Life moves fast with a toddler — they’re quick, full of energy, and not always the easiest to reason with. But that’s exactly why I love documenting this stage of life. Their curious expressions, boundless excitement, and genuine joy make for the best candids and the most authentic moments.

My approach is simple: start by getting the classic “smiling at the camera” shot while they’re still warming up. Once that’s done, I let them take the lead — playing, exploring, and running the show. That’s when the magic happens.

The Belmontes Del Mar Beach Family Session

For Becca and Jake’s family photography session at Del Mar Beach with their three-year-old son, Shiloh, that magic showed up in spades. Shiloh is as sweet as he is spunky, which made every photo feel alive. We played in the sand, ran along the water, swung through the air, laughed until our cheeks hurt, and shared tender hugs.

The evening began under a soft layer of clouds, giving everything a cozy, calm feel. As the sun dipped lower, it peeked through the clouds, lighting up the ocean in the most stunning golden light. Watching them play together was such an important reminder that life isn’t meant to be perfect — and neither are photos. Hair gets messy. Sand sticks everywhere. Shot lists go out the window.

What truly matters are the real laughs, the small moments of connection, and the joy of simply being together. These wild, beautiful, and perfectly imperfect images tell the story of this season — and families will cherish them for years to come.

The Marins: Mission Trails Family Maternity Session

Sherr Weddings is a photography and videography company in San Diego and Orange County, California. They document weddings, families, engagement, newborn, maternity, and other lifestyle photography sessions as well as cinematic videography and drone footage.