Family vacations come and go—but photos? They stick around long after the sunburns fade and the sand finally disappears from the car seats. This extended family knew that. That’s why, before fully diving into their week of surf, tacos, and together time in Pacific Beach, CA, they made sure to book something that would last way longer than a beach rental: a professional family vacation portraits on the beach. Sixteen people. Three generations. One beautiful stretch of sand in PB. And me, with a camera and a game plan.

As a San Diego beach photographer, I’ve learned that extended family beach sessions are a perfect blend of chaos and charm. There’s always that one uncle cracking jokes, the toddler melting down over a granola bar, and a sea of coordinating outfits that somehow mostly match. This session? Had it all—and it was perfect.

The grandparents led the charge, grinning as they watched their grown kids wrangle their own kids into some sort of organized chaos. But the parents? Oh, they had a plan. They came prepared with a little surprise: all the grandkids were decked out in matching “Beach Bum” t-shirts and tiny sunglasses that made them look like a miniature surf gang. I could barely handle the cuteness.

We kicked off the portrait session with the big group photos—everyone smiling, the ocean in the background, the sun doing its soft glow thing like it was part of the crew. Then we broke it down into smaller combos: siblings, couples, grandparents with grandkids, cousins, even just the kids acting like, well, kids. Running, splashing, hugging, and occasionally hamming it up for the camera. The beach wasn’t just a backdrop—it was the playground, the vibe, and the connector.

My favorite part? When the kid were told they could get wet at the end. That’s when they really lit up. Shirts soaked, toes in the surf, laughter bouncing down the shoreline. The best photos always happen after everyone stops trying to “smile pretty” and just starts having fun.

These extended family vacation portraits captured so much more than outfits and smiling faces—they documented a family tradition in the making. Pacific Beach is more than a place on a map for this crew; it’s the spot they return to year after year. And now, they’ve got a gallery of memories that reflects not just how they looked, but how it felt to be together.

Heading to San Diego and need Family Vacation Portraits?

If you’re gathering your people—whether it’s 4 of you or 24 of you—and want to capture your beach vacation in a way that actually feels like you, I’ve got you. Extended family sessions in San Diego are my jam, especially when there’s sand, laughter, and maybe a few matching sunglasses involved.

Reach out to book your extended family beach portrait session in Pacific Beach or anywhere along the San Diego coast. Let’s turn your vacation into something unforgettable—because the only thing better than making memories is having the photos to go with them.

Lisa G (Elle G) is a San Diego beach photographer based in Pacific Beach, CA. Proudly serving San Diego’s coastal communities: La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, Sunset Cliffs, Ocean Beach, Point Loma and Coronado. 858-344-1068. To chat about booking your own family portrait session, click HERE.