These two are the sweetest mother-daughter duo who I’ve been lucky enough to photograph each year. We had a very special session together at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, California. Martina, Layla and I took a stroll down the wooden footpath to Jewel Lake. We were blessed with beautiful fall light and leaves changing color.

The earth tones and sparkles of their outfits really made these photos pop. It was a low-key session full of exploration in nature and connection between the two – with a bit of fashion thrown in! I loved how playful they are together and the special bond they share.

Most of these photos are digital, but I took some on film and love how they turned out! Film photography offers a uniquely nostalgic feel to images with lots of beautiful tones, grain, and depth. I’m always happy to integrate film into a session, just let me know! Check out a few of my Instagram posts for a look at film vs digital photos here and here!

Tilden Nature Area of Tilden Regional Park in Berkely

Tilden Park in Berkeley is huge, but one of my favorite places to shoot in because the park is at the Tilden Nature Area along the trail to Jewel Lake. Lush forest trails, a small redwood grove, and a lovely little lake provide a lot of natural variation for engagement sessions. If you have some extra time to spare, bring some lettuce or celery for the animals at the Little Farm.

A Sentimental Location – Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley

This location has a lot of special meaning to Layla and Martina because during the height of the pandemic, these two spent many days walking and playing here. During a time when we were having to stay home, getting outside and smelling the fresh air was very important. When Martina and Layla needed to get away, this is where they would come.

I always encourage clients to choose a location for their photos that they have a connection to. This gives sentimental value to the photos and can make them more personal. It also provides a sense of nostalgia when looking back, so you can remember where you were in that chapter of your life!

Sweet Words Fom Martina:

“Having a photo shoot with Laura is pure magic. Her calm energy makes the photo sessions fly by. She’s fantastic with kids, let’s them be part of the process by showing them her camera and explaining everything, and in the end she gets amazing shots. We’ve done two outdoor photo sessions and my daughter (7 years old) now begs for more photo shoots with Laura. After a few weeks of anticipation and hoping, you will get the most beautiful photos delivered straight to your inbox and you won’t even know how to choose a favorite one. I can highly recommend working with Laura for your next family photo shoot. You will absolutely not regret it!”

Let’s Start Planning Your Own Sweet Family Session Next!

Ready to plan your own sweet family session? I would love to photograph your family next, and capture these special moments in time so one day you can look back, and remember the time and loved ones exactly as they were! You can learn more about me here, and if you think we’d be a good fit, let’s connect because I can’t wait to hear from you.

Laura Jaeger Photography | Bay Area Family Photographer

Check out more of this sweet mother daughter session at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, CA below!