As a San Diego family photographer, I get to capture all kinds of family moments—big, small, and everything in between. But when the Maund family booked a session with me, I knew this one was extra special.

First of all, they brought their PUPPY! and their 10-year-old lab, Stryker. (Yes, all caps worthy.) Because we all know puppies grow at an alarming rate, and they wanted to freeze this adorable, tiny moment before their furry friend turned into a full-blown adult.

Second, they have two teenagers. If you’ve ever tried to coordinate a family session with busy teens, you know it’s basically like scheduling a summit between world leaders. But we made it happen, and let me tell you, it was so worth it.

La Jolla Beach isn’t just stunning—it’s iconic. As a La Jolla photographer, I love using the iconic thatched hut, soft sand, and rolling waves as a natural (and totally Instagram-worthy) setting. The Maund family fit right in, laughing, playing, and—yes—both dogs were really well behaved, in all honesty.

Their son is a high school senior, which means this session doubled as a perfect opportunity to grab some beautiful solo shots of him before he heads off to whatever exciting adventure is next. Senior year is a blur of applications, last-firsts, and about a million “Where are you going to college?” questions—so I love when families take a moment to slow down and senior portraits.

Looking for a San Diego Family Photographer?

If you’re looking for a San Diego beach photographer or La Jolla family photographer who will make your session feel fun, relaxed, and full of real moments, let’s chat. Whether you want to capture a milestone, wrangle your teens for one last family photo before they leave the nest, or just document your puppy before they outgrow your arms—I’m here for it. Let’s make some magic on the beach!

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 portrait session click HERE.