Well, here we are. It’s officially September, my kids are back in school, and I’m still processing the whirlwind that was summer 2026.

Let me just start by saying: sending your youngest to TK is a whole thing.

I knew it would be hard. I mean, I’m a mom of three, and I’ve done the “first day of school” thing before. But this one? This one hit different. My baby—this little person who was just learning to walk what feels like five minutes ago—walked into her classroom with her backpack almost as big as she is, and I just… stood there trying my best to hold it together for her.

I’ve lived my whole life to have little people crawling all over me and now there’s this weird mix of emotions. Relief, yes. Freedom, absolutely. But also this bittersweet realization that a whole chapter is closing. No more little ones at home during the day. No more toddler snuggles on a random Tuesday afternoon.

So you know what I did? I embraced the feelings and decided summer was going to be exactly what we all needed: low-key, present, and full of the people and places we love.

**Big Sur & Purple Sand Beach**

One of my favorite things about living in California is that you can literally drive a few hours and feel like you’ve escaped to another world. We packed up the family and headed to Big Sur for a camping trip, and honestly, it was exactly what my soul needed.

We hiked through forests that feel ancient, splashed in the Big Sur river, and discovered Purple Sand Beach, link to where we stayed (loved it!)—this magical little gem where the sand is actually purple due to runoff from the rocks above (it’s a real thing, and it’s stunning). My kids ran around like wild things, we ate pretend s’mores around the beach campfire they dreamt up, and we just… existed together without any schedule or agenda.

There’s something about being in nature with your whole family that strips away all the noise and reminds you what matters. No phones (okay, mostly no phones), no crazy schedules, just us and the redwoods and the water.

I took a lot of photos. A LOT. But I also put the camera down and just watched my kids experience the beauty. Those moments—when they’re genuinely amazed by something—those are the ones that stick with you forever.

**Meeting Our Niece in Michigan**

Then we packed up again this time for a longer trip and headed to one of the most amazing parts of the country, Michiana (if you’ve never been, add it to your list!) to meet our new niece. My sister-in-law had recently had a baby, and our whole family was gathering to celebrate.

There’s something magical about meeting a newborn. You remember what it was like to have that tiny, perfect human in your family, and you’re just overwhelmed with gratitude and wonder. My kids were so gentle with her—they understood they were meeting someone brand new to the world. And my niece? She’s already got the whole family wrapped around her finger.

We spent the week doing all the things you do on a family beach vacation: slow mornings, splashing in the lake, catching up with family we don’t see nearly enough, eating amazing food, and just being present with the people we love most.

It reminded me (again) why I do what I do. Why I’m so passionate about capturing families in their real moments. Because these times—the messy, unplanned, genuine moments—these are the memories that matter. Not the posed pictures, but the candid laughs, the connection, the realness of being together.

**What Summer Taught Me**

So here’s what this whole summer taught me:

First, transitions are hard but they’re also beautiful. Saying goodbye to having a baby at home hurts, but it also means watching her grow and become this confident little person. Both things can be true at the same time.

Second, the best summer moments aren’t the expensive vacations or the perfectly planned itineraries. They’re the camping trips where everything goes slightly wrong, the discoveries of random purple beaches, and the quiet moments holding a newborn and remembering how precious life is.

Third (and this is important): take the photos, but also put the camera down. Be present. Let your kids see you being amazed by the world. Let them feel your full attention. Because that’s what they’ll remember—not the photos, but the feeling of being fully loved and present with you.

**Fall is Here**

Now it’s September, the heat wave is finally breaking, and I’m feeling this rush of creative energy. My youngest is settling into school (I’m settling into it too, mostly), and I’m ready to dive into fall sessions.

Fall is my favorite season for family photography. The light is gorgeous, the energy is calm, and there’s something about this time of year that brings families closer. Maybe it’s the back-to-school transitions, maybe it’s the cooler weather, or maybe it’s just that we all feel like pressing pause and capturing who we are right now.

If you’re thinking about a family session this fall—whether you want a quick Signature Session or a full Lifestyle Session where we hang out for 4-6 hours capturing your real life—I’d love to work with you. I have availability starting now through November, and I promise you’ll treasure the photos.

Because these moments? They go so fast. One minute they’re starting TK, the next they’re graduating high school. Let’s capture who they are right now.

You can check out my calendar here.

Or just reply to this and let’s chat about what would work for your family.

Thanks for letting me share what’s been on my heart and in my life. That’s what this journey is all about—real humans connecting over real moments.

Here’s to fall, to new beginnings, and to capturing the people we love.

With warmth,
Mary 💛

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*P.S. If you’re also navigating big transitions with your family this fall, I see you. It’s bittersweet and beautiful and hard and wonderful all at the same time. Let’s capture it before it’s gone.*