Capturing Cherished Family Moments at Rehoboth Beach – A Special Surprise Session

At Mark Pages Photography, every family session is a unique story waiting to be told — and recently, I had the pleasure of photographing a truly special family visiting beautiful Rehoboth Beach. Marian reached out to me with a heartwarming surprise in mind: a family portrait session as a gift for her parents, complete with playful t-shirts that lovingly poked fun at their long-standing relationship. What a joy it was to be part of such a thoughtful and fun celebration!

This family brought together multiple generations — parents, their sons and daughters, and four adorable grandkids, including three lively boys and a sweet 6-month-old baby girl. We captured a variety of moments: the entire family together, individual family groups, and candid shots of the kids. Their easy-going nature and hardworking spirit made the session flow smoothly, even under the bright sun.

One exciting technical milestone for me was using my softbox on the beach for the second time. While I’m still mastering the settings, I learned the importance of adding an ND filter to better balance the high-speed sync with my flash. Despite the learning curve, I was able to create beautiful, vibrant photos that truly reflect the joy and connection of this family.

One of my favorite moments happened with the kids. Initially, they were a bit stiff and awkward in front of the camera. To break the ice, I shared a little secret with the three boys — when I said “go,” they were to tickle their parents! The mischievous smiles and giggles that followed created genuine, heartwarming candid shots that perfectly captured the family’s love and fun spirit.

Marian later thanked me for my work with the kids, which means a lot — especially since I’m also a full-time assistant principal, so working with children is second nature to me! If you’re planning a family vacation or beach trip and want to capture those special moments, I’d love to help you create lasting memories.