Casual street style outfit featuring light blue jeans and a black sweater on a sunny day with classical architecture behind.
A portrait of someone in a black button-up coat with long blonde hair and a bright smile against a light background.
Stylish casual outfit with black cardigan and light-wash jeans in front of architectural stone columns.

Golden Dreams & Coastal Light — A San Francisco Senior Session

There are sessions that simply sing-that dance between golden hour and ocean breeze, that feel like chapters in a story you never want to end. This senior graduation session with the radiant Liv (might I call her “our muse” here) was exactly that. While looking over her final gallery I couldn't help but to think how it reminded of some of my favorite books by Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte. This whole session was an artistic masterpiece. Liv was simply stunning in every image. She was the portrait of perfection.



Legion of Honor

We began our journey at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco—a place that blends timeless architecture with soft, romantic light. My muse arrived via Waymo, a self-driving car that added a perfect modern touch to the adventure (San Francisco magic, right?) Liv arrived in a black blazer that added an editorial edge to the session. Following a quick bout of headshots, Liv donned a soft and feminine LoveShackFancy dress, and a vibrant playful pink dress that fluttered with every breeze. It was the perfect blend of bold and ethereal—just like her. After some of our fun casual dresses, Liv changed into an absolutely breathtaking Selkie Gown. Liv's favorite color is pink and I think this dress was absolutely made for her! She loves movies and if you ask me, she looked like she should be the main character in one. She looked like something straight out of Pride and Prejudice with her gown billowing with every step and catching the light in the most magical way. She looked so lovely! The classical columns of the museum felt like they were built just to showcase her elegance. She twirled. She beamed. And in every frame, she looked like a heroine in her own story.

Elegant white gown flows against classical architecture with tall columns in a dreamy sunlit setting.
A dreamy portrait with soft lighting shows a person in a flowy white dress resting their hand against their cheek.
A romantic bride in a flowing blush pink gown poses elegantly between white stone columns while holding a pink bouquet.
A bride in a blush pink tulle gown holds a bouquet of pink flowers while standing between elegant marble columns.
A delicate pink and white ranunculus bouquet held against a blush tulle wedding gown.
A romantic pink gown contrasts with a delicate bouquet of pink roses in a soft, ethereal portrait.
An elegant wedding dress flows gracefully against classic white marble columns and arches of a grand estate building.
A person in a white dress lies on grass surrounded by blooming daisies in a sunny garden setting.
Someone relaxes on grass with blooming daisies while wearing a white t-shirt on a sunny spring day.
A figure in a white lace dress sits on a grassy lawn with scattered daisies and a straw hat nearby on a sunny day.

BAKER BEACH


After our adventures at the Legion of Honor, we made our way to the iconic Baker Beach. Along the way, her sweet and supportive mother rode with us—her pride practically glowing. You could tell this moment meant just as much to her, seeing her daughter step into this new chapter. I made sure to sneak in a few quiet moments with mom. Moms are usually behind the camera, capturing everyone else’s story. Graduation is one of those milestones mothers dream about—bittersweet and beautiful, like joy laced with tears. They’re the ones who give us both roots and wings… grounding us in love while teaching us how to fly. Mom's you make everything possible!


Once we hit the coast, the vibe shifted beautifully as we headed to the beach . The wildflowers and sand was ethereal. Liv captured the attention of everyone passing by. Her gown fluttered with every slight ocean breeze and the golden light framed her and the flowers . As the sun dipped lower, we found ourselves in a little patch of wildflowers hugging the beach, where golden hour slowly melted into blue. The sky turned from honey to lavender to a deep coastal indigo, and every image from that moment forward became part of a gallery that feels like a dream you can hold. The double exposure on film stopped me in my tracks. The alignment couldn't have been more perfect. Liv looked as if she had just bloomed as a single wildflower.

Ethereal moment captured in a sunlit meadow with white dress and blooming lavender flowers at golden hour.
A person in a white sweater makes peace signs with both hands against a soft, sunlit background with purple flowers.
A flowing blush pink wedding gown with dramatic puff sleeves is worn in a sunlit meadow with wildflowers and soft lighting.
A dreamy outdoor portrait of someone in a romantic white off-shoulder dress with puffy sleeves standing in soft natural light.
Wild lavender or lupine flowers grow abundantly on a hillside with soft focus and dreamy natural lighting.
A joyful moment captured in a dreamy wildflower meadow at golden hour with purple blooms and soft sunlight.
A person in a flowing white dress stands among blooming lavender fields at golden hour.
Ethereal white dress flows in a lavender garden at sunset as wind catches flowing fabric in dreamy natural light.
A serene garden path lined with wooden posts and blooming lavender flowers in soft, muted tones.
Ethereal figure in white dress stands among blooming purple wildflowers at sunset in dreamy garden setting.
Ethereal portrait of someone in a flowing blush pink gown with ruffles against a soft golden sunlit background.
Delicate hands gently cup a small white daisy flower against a soft, dreamy pastel background.
A dreamy outdoor portrait in soft evening light shows someone in an elegant pale pink gown sitting among wildflowers on a sandy path.
A white dress flows in the ocean breeze as someone stands barefoot on a misty beach with mountains in the background.
Foamy waves crash on a beach with misty mountains rising along the coastline at sunset.
A person in a flowing white dress holds up a sheer fabric while dancing on a beach at sunset.
Misty golden sunset over a peaceful beach with waves rolling in along rocky California coastline.
Two hands gently cradle a small blue colored pebble or stone against a bright white background.
A flowy white dress blows in the wind on a sandy beach at sunset creating an ethereal silhouette.
Woman in a white sweater standing on a beach with the Golden Gate Bridge visible in the background on a misty day.
Woman in flowy white dress and cozy sweater walking barefoot on sandy beach at golden hour sunset.
Wind blows through blonde hair as a figure in a white sweater gazes at the coastline during golden hour.
A figure in a flowing white dress twirls gracefully on a misty beach with mountains in the background.

Golden Hour Glow to Blue Hour Bliss

It was hard to put my camera down when I could see the gorgeous light illuminating the waves. It looked like as if it could be a painting by Claude Monet or Thomas Kinkade the "painter of light". These images from this session truly celebrate the centennial year of the Legion of Honor and it's holdings of European paintings, sculptures, and arts. While I'm usually a drawn to the colors of golden hour, tonight's session may have stole my heart. It's made me want to explore and try more shoots in this quickly fading blue light. I'm mesmerized by the light on the water and how it displayed the most perfect color of jade. I love the cool tones mixed with the warmth of the last rays of light from the sun. Liv was courageous, braving the whipping wind, and cold air coming from the ocean with a smile on her face. My favorite image of the day was one of her walking toward the Golden Gate Bridge. These iconic landmarks have always been home to her. This wasn’t only a graduation shoot—it was a celebration of Liv and where she’s going. Saying goodbye to the most familiar of places with eyes toward a new unknown freedom and adventure. Liv is heading off to college with ambition, grace, and that rare mix of grounded curiosity and a fierce heart. She’s the kind of young woman who makes you believe in the future. To her mother, thank you for sharing your joy with me. To the graduate, thank you for trusting me to capture this turning point in your life. And to the light, the ocean, and those wildflowers—thank you for showing up exactly when we needed you most. Here's to new beginnings and the beauty of becoming. Congrats Liv and class of 2025! You're going to do great things!

A solitary figure in white stands on Baker Beach with the Golden Gate Bridge silhouetted against a moody sky in San Francisco.

A Love Note to our Grad


Congratulations Liv! I am so proud of the person you are. You are funny, beautiful, kind, and so engaging to talk to! Onward to your next adventures! Love, Mom

Two people share a warm embrace while wrapped together in a white fringed blanket in black and white photo.

Chelsee Rawe is a Morgan Hill Family photographer serving the greater San Fransisco Bay Area including Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Saratoga, Willow Glen, Los Gatos, San Jose, and Palo Alto. Chelsee is a Fine Art Family Photographer. She specializes in maternity, newborn, and family portraiture, documented in a simple and timeless style and creating family heirlooms and art for your home. If you would like to reserve your Bay Area Session, contact Chelsee.

Looking for someone to capture your Graduate? Scheduling now for Senior Graduation Portraits !

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