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Capture time with a family photo during senior session

Why Every Parent Needs a Professional Family Portrait (and How Senior Portraits Can Be the Start)

Time moves fast, especially when you’re raising kids. One day, they’re starting kindergarten, and the next, they’re graduating high school, ready to take on the world. As a parent, these milestones are bittersweet, you’re beyond proud, yet you wish you could slow time just a little.

A senior portrait session at the beach, along with family moments that capture the joy of this milestone. A mix of solo and family images highlights the connection and celebration of this special time.

That’s why professional family portraits are so important. They freeze these fleeting moments, turning them into treasured keepsakes that last long after your children have grown. And if you haven’t had a family portrait in years, a senior session is the perfect reminder to book one.

Senior Portraits: The Perfect Starting Point

Senior year is a huge milestone, not just for your teen but for your whole family. It marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. A senior portrait session is a wonderful way to celebrate your high schooler’s personality and achievements, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to update your family portraits.

A senior portrait session that beautifully combines individual and family moments. The senior poses confidently in a cozy outfit, while heartwarming family portraits capture the love and connection between parents and their graduate. A perfect blend of celebrating this milestone while creating lasting family memories.

Many parents realize during a senior session just how long it’s been since the last full family photo. Maybe the last professional pictures you had were when your kids were toddlers, or perhaps you never got around to scheduling one at all. This is the moment to change that! Why not turn your senior’s photoshoot into a full family session? You’ll capture their milestone while also preserving memories of your entire family together.

Why Professional Family Portraits Matter

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to put off scheduling a family session. But here’s why you shouldn’t wait:

  • Kids Grow Up Fast – You blink, and suddenly, they’re off to college or starting their own families. Having a professional portrait ensures you have tangible memories of this stage in life.
  • Professional Quality Matters – A professional photographer knows how to pose, light, and edit your images to make sure everyone looks their best.

A senior portrait and family session at a historic location. The senior poses confidently against a stone wall, while family portraits showcase the warmth and connection among siblings and parents. A perfect blend of celebrating a senior milestone while capturing meaningful family memories.

  • Family Portraits Make Great Gifts – Whether for grandparents or displayed in your own home, a beautiful family portrait is a meaningful keepsake.
  • You Deserve to Be in the Photos – Too often, parents are behind the camera instead of in front of it. A professional session ensures you have images where everyone is included.

Making It Easy: Combining Sessions

If you’re already scheduling senior portraits, consider making it a two-part session. We can start with individual senior shots, then bring the whole family in for some group portraits. It’s an easy way to check both off your list while everyone is together and looking their best.

A senior portrait and family session at the beach. One image captures a confident senior posing against a rustic stone wall, while another showcases a warm family moment with siblings and their mother. A perfect combination of celebrating a senior milestone and cherishing family connections.

Don’t Wait for ‘The Perfect Time’

Many parents put off family portraits, waiting for the “right” moment—when schedules clear up, when everyone is available, or when life slows down. But the truth is, there will always be a reason to wait. Instead, make it a priority now. Your future self (and your future grown kids) will be so grateful you did.

Let your senior’s big moment be the reminder you need to capture your entire family. These portraits will be ones you cherish forever.

 

A senior and family portrait session set in a scenic outdoor location. The images capture a mix of heartfelt family moments, a solo senior portrait with a warm smile, and a sibling bond against a natural backdrop. A perfect combination of celebrating a senior milestone and cherishing family connections.

Ready to book your senior and family session? Let’s make it happen!

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our previous blog: Professional Senior Portraits: A Meaningful Way to Celebrate Your Kid’s Milestone to see why senior portraits are a special way to honor this milestone and how they can seamlessly lead into a full family session.

Laguna Beach Photographer: Barefoot 3 Club Classic

SchoolPower’s Barefoot classic is the last fundraiser of the calendar year and definitely worth attending whether you are a golf expert or you just want to attend for the great food. Thanks to Mark Christy for always making it a memorable event.

The event started with the biggest group of golfers to date complete with fun outfits and strange props. The rules of the game, you can only use three clubs, no shoes and have fun! And if your a guy and want to make sure your toes look great, then by all means get a pedicure prior to the event!

Those that only made it to the dinner, were treated to great food and music in a gorgeous environment! This year the dinner was under the stars and the atmosphere was amazing.

Thanks to Mark Christy and many other generous donors, the silent auction was a success with the most popular item being a “Glaming trip” in the old Girl Scout camp at the back of the Ranch property.

Enjoy some highlight images from the event. To download images, go to the link at the bottom of the post.

To download images click here! If you post any online, we would love credit @blueskysstudio!

Laguna Beach photographer: Lumberyard Chef Challenge

One of the best parts of being a Laguna Beach Photographer is being a part of the community.  And one of my favorite charities is Laguna Beach is SchoolPower education foundation.  SchoolPower is a volunteer-based organization whose mission it is to raise money to enrich the educational experience of students in Laguna Beach.  I have been volunteering my time with SchoolPower for more than 7 years.

Laguna Beach Lumberyard event photography

The Chef Challenge a three course meal is sponsored by the Lumberyard restaurant.  There are two menus, each selected by two of the four principals in the Laguna Beach School District.  The Middle School and High School Principals Allemann/Salberg vs the Elementary School Principals, Conlon/Duddy.

Chef Challenge Winner at Lumberyard Laguna Beach

And this year’s coveted Golden Spatula award goes to… Principals Conlon and Duddy for their delicious menu.

Lumberyard event with School power photography
Winning menu from Laguna Beach school fundraiser

Thanks to all of the volunteers who made this another amazing evening.  I am so grateful that Blue Sky’s Studio has the opportunity to document these events that make the Laguna Beach School district so amazing!

Winners of the Chef Challenge at Lumberyard in Laguna Beach

To see all of the images of the day and download your favorites, click here!

2019 SchoolPower Gala at the Ritz Carleton Laguna Niguel

It was my honor, once again, to be a part of the SchoolPower 2019 Gala. If you watched my story on Instagram, you saw how generous all of the amazing donors where who attended the event. Especially the Wilson family, who has been a part of SchoolPower since the very beginning. I am humbled by their generosity and kindness to Laguna Beach Schools.

If you attended the event and would like to download the images, you can click on the link. We do request that if you post them online, you give Blue Sky’s Studio some love by tagging the images @blueskysstudio

SCHOOL POWER GALA IMAGES

Thank you so much for once again including me in the beautiful event. If you are interested in booking a session with Blue Sky’s, please visit our website at:

www.blueskysstudio.com

Or give us a call at 949-510-3862.

Here are a few more of the great moments of the evening.

Sara’s Irvine Bat Mitzvah

What an absolutely beautiful celebration for the last of the Palmer kids last week when Sara Palmer celebrated her Bat Mitzvah.  I rarely get to photograph the entire event, but I was so fortunate to be able to witness what an amazing job Sara did with her presentation.  The highlight for me was seeing Sara perform an amazing dance with several of her good friends at the reception.  Overall it was an amazing day, and I was so happy to be included in another family event! Enjoy the highlights video: