Family Portraits in Terranea Resort

Family Portrait in Terranea Resort

Joy from San Francisco reached out to me while planning a trip to Los Angeles to visit her parents. She told me she had always wanted to “freeze” those natural and authentic moments with her kids when they were little but never had the chance. When her second baby was born, she was determined to have a few photos capturing her breastfeeding her baby.

They stayed at Terranea Resort, and it was the perfect backdrop.

With sweeping ocean views, golden light, and soft cliffs, Terranea creates a beautiful, natural setting for family portraits. The Chang Family’s laughter, hugs, and connection made every photo feel real and full of heart.

Family vacations are moments you want to remember forever, and documentary family photography preserves that joy exactly as it happened.

Life as it isYenMarch 3, 2026family photos in los angeles, family photojournalism, family photography, family photos, family photos california, family photographer, family portrait, family photos san diego, family photos in san diego, faimily photo, candid family photography, los angeles family photography, los angeles family photographerComment

7 Tips for Documenting Authentic Family Moments

When I was a kid, I actually hated posing for photos. I’d squirm, look away, or make the weirdest faces on purpose. So my dad did what any quick-thinking parent would do - he snapped candids. Us laughing, playing, making a mess… and honestly? Those are the photos I cherish the most today. They were real. Unstaged. Full of life.

Have you ever flipped through family albums and thought, "Where’s Mom? Where’s Dad?" Because let’s be real - they were probably the ones taking the picture. And how often do we snap a hundred photos but never get one where we’re all in it?

If you’re tired of staged smiles and photos that don’t really feel like you, these tips will help you capture moments that do. Ready to make some memories? Let’s go!

1. Capture the Chaos (Because It’s Beautiful!)

Some of the best family moments are messy, loud, and full of life. Kids running around, a dog jumping into the frame, someone laughing so hard they snort - THOSE are the moments that tell your family’s story. Don’t wait for the “perfect” shot. Snap the ones where life is happening in all its glorious and unfiltered magic.

2. Stop Telling Everyone to “Say Cheese”

Forced smiles? No thanks. Instead of stiff poses, let the moment unfold naturally. Crack a joke, reminisce about a funny memory, or have a little tickle fight. The best smiles aren’t the ones we force - they’re the ones that just happen.

3. Take Turns Behind the Camera

If you’re the one always taking photos (hi, moms and dads!), make a point to switch it up. Hand the camera over to your partner, set up a tripod, or even ask a stranger to take a quick snap. One day, your kids will want to look back and see YOU in these moments, too.

4. Choose Places That Mean Something

Your family’s story isn’t written in a studio - it’s in the little corners of your home, the park where your kids learned to ride a bike, the kitchen where you have Sunday pancakes. Instead of a generic photoshoot spot, pick a place that already holds memories. That way, the photos will feel even more you.

5. Find the Moments Between the Poses

Ever notice that the best pictures aren’t the ones where everyone’s looking at the camera? They’re the ones where a parent is tying a tiny shoelace or a child is whispering a secret in their sibling’s ear. Those little, in-between moments tell the real story. Keep your camera ready for them!

6. Let Kids (and Pets) Do Their Thing

Trying to get kids (or pets) to sit still for a photo is like herding cats. Instead of forcing a perfect pose, let them play, explore, and be themselves. Follow their energy, and you’ll get shots full of genuine joy.

7. Print Your Photos & Put Them Somewhere You’ll See Them

In a world where we snap a million pictures but rarely see them again, don’t let your best family moments get buried in your phone. Print them out, make an album, or create a gallery wall. Let those real, beautiful, imperfectly perfect moments live where they belong - front and center in your home.

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STORYBOOK PHOTO ALBUM

Final Thought

One day, when you’re looking back on these photos, you won’t care if your hair was perfect or if everyone was facing the camera. You’ll care about how they felt. The way your child’s tiny hand fit into yours. The way your partner laughed when you whispered something ridiculous in their ear. The way your family was just being - together.

So get in the frame. Capture the real. And don’t forget to hand someone else the camera once in a while. 💛

Want to get started but not sure how?
We’ve got you. Grab our free family photo guide - packed with simple tips to help you stress less, embrace the chaos, and get photos that actually feel like you.

👉 Download the Free Guide Here

Ready to make some real magic?
Let’s skip the poses and capture the good stuff.

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An afternoon with 2-month-old cutie Joonwu

Motherhood; all love begins.

I never knew I'd be a photographer.

But I always treasured my family's photo albums that my mom had put together; in those 3x5 and 4x6 photos, I'm fully naked, I'm running around with my brother, I'm crying hysterically, and I'm doing something I don't even know what. To me, those were the vivid proof of where I came from, how I grew up, and how much I was loved. Those are unaltered moments and it is my story.

So I get really excited to be the one who gets to freeze moments and tell their stories. I'm truly blessed.