Gina’s Extended Family Beach Session in Pensacola



Gina and her husband were visiting Pensacola with their two sons and their families, and I had the pleasure of photographing everyone together on the beach. Fall, winter, and spring are my favorite seasons for beach sessions, and this evening reminded me why. The humidity was gone, a soft layer of clouds kept the light gentle, and the waves were still rolling in high after the recent storm. After a long, hot summer, it felt so good to be on the sand in weather cool enough for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves.


On the drive out, I expected to see more storm damage. The main stretches of beach looked much as they always do, thanks to the cleanup crews. Our usual spot told a different story. The parking lot was taped off, with a mound of debris piled in the middle. The sand had shifted, and the water was coming up much higher than usual. Even with the waves rolling in, we had a quiet stretch of beach to ourselves.


Shades of Green on the Beach


Everyone wore a different shade of green, and I’d accidentally dressed to match. I loved how those greens looked against the sand, the water, and the cloudy sky. If you’re choosing outfits for a large family session, picking one color and letting everyone wear their own shade is an easy way to pull the group together. Gina’s family did it beautifully.


The Little Ones Ran the Show


My favorite part of the evening was watching how tender everyone was with the children. I always say the little ones run the show at family sessions. We take care of them first, and when they’re happy, everyone has more fun.


With both sons and their families there, we had so many combinations to photograph. We made portraits of the whole group, each family on its own, and Gina and her husband with their grandchildren. Some of my favorite moments happened in between, when everyone was simply enjoying being together. I took a lot of pictures that evening, and I hope Gina finds as much to love in those candid moments as she does in the portraits.


If you’re planning a family visit to Pensacola, fall is a lovely time to get everyone together for beach portraits. Gina, I had so much fun with your family, and I hope I get to see you all on the beach again someday.

Multigenerational family of eleven in coordinated green and neutral outfits posing together on a sandy beach with the ocean behind them.
Extended family of nine in coordinated sage green and neutral outfits poses together barefoot on a white sand beach by the ocean.
Smiling family of five in coordinated green and neutral outfits posing barefoot on a white sandy beach with the ocean behind them.
Four smiling family members in casual summer clothes stand arm in arm on a white sand beach beneath a bright blue sky.
Family of four posing together on a sandy beach with the ocean and blue sky behind them, smiling in casual summer clothes.
Smiling couple in matching coastal outfits holds their baby in a green outfit while standing on a sandy beach with the ocean behind them.
A smiling family of four in coordinated gray and sage green outfits poses together on a white sandy beach with the ocean behind them.
A smiling woman in a floral sundress leans on a bald man in a green shirt as he kisses her head on a sandy beach.
Smiling man in a striped polo holds a happy baby girl in a sage green romper and white bow headband on a sunny beach.
Multigenerational family of nine in coordinated green and neutral outfits poses together on a sandy beach at sunset.
A smiling mother in a green dress crouches beside her young son on the beach as gentle waves roll in at sunset.
Black and white photo of a family of four holding hands while walking along a sandy beach near ocean waves.
Smiling mother in a green tiered dress holds her young son on the beach as ocean waves crash behind them.
Smiling family of four in coordinated casual outfits standing barefoot on a sandy beach with ocean waves behind them at sunset.
Smiling grandfather in a teal shirt and khaki shorts laughs while swinging a giggling young boy in his arms on a sunny beach by the ocean.
A smiling mother in a sage green dress holds her toddler daughter in a matching dress on a sunny beach with ocean waves behind them.
Smiling mother in a green dress holding her giggling toddler daughter in a matching dress on a beach at sunset.
Smiling woman in a sage green dress holds a little girl with a white hair bow on a sunny beach with ocean waves in the background.
A smiling woman in a green sundress embraces a bearded man in a gray shirt as they stand together on a sandy beach at sunrise.
A smiling couple stands on the beach at sunset while the father holds a baby girl in a green outfit and pink bow as waves roll in.
Smiling man and woman in light summer outfits hold a baby in a green outfit while standing together on a beach with ocean waves behind them.
Black and white photo of a couple dancing on a sandy beach, the man dipping the woman in a flowing dress as ocean waves roll in behind them.
A smiling couple in coordinated sage green and khaki outfits embraces barefoot on the sandy shore as ocean waves roll in at sunset.
Smiling couple embraces on the beach at sunset, the man in a blue polo and the woman in a sage green dress.
Young boy in a cream button-up shirt and matching shorts sits on white sandy beach with soft ocean waves in the background.
Two young children in light green and cream outfits sit together on a sandy beach with gentle ocean waves behind them.
Two young children, a boy in a cream shirt and a girl in a green dress, sit and play together on a soft sandy beach at sunset.
Three young children in matching sage green and cream outfits sit together on soft beach sand at sunset, smiling and laughing.
Three young children, including a baby in a white bow headband, sit together on soft beach sand at sunset.
Three young toddlers in matching sage green and cream outfits sitting side by side on a sandy beach at sunset with gentle waves behind.
A smiling father in a blue polo and khaki shorts holds his baby girl in a green dress on a sandy beach at sunset.
A smiling family of four kneels together on a sandy beach at sunset, with gentle ocean waves and a soft pastel sky behind them.
A smiling family of four sits together on a sandy beach at sunset, with two young children cuddled between their parents beside the ocean.
A smiling family of four poses together on a sandy beach at sunset, with two parents and two young children in soft, coordinated outfits.
Smiling baby in a sage green ruffled dress and white bow headband stands on a sandy beach at sunset, reaching toward an adult's hand.
A smiling baby girl in a sage green ruffled dress and white bow headband takes steps on the beach while held by a parent's hands.
Smiling baby girl in a green dress and white bow headband stands on a sunny beach while held by an adult's hands.
A happy baby in a green ruffled dress and white bow stands barefoot on soft white beach sand, holding a parent's hands for support.
Three men in casual shirts and shorts stand barefoot together on a beach, smiling as the sunset glows over the ocean behind them.
Two men and a woman pose together barefoot on a sandy beach at sunset, with gentle waves and a soft pastel sky behind them.
Smiling woman in an olive dress holds a baby in a matching green outfit and bow while standing barefoot on a beach at sunset.
Smiling man and woman holding a laughing baby in a green dress on a sandy beach at sunset, posing for a family portrait.
Two laughing women hug and hold a baby girl in a green dress and white bow headband on a beach at sunset.
Mother in a floral dress holding a baby and standing beside a toddler, all in matching sage green outfits, on a sandy beach at sunset.
Smiling woman in a green floral dress holds a baby in a green dress and white bow on a beach at sunset.
Woman holding a baby in a green dress stands barefoot on the beach with two young children as ocean waves roll in behind them.
A multigenerational family of nine, including young children, poses together on a sandy beach at sunset with soft pink clouds behind them.
A family of eleven, from toddlers to grandparents, wave and smile together on a beach at sunset in coordinated green and neutral outfits.
Two couples in coordinated neutral and sage outfits pose on the beach with three young children during a soft sunset family photo session.