I could go on and on about why Fort Pickens Family Photos is one of the most beautiful spots on Pensacola Beach to photograph. But this session in particular was really special. Claire explained to me she wanted some family photos while they were on vacation before baby number 3 arrived. We got them scheduled in the midst of May busy season. Claire and I had chatted back and forth a few times leading up to the session and she was very responsive. All the way up until.. about 90 minutes before the session..

Typically, I send a text to my clients roughly 2 hours before the session. Especially for people on vacation, it can just give them peace of mind to let them know I’m showing up, drop them a pin to our exact meeting point and remind them of anything last minute. When I texted Claire, I got crickets. Our session was scheduled for 5 P.M. By the time 5:10 P.M. rolled around I started to get really worried. I made a point of calling my boyfriend who assured me they were likely just running a little behind. Sure! That makes sense! But.. no reply? What if something happened to this precious family?

I did what anyone else would do and popped over to Claire’s Instagram.

4 Hours Prior: Her adorable pregnant belly under the umbrella at the beach

3.5 Hours Prior: Her girls running around on the beach

2 Hours Prior: Rinsing off the sand and swimming in the pool at the condo…

Mystery Solved

Do you see where this is going? I called my boyfriend and said “Ya know, she’s in her 3rd trimester.. I bet they’re asleep.” A very frantic Claire started calling me and told me she had in mind it was for the next day. No biggie at all. I actually had a mini-session scheduled for 6:15 PM and told her I could meet after and that should give them enough time to get ready. In addition, her family was all in great moods because they were so well-rested. What’s great about summer on Pensacola Beach, if you choose Fort Pickens Family Photos, the sunset in the west gives off the most radiant light even when the sun goes down.

When we met up her girls looked adorable and the sting of the heat had backed off considerably. We ran around Fort Pickens quickly, and went to my favorite walkover on the way out. This walkover has a board walk which makes it easier for kids to get to the ocean, and it’s length deters many people and makes it secluded. As we were set to start photographing, a pod of dolphins started popping up. Just in time for me to run back and get a wide shot of the family creating this core memory together. It was so special.

Fort Pickens State Park Perks

Claire and her family loved this spot so much, they came back again for the remainder of their beach days. That’s the beauty of Fort Pickens. Your $25 pass is good for one week and pays for seclusion from the crazy beach crowds and a stunning back drop you can’t get anywhere else.

Robinett Family, thank you so much for allowing me to photograph you! I’m so excited for your new addition!

Looking to book your family session in Pensacola Beach? Reach out to Jordan here.