There’s something special about photographing the same family year after year — you get to watch not just how the kids grow, but how their personalities bloom. This third session with the Chin family, set against the lush, jewel-toned backdrop of Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, was no exception.
Nyla and Koa showed up as their usual selves: fun, fearless, and completely unfiltered. These two are basically a comedy duo at this point, and today’s headline moment came courtesy of Koa. He found a stray bird feather on the ground, held it up like sacred treasure, and asked what it was. I told him — half-joking — it was from a dinosaur. Big mistake (the best kind). He was instantly convinced the dinosaurs were “coming,” and the resulting mix of excitement and mild panic on his face is now permanently etched into my memory (and thankfully, my camera roll). Nyla, ever the hype woman, backed the theory immediately. Chaos ensued. It was perfect.
And then there’s the newest member of the crew — who had exactly one item on his agenda for the day: nap. While his siblings ran wild among the greenery, he slept through the entire session like the tiny royalty he is. Didn’t crack a smile, didn’t open an eye, and somehow still stole the show. There’s nothing quite like a sleeping baby to remind you how fast the wild, feather-chasing, dinosaur-fearing years arrive.
Three sessions in, and the Chin family keeps proving that the best portraits aren’t posed — they’re just… caught. Feathers, fibs about dinosaurs, and all.
Can’t wait for session four. 🦴📸
