From Sand to Foliage: A Family Portrait Story Two Years in the Making

A Jersey Shore Summer at Asbury Park

The beach has its own kind of magic. The sound of waves, the golden light, the way everything feels a little more relaxed. In 2022, we met on the sand in Asbury Park. The kids—teenagers and younger—kicked off their shoes and settled into the rhythm of the shoreline.

One of the girls in these portraits holds a special place in my heart. I’ve been photographing her since she was just six months old—the first baby I ever photographed professionally. Since then, I’ve captured her Bat Mitzvah, and her sister’s, too. It’s been an honor to document these milestones and watch her grow into the young woman she is today.

The littlest girl at the beach isn’t family by birth, but by heart. A close family friend, she fit right in—proof that portraits can be just as much about the people you choose as the ones you're connected to.

There was one moment in particular that stood out. As we wrapped up on the pier, I noticed something just as the light shifted—a quiet, powerful image of the dad standing alone on the jetty. I’m so glad I took that shot. It felt like a full-circle moment, grounding the session in stillness after so much joy and movement.