A Pause in the Redwoods

Experience No. 05 • Marin • Part of the Inspiration Series

Parents and two young daughters sit on a log in the redwoods.
Sisters balance and walk along fallen tree in the redwoods.
Little girl smiles at the camera in soft forest light.
  • Parents and two young daughters sit on a log in the redwoods.
  • Sisters balance and walk along fallen tree in the redwoods.
  • Little girl smiles at the camera in soft forest light.

View a A Pause in the Redwoods sample gallery

A redwood grove that feels like a pause button.

We’ll follow the filtered light, the hush underfoot, and the little openings where sun finds its way in. It’s simple, calm, and quietly magical.

It’s also a place where we can make a wide variety of images in a short period of time – your family beneath towering redwoods, and portraits in soft, beautiful light.

The Basics

  • Location: Roy’s Redwoods Preserve, San Geronimo Valley
  • Duration: 45 min
  • Effort: 3 – Easy
  • Suggested Medium: Digital
  • Best For: Family, Maternity, Newborn, Couples, Seniors
  • Logistics: Permits Required, Unique Gear Requirements
  • Cost: $675
  • Parking Info
Check Availability

The Session

We’ll meet roadside and start right away.

We’ll stay close to the trailhead, using flat paths and short loops through the grove.

I’ll guide you into a few reliable spots for a mix of wide redwood scenes and simple, connected portraits, then we’ll wrap right back near where we began.

Photographer

DAVID ENLOE
(HE, HIM)

Easygoing, grounded.

David crafts experiences rooted in presence and quality time with your people.

More about David

Field Notes

✎ Ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok

✎ Banana slug heaven

✎ Site of a hippie commune in the 60’s, with people living amidst the redwoods

✎ Improved paths, bridges, and a kid-built exploration area using reclaimed lumber

+Video

Some sessions lend themselves to a short film, and this is one of them. Motion and sound, paired with your photos. I make it easy to add it when you book.

Play video sound on
Close-up of folded knitted sweaters on rustic wood, showcasing texture and warmth.

Come Prepared

Parking is roadside, and there’s plenty. We’ll meet at the entry to Roy’s Redwoods, right next to the pin.

Open in Google Maps →

Forest sessions stay cool and shaded even on warm days, so layers are your friend. You can often lean into something cozier than you might expect – especially mornings in the redwoods. Chunky sweaters, knit hats, a flannel tied around the waist. Clothing with texture always photographs well where the light is soft and diffused.

Earth tones are a natural fit. Olive, cream, tan, and rust are a great base. Splashes of red or blue add contrast without fighting the setting. Avoid too much green unless you’re genuinely trying to blend in. Creams and whites reflect soft forest light up toward faces beautifully, often a great choice for moms.

Sturdy footwear matters. Roots, mud, and uneven ground are part of the deal.

Don’t forget your kids or your partner. Beyond the obvious, here’s what’s worth throwing in the car for this one.

  • Snacks
  • Wipes
  • Water
  • Coffee
A straw bag and towel on white sand beach, perfect for a relaxing day outdoors.

Location Specifics

Shade

Fully shaded by the canopy — stays cool even on warm days.

Terrain

Walk: flat paths and bridges — easiest redwood access in Marin

Restrooms

Portable toilet right next to parking.

Dog friendly?

Dogs welcome on leash — close to a busy road, so not a place to let them wander.

Parking

Roadside parking — can get busy on weekends but rarely a problem. Careful unloading kids and dogs near the road.

Make it a day

✓ A macchiato from The Pump. They make great espresso, but note they only offer a dark roast.


✓ Lunch on the lawn at Marin French Cheese Co. Picnic supplies, a pond with picnic tables, and rolling hills in all directions.


✓ Dinner at Mas Masa in Fairfax. Fast, delicious, easy for families. Salads are not to be overlooked.

Check Availability

Questions. Answered

These experiences are built around real conditions — tides, light, flower blooms, coastal weather. A little fog or wind is often part of what makes them feel alive. Unless your experience includes Sunshine Insurance, we’re going to lean into what Mother Earth sends our way.

If conditions look truly unworkable or unsafe — typically a rain forecast of 30% or greater, or any weather warning — I’ll cancel and issue a full refund so you can book another date.

Depending on my availability and the realities of that particular experience, a reschedule may be offered.

If you need to move your session to a new date, a rebooking fee of 20% of the total session fee applies. Any payments already made can be credited toward an available session within six months of the original date.

If you cancel without rescheduling, payments already made are non-refundable.

If illness or something unexpected comes up, get in touch. I’ll always aim to handle things fairly and thoughtfully.

Each experience is thoughtfully paired with the medium, so check the top of the page to find out which one applies here.

Film is slower and more intentional. I take fewer frames and commit to the moment. The results tend to have a softer, more timeless look, with natural grain and texture. You may see a frame that’s slightly soft or imperfect in a way that feels human. That character is part of what people love about film.

Digital gives me the freedom to shoot a lot. That means I can work quickly with moving kids, handle low light, and deliver sharp photos in a wide range of conditions. It also gives me the luxury of finding the best split-second moment during editing.

If you want clean, sharp, and technically consistent, digital is the better fit. If you want something tactile, nostalgic, and emotionally textured, film is the one.

Photos for digital sessions are delivered within 4 weeks. If you purchase Rush Delivery, they are delivered within 7 days (sometimes less, ask for current availability).

Please allow up to 8 weeks for the delivery of videos and analog film photos.

Not every experience includes Sunshine Insurance — check The Basics section at the top of the page to see if it’s part of yours.

Typically, I don’t reschedule for fog or overcast — coastal weather is part of the experience. Sunshine Insurance changes that. If your session includes it, you can reschedule up to twice at no additional cost if conditions aren’t cooperating.

You pick your date through me — that’s the only booking you make. Before it’s locked, I confirm the date works on the guiding side, then send everything you need to finish up. One point of contact; I handle the coordination behind the scenes.

No — the experience is led by an expert local guide who knows this terrain, and I’m there as your photographer. Two skill sets in one morning: their read on the place, my eye for the light.

Let’s pick a date

A Pause in the Redwoods is available mid-morning and afternoons, mostly on weekdays but with last-minute weekend openings as well.

Ready? Choose a date below and you’ll receive a booking file by email — agreement and invoice together. Your spot is confirmed once the retainer is paid.

***Selected dates are held for 24 hours pending completion of the booking file.

Deliverables

  • Session Length: 45 min
  • 30+ digital images
  • (or) 20+ film scans
  • Immediate family + 2 extended members included
  • Print release
  • Shareable online gallery available for 30 days
  • Cost: $675
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