I started shooting the Cecil family at their residence in the South Bay City of El Segundo. Liz had requested a few photographs in front of their Christmas tree prior to heading out. After grabbing a few images, her husband Jason began to change their 21 month old daughter Casey for the next leg of the session… While chatting with Jason, I glanced over at Casey and saw a wonderful opportunity to capture a moving series of images. A beautiful window light gently illuminated Casey and simultaneously cast deep, moody shadows. I did my best to playfully entertain her and operate my camera as quick as possible (A must when photographing children). It was definitely a highlight for me. See image series below

From there we went to a local park called Recreation Park. It was here that I first witnessed the circus-like act of “Daddy Acrobatics.” Jason is fearless and Casey enjoys getting tossed in the sky! Quite a combination… So after witnessing the first high-flying spectacle I was only slightly shocked, as I myself am a dad and understand the need for “Mom Shocking” stunts. The result was that I was able to capture some amazingly dramatic moments. Between the swing-set, slide and playing airplane, Casey was a blast to photograph.

After the park we made our way to the Manhattan Beach Pier. Here we finished our session with a classic beachy flair. I love the underneath portion of this pier! The beams and framework provide an interesting backdrop. These features, combined with the soft light that pours in from the sides creates optimal portrait conditions. One of my favorite images from the beach was an image of Casey sitting in the sand, smiling with her parents in the back. Ultimately I had a great time with Liz, Jason & Casey. They have such casual and fun personalities that it hardly seemed like work.

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Thanks! Danny