next to porch nights, flip flops, and ice cream cones.  

And that's because these sessions are the perfect way to end a fun-filled day on Cape Cod -- head to a beach a little bit before sunset, run around in the sand, laugh with your family, do a little splashing in the shallow water, and create so many new memories with your kids.  

While not every evening at the Cape is bathed in golden sunlight, these misty and foggy sessions at the beach are always some of my favorites because the families just POP against that dreamy backdrop.  Samantha, Shaun, and their two children Harper & Hudson were so much to run around and play with at the beach.  Plus, their outfits were perfectly styled and looked incredible against the misty landscape!

Hudson is Mr. Independent, and he wanted to climb to the top of the lifeguard chair all by himself!  I just love his determination, and the way those tiny baby curls float in the breeze.

Harper was a ball of energy and she loved running across the sand, splashing in the water, and dancing with her mama.  She did an amazing job and was such a sweetheart with her little brother.

Summer may be coming to an end soon, but that doesn't mean our beach sessions have to come to an end, too!  I'll be on Cape Cod in September and October, and I absolutely love sweater weather at the beach.  

These sessions have such a unique feel in the "off season," and we'll have the beach all to ourselves as the sky turns from blue to gray.  Plus, they are the perfect sessions for your holiday cards!  Check out this session for some chilly beach inspiration, and contact me today to plan your beach portraits this fall!

A Playful Family Photo Session at the Beach | Cape Cod Family Photographer

Beach sessions are my favorite, but the summer beach season is always too fleeting here in New England!  That's why I'm always so thrilled when families ask me to join them for a family photo session on Cape Cod during their summer vacation.  Don't get me wrong -- I still love going to the beach all the other months of the year, but there's something so classically summertime about a sunny day on Cape Cod with sand between my toes, bare shoulders, and a beautiful sunset with the song from an ice cream truck dancing through the air.

I met Tess and her family at Corporation Beach in Dennis, and we had such a great time exploring the sand dunes and checking out the sea creatures in the little pools of water that the low tide had left behind.  Her boys are full of energy, so of course we were up and down the beach running all over the place during our sunset session.

Newborn photographers joke that newborn sessions are their cardio (except that it's not a joke and it's true that a three-hour session in an 80 degree room is a very good workout!).  Well, beach sessions with an hour spent running through the sand in the summertime are a family photographer's cardio.  ;o)  

I loved exploring the beach with this family to keep up with their two sons, and we had a blast on the lifeguard chair.  Their mom later told me that they're normally not allowed to go up on the lifeguard chair, so they were beyond thrilled to climb on up during our photo shoot to play!  Just look at those smiles!

Thank you for such a wonderful session together, M. family!  

I hope you'll enjoy these classic summertime memories for many, many years!