Beach session with fellow Bay Area family photographer Maryam

I am so incredibly lucky to have made some photographer friends in the Bay Area. Not just because we share the excitement for photography, but because we can support each other when it comes to running our businesses.

Whether I'm thinking about a giant decision or some minor changes, Maryam of Hi+Hello Photography is one of the photographers I turn to the most.

The fun thing about the Bay Area is that you can head to the beach basically any time of the year. Sure, you may want to dress a bit warmer in January than you would in August, but the ocean is just as cold and kiddos seem to care about the cold just as little. We stopped by a coffee shop in downtown Santa Cruz to get ourselves some hot drinks before heading off to the beach.

You can find Maryam's thoughts on why it's important as a photographer to have family pictures taken by someone else on her blog.

Maryam’s daughter Margaux had made this little paper coin with the words luck and bad luck on it – and she tossed it over in the car to determine what my luck would be like. And proceeded to tell me not to take it too seriously if it comes out as bad luck, because it's just a made-up thing anyway.

I love this kid – her mind is so brilliant!