This Mission Trails family session was extra special for me. I photographed Jaime and Patrick’s wedding back in 2022 — one of my favorite weddings ever — and we hadn’t seen each other since. Getting to reconnect at Mission Trails Regional Park and meet their baby girl felt full-circle in the best way.
They now have the sweetest 7-month-old baby girl, and she absolutely stole the show. She was all smiles, calm, curious, and somehow perfectly content the entire session. Watching them step so naturally into parenthood, with the same easy connection I remember from their wedding day, was such a joy to photograph.
Sessions like this are the biggest reminder of why I love documenting families over time. From their Botanica wedding day to this season of life, it’s been really special getting to capture their story as it keeps growing. Enjoy highlights from this Mission Trails family session!
Quick Tips for Planning Your Family Portrait Session:
1. Plan Your Session Around Light
Golden hour (1–2 hours before sunset) gives dreamy, flattering light — perfect for portraits
2. Prepare the Kids
Mentally prepping the kids beforehand can help them feel excited instead of nervous, and can make the session more enjoyable. Sometimes small bribes or rewards for good behavior can help, such as grabbing a treat on the way home.
3. Give Yourself Extra Time
Especially if you choose a popular location, make sure to give yourself some extra time for traveling and finding parking
4. What To Wear
Neutrals such as tan, cream, ivory, gray, and off-white are easiest on the eyes and blend well with any backdrop. Muted blues, greens, and pinks can also compliment a variety of skin tones. Avoid very bright colors and bold designs. Finally, make sure you all feel comfortable in your outfits – you should like how you look when you look in the mirror, and how the outfits make you feel
5. Be Natural!
Some of the most beautiful photos are the most natural ones – smiling at your spouse, playing with your kids – natural interactions carry the most emotion.
5. Trust Your Photographer
Let them guide you with posing, lighting, and timing — it’s what they do best!
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Jade Maria is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Diego, California. With a fine art approach, her photography style is romantic, soft, and organic – influenced by the timeless aesthetics of film photography.
