Last time we had family photos taken of our little three some, Grady was two years old. Now he’s six. Yikes! That’s a long time. Don’t get me wrong, we take A LOT of photos around here, which you all probably already know if you follow Grady’s Instagram (@gogradygo) or even our business one (@ryananddenisephoto). BUT, there’s something very different about intentionally spending time in front of another professional’s camera to capture who we are today … in this moment in time. 

When we started to plan our trip to California, our first real trip since the pandemic hit, we just knew it was time. We needed to document this season in a special way. It wasn’t just a return to a bit of normal for our family, it was a celebration of the things we’ve been through and the things to come. Just a few short days after our trip, Grady started 1st grade, in person, at a new school, in a new city, with new adventures and challenges. After a year and a half of being at home, mostly just the three of us, him going off to school five days a week feels pretty different. It’s the start of a new chapter and a new dynamic for all of us. He’s already been taking it in stride and embracing the new far better than we are. LOL!

We’re so grateful for these precious images Clove and Kin captured of us at the beautiful La Jolla Shores Beach. We’ve made so many sweet family memories on the beach so it was the perfect place.  Grady spend about 80% of the time running in and out of the waves! He was in 6-year-old heaven, that’s for sure. When we first walked out onto the sand, he said to me, “Mommy, isn’t your pretty dress going to get dirty?” (Oh, how I love his sweet little heart!) His eyes lit up when I said that I didn’t mind and told him we could go play in the waves!

We can’t wait to hang these beautiful images on our walls and be brought back to these moments each and every day. Thank you Clove and Kin! We will cherish them forever.