This family session at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park has definitely become a favorite of mine! All the lush greenery, beautiful scenery, bridges and little waterfalls make for the perfect backdrop for a photo shoot. I met Karren and Yoshi in Balboa Park for their session and was surprised to find out that Karren is Filipino (like my husband) and Yoshi is Japanese (like me)!

So when I saw their adorable two little boys, I joked that I was seeing into the future and hoping our kids turn out that cute one day!! ;) My grandpa’s name was Yoshi too and until this session, I had never met anyone else with that name. Speaking of awesome names, Karren told me her sons names – Atlas and Cairo. How cool to have a family of such cool & unique names. :)

We started exploring together for the photo shoot, making little stops along the way. Cairo made it a point to give me a pouty face and crinkle his eyebrows every time I lifted my camera to take a picture, haha! So I wanted to make the session full of games and fun times so the boys wouldn’t have to focus on the picture taking.

There was lots of tickling and singing and I was so happy we got so many smiles from the boys! For other family photographers out there, you know that this is completely normal for kids and toddlers to not really want to sit and pose for hours. So you have to make it fun! Plus, I love love love the candid shots of kids interacting with their siblings and parents. It makes you look at a photo and think about the laughter and emotions in that MOMENT, rather than just a family smiling at a camera.

Enjoy some of my favorites from this gorgeous family’s photo shoot at Balboa Park. And if any of your are gearing up for the holidays and need some delicious cookies, Karren makes super amazing looking crack cookies. I will be ordering some soon!! :)

I hope to work with them again one day because they were so incredibly sweet! I’m also so very thankful for Karren recommending me to her friends and I can’t wait to photograph her best friend’s wedding next month!! <3