The Oldham Family’s September Beach Session in Pacific City | Cape Kiwanda Family Photographer
Two kids, one very big sand dune, and a sunset that showed off. Kyla and Kody brought their family to Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City on a Sunday evening in September, and we spent golden hour doing exactly what this beach is for: climbing, running, sand angels, and a few quiet minutes on a driftwood log under the cliffs. I am Becky Chambers of Studio 623 Photography in Sandy, Oregon, and this family has been in front of my camera before, actually since Mom and dad were kids in love! We have done engagement, wedding, newborn photos, and more so watching their littlest one run the beach on her own two feet felt like a full-circle kind of night.
Where is Cape Kiwanda?
Cape Kiwanda is a sandstone headland in Pacific City on the north Oregon Coast, about two hours west of Portland and the southern end of the Three Capes Scenic Loop, after Cape Meares and Cape Lookout. It is a state natural area with a giant sand dune climbing the side of the cape, layered golden cliffs, and it’s very own version of popular Haystack Rock standing about a mile offshore. Yes, Pacific City has its own Haystack Rock, and it is even taller than the famous one at Cannon Beach. Most headlands on this coast are hard black basalt, which is why the soft sandstone here looks so different, all ripples and ledges and warm color. You park in the Tillamook County day use lot next to Pelican Brewing, where a day pass is ten dollars as of this writing, and the beach is a short walk from the car. My amazing husband opted to get us an air BnB for 2 days and make it a full work trip weekend. He is the best! We both get so much more done when we work remotely.
What is a family photo session at Cape Kiwanda like?
Playful, sandy, a little chilly, and timed for the last hour and a half before sunset. We start at the base of the dune, where the beach grass and the soft slope make an easy backdrop for the whole family, then wander down to the tide line as the light goes gold. I keep posing light. Kids climb, roll, dig, and run, and I follow along and catch the real moments between the smiles. The ocean and Rock outcropping are right there for the wide frames, and if there is a toddler in the group, there will be tossing. Wear layers, plan on bare feet, and let the sand happen.
What is a typical Oregon Coast photo session like?
It started with a slow walk along the base of the cape, parents holding hands and the kids a few steps ahead, with the whole dune rising behind them. We found a bleached driftwood log under the cliffs for the classic family frames, and then the kids took over. Big brother and little sister made sand angels side by side on the dune, and he lay on his stomach with his hands folded under his chin like he had been waiting all week for that exact photo. She marched through the beach grass in her rust-colored dress, flopped down in the sand whenever she felt like it, and grinned at me from ground level.
By the time we reached the tide line the sun was sitting right on the tip of the cape. Kody tossed little Ophie into the sky with a coastal sunset behind her, dipped Kyla for a kiss on the wet sand, and hoisted big brother Ben onto his shoulders for one last laugh with the waves rolling in. Kyla and the little one pretended to be sea birds and raced each other down the beach. And before we packed up, I turned around and took one frame of the rock and the cape with nobody in it, just the light we got to work with.
Why book Cape Kiwanda for family photos?
Because you get three backdrops in one short walk: the dune and its beach grass, the sandstone cliffs, and the open beach with fake-Haystack Rock. There is no hike and no scramble, (unless you let me talk you into walking up the dune) so it works for toddlers and grandparents alike, and the sand is soft enough that falling down is part of the fun. Evening light turns the cliffs gold, and the sun slides down behind the cape itself, so the last frames of the night come with real sunset color. Stay behind the safety fence at the top of the dune, since the cliff edges beyond it crumble without warning, and give yourself time for dinner at the brewery afterward. I photographed an engagement session on this same beach in June, and that couple later married at Timberline Lodge, which tells you how well the coast and the mountain pair up.
Looking for a Cape Kiwanda family photographer?
I would love to meet your family on the sand. I am based in Sandy, Oregon, I travel to the coast monthly or so for family sessions, engagement sessions, and weddings, and I have been photographing families for more than 25 years. Sessions are relaxed and playful, and the goal is photos that look like your actual family on an actual good day. Read about my outdoor family sessions, then reach out through my contact page and we will pick an evening with a good tide and a clear sky.
