Inspired

A Pause in the Redwoods

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.

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.

📆 Often Available: mornings, weekends (except summer)

The Basics

  • Roy’s Redwoods Preserve, San Geronimo Valley (Marin County, CA)
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Effort: Easy
  • Medium: Digital Photo
  • Focus: Quiet portraits in good light
  • Best For: Family, Maternity, Newborn, Couples, Seniors
  • Cost: $675
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.

The Gallery

  • 45 minute session
  • 25+ hand-edited images
  • Professional, shareable gallery
  • 20% off prints

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

Your photographer

DAVID ENLOE (HE, HIM)

Easygoing, grounded.

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

More about David

Timeline

00:00 – 00:15

Walk & talk

Meet roadside near the preserve entrance, then we’ll chat and snap some wide, environmental shots as we move through the space.

Mom holds toddler and looks at dad as they walk a wooden path in morning light beneath towering redwoods.

00:15 – 00:30

Portraits

A focus on individual & paired portraits in great light.

00:30 – 00:45

Play

If you’ve got kids along, we’ll follow them as they explore a new space. Otherwise, this is our chance to get creative!

Family with dog and toddler walk down road, framed by old fence

+ 30 minutes

Rolling hills

An optional add-on with a totally different feel. We stroll through a open space & around a duck pond, surrounded by classic Marin rolling hills.

Location Specifics

Best light

Late mornings or a couple hours before sunset.

Terrain

Level paths & bridges. There’s nowhere with easier access to redwoods.

Weather

Redwood grow where it’s often foggy & chilly. Dress warm and embrace the ethereal feel.

Restrooms

Portable toilet right next to parking.

Dog friendly?

Dogs are welcome on leash. We are close to a busy road, so this is not a place to let them wander.

Kids Activities

If you want to arrive early or stay late, there’s a dedicated area for kids to build forts from fallen limbs, as well as an “adventure trail.”

Check Availability

Questions. Answered

Yes. This is one of the easiest redwood experiences in Marin: flat trails, quick access, and minimal walking required.

Light fog or drizzle can be beautiful in the redwoods. If conditions become too wet or unsafe (high winds or falling-branch risk), we’ll reschedule.

Layers and comfortable shoes – the grove stays cool and shaded, even on warm days. This really isn’t a “hike,” so you can lean into more cozy sweaters and accessories. Clothing with texture, like chunky sweaters or a knit hat, always photograph well.

Earth tones and muted colors are a great base: olive, cream, tan, rust. Splashes of red or blue add contrast. Avoid too much green unless you’re trying to look “one with the trees.”

Creams and whites are great for reflecting light to illuminate faces. This is often a good choice for moms!

Inspiration Sessions thoughtfully pair the location with the medium, so check the top of the page to find out whether this session is captured on film or digital.

Film is slower and more intentional, and the end result is less about technical perfection and more about feeling. I take fewer frames and commit to the moment. The photographs tend to have a softer, more timeless look, often with natural grain and texture. You may see a few frames that are slightly soft or imperfect in a way that feels human. That character is part of what people love about film.

Digital photography gives me the freedom to take a lot of images. 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 selecting the “best” split-second moments during editing.

If you want the cleanest, sharpest, most technically consistent images, digital is the better fit. If you want something more tactile, nostalgic, and emotionally textured, film is magic.

Parking is roadside. While it can get busy on weekends, I’ve never had any trouble finding a spot. Just be careful unloading kids and dogs next to the road.

Photos for most 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 6 weeks for delivery of videos and analog film photos.

Make it a day

Turn this session into the start or end of a memorable outing with these nearby suggestions.

✓

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.

Family with teenage brother and sister walk beneath redwoods and dramatic shafts of sunset light.

Let’s pick a date!

Battery to Beach sessions are offered on select evenings and timed carefully around sunset light.

After choosing your date, you’ll receive a booking file (agreement + invoice) by email. Your reservation is confirmed once the 50% retainer is paid.

Selected dates are held for 24 hours pending completion.

Show Available Dates 🗓️