Golden gardens is one of Seattle’s sandiest and most photogenic beaches. If you catch it at low tide it can be so fun for letting kids play in the tide pools and shooting some great candid family photos. Natalie and her family shoot with me every year (see her fall photos here). I always look forward to seeing them and seeing how big their girls have gotten. We had done so many shoots together but never a beach one. So this year we decided to do Golden Gardens family photos at Golden Gardens Park.

It can be tricky in the summer with young kids because the sun goes down so late (almost 10 pm some days). Natalie worked her magic and got her kids to stay up a little past bed time to have some fun on the beach. The youngest daughter was teething pretty hard at the time so we had to be extra funny and entertaining to get her to be her happiest. She also did not like how the sand felt which was pretty funny actually. So we kept her on the beach blanket or in mom’s arms.

Letting the kids lead the shoot:

As the evening went on, the light softened into that dreamy golden glow that makes this location so special. The girls warmed up more and more, running along the shoreline, collecting little treasures, and laughing together as the waves rolled in. Those in-between moments are always my favorite. The ones that feel unposed and real. We leaned into the slower pace, letting the kids lead the energy of the session instead of forcing anything. That’s always the key with family photos, especially at the beach. A little patience, a lot of play, and trusting the process always creates the most meaningful images.

Another thing I always love about shooting Golden Gardens family photos is how versatile the location is. Within just a short walk, you get grassy areas, driftwood logs, mountain views, and wide open sandy stretches. It allows us to move around and keep things fresh for kids who might need a change of scenery. The soft breeze coming off the water adds movement to dresses and hair, which translates beautifully on film. It gives everything that effortless, coastal feel. Even as the sun dips below the horizon, there’s still so much usable light, creating those soft pastel tones that feel timeless and true to life.

I shot this entire session on Fuji 400h film. If you’re looking to get some dreamy golden hour beach photos consider Golden Gardens family photos for your next shoot. Natalie is also a lifestyle blogger and has so much helpful info on motherhood, products you don’t want to miss and so much more on Natalie in the Northwest. She even wrote about this shoot and lists all their outfits and where you can buy them !