There are some family sessions that feel effortless in the most beautiful way, where joy leads, laughter comes easily, and the connection between everyone is the quiet center of it all. This evening in Watercolor, Florida was exactly that. The light was soft, there was a gentle breeze, and ending their session on the beach felt like the perfect time for them to simply be together.
We met just before sunset and let the session unfold naturally, running along the water’s edge, playing, exploring, and holding hands as the waves rolled in. There was no rushing, no posing that felt stiff or forced. Just an afternoon full of movement, giggles, and the kind of candid moments that reflect who a family really is in this season of life.
As a Santa Rosa Beach Florida photographer who spends so much time along these scenic stretches of 30A, sessions like this always remind me why I love photographing families here. Watercolor has a calm, coastal charm, with soft pastel sunsets, sugar-white sand, and boardwalks that seem to slow life down just enough to notice the sweetness in the small things.
I loved capturing the way they held onto one another, the kids’ sandy toes, the playful spinning and chasing and laughing. These photographs feel nostalgic even in the moment…sunlit, free, and full of wonder. And they feel like family – connected, joyful, and completely present.
These are the memories that live on long after the vacation bags are unpacked, the ones you return to again and again. The ones that remind you how beautiful this chapter truly is.
Are you planning your vacation to Santa Rosa Beach Florida? Looking for a Santa Rosa Beach Florida family photographer? To inquire about reserving a date on my calendar, please reach out here to start the process. I would love to chat with you!
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Jessie Barksdale Photography is a Santa Rosa Beach Florida Photographer, serving the 30A and the Florida Gulf Coast including Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Watersound, Alys Beach, Grayton Beach, Watercolor, Blue Mountain Beach, Destin, Panama City Beach, Pensacola, Navarre, Apalachicola, Port Saint Joe, Saint George Island, and more. Jessie is a luxury photographer documenting destination weddings, engagements, families, and portraits worldwide.
Bringing over a decade of photography experience, Jessie collaborates with clients to provide them with tangible art that they will cherish for a lifetime. Combining medium format film and digital photography, Jessie is able to achieve the ethereal romance you see in her photographs, thus providing clients with images that have a truly beautiful, timeless aesthetic. Her photographic style has been described as elegant, candid, and editorial. Clients are often captivated by her use of light, composition, and the unique vision she brings to each session.
Jessie’s work has been featured in publications across the world, including Over the Moon, BRIDES, The Wall Street Journal, Martha Stewart Weddings, Destination I Do, Wedding Sparrow, The Knot, Huffpost Weddings, and more.
