Cabrillo National Monument Family Photos | M + S
As a San Diego family photographer, I love when clients want a different location every year for their fall family photos. Its very inspirational for me and gives me new ideas to offer future clients. This was my second time doing family photos at Cabrillo National Monument, I have done weddings there. But it was my first time going down to the water as it was low tide, accessible and sunset was right near closing time. This is a calculated move. Daylight savings had just occurred a few days before so sunset coincided with 5pm closing time. This wouldn’t work in the summer as it closes at 5pm and sunset is way later. In these Cabrillo National Monument Family Photos | M + S, had the perfect combination of low tide at sunset and closing time, along with beautiful skies and warm sun! There weren’t that many people around too!
I definitely would not advise families with young toddlers to use this location and there are a lot of rocks around and the crashing waves from the ocean. Unless they are great listeners, I would rather save you the stress and there are plenty of other ocean backdrops to choose from. You can always come back when they are older.
This backdrop gives me Northern California vibes or Maine vibes. With the lighthouse up top and the waves hitting the cliffs, you feel like you are in a story about pirates or sailboats. Make sure to time the session correctly so you have enough time at the lighthouse up top and then the ocean down below. I started with the lighthouse first as there are trees and the light is still bright. So the trees help add some shade and you can shoot with the sun behind your clients. Then I calculated walking back to the car and driving down to the ocean. Crossing my fingers that there would be parking.
