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Anna flew out from Indiana recently for her senior portrait session with me, and chose Coronado Beach as her location. It’s a great choice if you want your senior portraits at the beach, for the reasons I’ll list below.

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Prepping for Her Senior Session

To ensure the most awesome senior photos possible, I guided Anna through outfit choices (she settled on 3), hair (long and flowing, her favorite way to wear it), and makeup (she accentuated her gorgeous big eyes to the max).

I also encouraged her to incorporate elements that would make her senior portraits authentically her, and, as an avid dancer, she naturally chose to include her pointe shoes.

Authenticity is essential when it comes to your senior portraits, and it’s always fun to see what each senior finds significant enough to include in this milestone event.

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The Session: Low-Key and Fun

I approach my senior portrait sessions just like the rest of my sessions: just a time to slow down, relax, and have some fun under my gentle direction. Anna never even had to wonder where to put her hands. 😉

No stiffness, no awkward posing, just some music blasting while we had some fun on the beach together. After a few minutes, the nervousness and uncertainty about what it’s going to be like melts away, and the relaxed authenticity starts coming through.

And that’s how you get warm, authentic, and dynamic senior portraits like these – portraits bursting with life and movement and meaning.

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The Location: Coronado Beach

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Anna loves SoCal and the beach, and Coronado was the perfect location for the beachy vibe she envisioned.

Here’s everything you need to know about using Coronado Beach for your senior portrait session:

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CORONADO BEACH: THE GOOD

• Coronado Beach has varied landscapes for more fun and interest. Aside from beautifully reflective surf, would you also like wildflowers, sages, and big white sand dunes as your backdrops? Come on down to Coronado Beach! 
• There’s A LOT of room to spread out. On Coronado, the sparkling expanse of silky white sand is our canvas. Even on busy beach days, it’s easy to find plenty of open space on which to romp around during your session (see my additional posts about this beach here and here). 
• Coronado Beach is relatively easy to get to, a straight shot south on the major freeways from most areas of San Diego. And after the session, the drive over the bridge at twilight is is just stunning. 
• Parking – free, easy, and plentiful. I can always find convenient street parking here, even on busy holiday weekends. 
• It’s just a beautiful beach. Massive expanses of the silkiest, softest white sand you’ll ever feel between your toes. Greenery-covered sand dunes. And the most gorgeous pink sunsets reflected in yards and yards of surf in which to frolic during your session.

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CORONADO BEACH: THE NOT-SO-GOOD 

• The bathroom situation: while there are a few bathrooms on this public beach, they can be a long walk (about 10 minutes each way). 
• Not centrally located: while it’s convenient to several major San Diego freeways, if you live in north county, it can be a long drive.

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CORONADO BEACH: BEST TIME OF YEAR TO USE

The beach works well whichever time of year you choose to have your senior session. Unique to the varied landscapes of Coronado, you can have wildflowers in the spring and fall tones in November and December.

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Finally…

If you’re considering using Coronado Beach for your senior portrait session but still have questions, feel free to email me at michelle@lovemichellephotography.com.

And if you’re loving the warmth & authenticity coming through Anna’s portraits and would like to know more about booking your own senior session with me, explore what I offer and contact me here.

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