San Lorenzo Park - King City, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Chavez Family

My first photoshoot of the year was a huge success! We went to San Lorenzo Park in King City, CA. This park is absolutely stunning! The Chavez family went above and beyond, and we all had a blast!

This session was extra special for Roxanna and I, because we used to go to school together back in the day. It was great to catch up with her and her family as we snapped away.

I was so impressed with the deep connection between each of the family members. This family prioritizes each other, and it shows. The kids behaved so well, reflecting on the fantastic parenting of their mom and dad. This made our session 100% easier.

Everyone was also so enthusiastic about being in front of the camera. There were no dragging feet here! The kids in particular had laughter in their eyes and contagious smiles, and the way the children interacted with their parents was just heartwarming.

It was a tad windy out on the day of the shoot, so sometimes hair and wardrobe were at the mercy of the breeze, but it added a unique touch of movement to the photos.

Since our session happened on New Years Day, the family was exhausted. I totally understood the feeling. That said, the fresh air did everyone so much good, and soon, we were all enjoying ourselves.

Roxanna did an amazing job color coordinating their outfits. She was spot on! Dressed in complementary blues and peaches, the family accessorized with cowboy hats and boots. The detail brought so much life to the photos!

It was an honor to capture the essence of their family through my lens. Their gallery is a perfect blend of natural and posed shots, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome.

I had such a wonderful time working with the Chavez family and I cannot thank them enough for allowing me to capture these special moments for them. I am so grateful for the opportunity to relive our childhood memories together and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this amazing family.

To the Chavez family, thank you for a fantastic photoshoot! I hope you all enjoy the memories that were captured here at San Lorenzo Park, and that these images bring joy to your lives for many years to come.

Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Melissa + Kevin

Melissa + Kevin love the outdoors, so it felt perfect that we had our family photo session at a woodsy location in Pacific Grove!

This family shoot was squeezed into Melissa + Kevin’s engagement and wedding package. It was a pleasure for me to rework their package to include it! Family photos are so important, especially with a wedding around the corner!

Kids are always a blast to photograph, and these guys were all that and more! Letting them jump off stuff makes for great photos. I also love to play games like Simon Says with them, or crack terrible jokes to make them smile.

I love capturing them at this energetic stage of life. The kids are into soccer this year and just had their first game prior to our morning session. They were so well-behaved, and had tons of beautiful smiles!

Melissa did an amazing job with everyone’s outfits! The color coordination was on point. I love it when the family shares a similar color theme, but they’re not dressed identically. This gives everyone individuality.

Melissa wore a hat, which added a classy touch to their photos. We took some with it and without it so that they would have options! I can’t decide which ones I like more.

As always, we scheduled our shoot for the optimal light. That’s usually in the morning, like this session, or in the evening. That way, the sun is low enough for us to capture some amazing backlight!

Backlight makes the family pop! It makes hair shine and faces glow, adding so much more depth to each photograph. It makes a good photo great, and a great photo even better!

Melissa + Kevin are about to tie the knot, and their wedding is set for next August! I’ll be photographing that event, so stay tuned! I’m so excited that we were able to squeeze this family shoot into their package.

I’ll also be shooting Melissa + Kevin’s engagement session next month in Monterey. I can’t wait to see how they turn out. Thanks for choosing me to document all of these amazing milestones, and see you soon!

Asilomar Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Vargas Family

In mid-July, I had the immense pleasure of photographing the Vargas family for their annual family photos!

It’s always a little nerve-wracking to try out a new photographer, but as first-time clients, I was so impressed with the amount of trust they put in me!

Liz told me that one of the biggest struggles she has with family photos is keeping them fun and easy-going. Luckily, that’s my specialty! If family photos aren’t a blast, you’re doing it wrong, even with toddlers!

Toddlers will be toddlers, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t make your photos magical. With a little kindness and patience, creating whimsical moments of your little ones isn’t difficult at all.

In fact, the toddler stage is one of the most energetic! I like to use that to our advantage to create movement and depth in your photos. The key to this is going with the flow and capturing them as they explore the beautiful world around them.

The Vargas Family were stunning in semi-formal fashion. Although you can never go wrong with dressing too fancy for photos, this family hit the nail on the head by choosing wardrobe that suits them and their styles.

As always, Asilomar Beach was gorgeous, and the family ended up loving the location so much that they wished they’d had more time!

After the shoot, Liz sent me an email to let me know how much she loved the photos. She was amazed by how well we captured her boys’ personalities, and wrote that it was by far “One of the best photography experiences we’ve had as a family.”

She went on to say that, “You captured some very sweet moments between each of us that we can now treasure for a lifetime. Thank you just isn’t enough. You are a master at your craft.”

Nothing makes me happier, Liz! Thanks for choosing me, and I look forward to taking your holiday photos later this year!