Newborn Family Photographer Crystal Cove – Beach Session with Baby

RELAXED NEWBORN PHOTOS ON THE BEACH

10 year old girl with outstretched arms rides on her father's shoulders at sunset on Crystal Cove beach.
Family portrait at Crystal Cove State Park with parents and siblings admiring their newborn.

Bringing a newborn to the beach can feel intimidating, but Crystal Cove State Park is one of the best spots in Orange County to make it happen effortlessly. For the Marci family, we wanted to document their new addition without the stress of a studio. The wide, flat shoreline allowed mom to hold the baby safely while the older sister ran in the surf, giving us a gallery that feels free and wild, yet intimate.

Family of 4 admiring their newborn boy at Crystal Cove, Newport Beach.

Why Crystal Cove Works for Newborn Families

STROLLER & CARRIER FRIENDLY

One of the biggest hurdles with a newborn is just getting to the sand. We used the Reef Point entrance, which offers a paved path and a manageable ramp down to the beach. Unlike other spots with steep, treacherous stairs, this access point makes it safe to carry a baby (or bring a stroller part of the way) without stressing about the hike.

A father twirls his daughter in a joyful embrace on a sunny beach.

SOFT LIGHT FOR SENSITIVE EYES

Newborns are sensitive to bright light and tend to squint or cry if the sun is too harsh. The high cliffs at Crystal Cove create large pockets of "open shade" well before sunset. This allowed us to photograph the baby with eyes open and comfortable, while still capturing the golden coast in the background.

Orange County family photographer captures candid moment of family with newborn at Crystal Cove beach.

FREEDOM FOR OLDER SIBLINGS

When you have a newborn and an older child, balancing their energy is key. Crystal Cove’s wide sandy stretch gave the older sister plenty of room to run, twirl, and explore the tide pools while mom and dad had a quiet moment with the baby. It allows for high-energy candids and intimate newborn portraits in the same hour.

Mother admiring her newborn baby at Crystal Cove.
Orange County family beach photo of father and daughter playing in the sand. Crystal Cove State Park family photography.
Family beach photoshoot at Crystal Cove, CA. Father and daughter playing in tide pools.
10 year old girl smirking at her father.
Mom and baby share a special moment on the beach, with the sky as the backdrop.
10-year-old girl hugging her father during a family photo session on the beach at Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County, California.
Father and daughter running on the beach with waves crashing at Crystal Cove State park.
Mother holding her newborn baby boy up in the sky.
Young girl walking on the beach with waves crashing.
A man with his arm around his wife and daughter, watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean at Newport Beach, California.
Family portrait of father and daughter at Crystal Cove State Park during golden hour.
Man has his arms around his wife and daughter.
Young girl in a jumper tipping her toes in the ocean water while standing on a small rock at Crystal Cove.
Mother embracing her 10 year old daughter during family photoshoot at the beach.
Happy child enjoying a piggyback ride from her father as the sun sets over the ocean at Crystal Cove State Park in California.

Related Sessions

A grandfather sitting on a rock holding a baby while grandchildren play nearby during an extended family session at Jeffrey Open Space Trail in Irvine.

BISHOP FAMILY

JEFFREY OPEN SPACE TRAIL

A mother and father holding their two young sons while smiling in the golden afternoon light at the historic San Juan Capistrano Train Station.

PFEIFFER FAMILY

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO TRAIN STATION

A family with teenagers sitting together on a modern outdoor patio during a lifestyle photography session on Lido Island in Newport Beach.

MALIS FAMILY

LIDO ISLAND

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, if we time it right. We stick to the upper beach near the cliffs where the sand is dry and soft. We avoid the water line with the baby to keep them warm and dry.

  • We take breaks! Beach sessions are actually great for this because the sound of the ocean is a natural white noise machine. If the baby needs to feed or cuddle, we just pause and capture those quiet moments, too.

  • The restrooms at the Reef Point parking lot are decent, but I always recommend doing a full feed and change in the car before we hike down so the baby is sleepy and happy.