When an Extended Family Shows Up to New Smyrna Beach With a Secret
The best sessions are the ones where something bigger is happening under the surface. This extended family sunrise gender reveal session at New Smyrna Beach was exactly that — a whole crew showing up at the crack of dawn, some of them not yet knowing why. Fun doesn’t quite cover it.
If you’re curious about how I run mornings like this on the beach, you can check out my session details — but here’s the honest version of how this one actually went.
This session started with wind. Not a gentle breeze — actual, hair-everywhere, try-to-hold-your-dress-down wind. The sky was overcast when we kicked things off, which honestly wasn’t the worst thing. Soft light, no one squinting, and a moody backdrop that made the early shots feel a little cinematic. Then the sun pushed through and the whole beach lit up, right on cue like it knew what was about to happen.
The family was loose and easy from the start. Extended family sessions can go sideways fast — too many people, too many opinions, someone’s always wandering off — but this group was genuinely just happy to be there. The excitement of the pregnancy announcement and gender reveal was doing all the heavy lifting. Candid moments were everywhere. I barely had to prompt anyone.
This was a genuinely fun morning — the kind of session that reminds you why sunrise on the coast is worth every early alarm. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, whether it’s a big announcement, an extended family reunion, or just everyone together for the first time in a while, you can find all the New Smyrna Beach location and session info you need to get started.
