(beta) Tidepooling at Duxbury Reef

Inspiration Series • Beach • Marin

Daughter puts her hand in the water of a tidepool.
Tidepooling in San Francisco
Cloudy day film vibes
The beautiful colors of film
  • Little girl putting hands in tidepool with mussels
    Tidepooling in San Francisco
  • 35mm film vibes
  • The beautiful tones of color film

This is a “beta” session

A new experience I’m excited about, but have yet to photograph. The mood board below may include images of my family, past work, and a few references that show the space or capture the vibe we’re going for.

I’ve done the homework, but we’ll need to stay flexible and embrace some surprises. It’s discounted accordingly.

A rare kind of Bay Area magic – a minus tide that reveals an entire hidden world.

We’ll follow the receding ocean out onto the reef, move slowly, and photograph your family in that in-between space where sea meets land and everything feels newly discovered.

This session is about the experience of learning and growing together as a family, and making nostalgic, timeless images to remember it.

The Basics

  • Location: Duxbury Reef, Agate Beach, Bolinas
  • Duration: 120 min
  • Effort: 5 – Moderate
  • Suggested Medium: Film
  • Best For: Family
  • Logistics: Highly Condition Dependent, Seasonal
  • Cost: $1,475 $975 (beta)
Check Availability

The Session

An immersive session celebrating our relationship to the coast.

We’ll keep a close awareness of the conditions, search for sea stars and anemones, and capture it all on warm, grainy analog film.

On sunny days, think colorful sea creatures, hands dipping into tidepools, and kids splashing in the shallows. If the fog rolls in, we’ll bundle up for a quieter, more contemplative morning together.

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

✎ Do your homework with Fylling’s Illustrated Guide to Pacific Coast Tide Pools

✎ Duxbury Reef is a State Marine Conservation Area — look closely, step carefully, and leave everything exactly as you found it

✎ Fun place for kids to bring their own camera

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

Come Prepared

Start with layers you can shed. Beach sessions often begin cool and end with everyone chasing kids across the sand in their base layer. Knits, linen, and denim all photograph beautifully here. Flowing accessories like scarves or shawls add movement, especially in the wind.

Color depends on the specific beach, but you generally want tones that stand out from the sand rather than blend into it. Soft whites and creams are a reliable base, especially for moms. Ground everyone else in warm neutrals and use one or two deeper tones to anchor the group. Blues and teals tend to photograph especially well near water. Avoid light grey, which can disappear depending on the light.

Most families end up barefoot by the end. Bring sandals for the walk back and a change of socks. Kids will get wet. Plan for it.

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

Water shoes
Towels
Snacks
Binoculars
Tide guide
Kids’ camera (optional)

A straw bag and towel on white sand beach, perfect for a relaxing day outdoors.

Location Specifics

Terrain

Short steep approach to the beach — wet, slippery shale and reef in the pools.

Restrooms

Restrooms at Agate Beach parking lot.

Dog friendly?

Technically allowed on the beach but should stay out of the intertidal zones.

Tides

Timed to a negative low tide — session dates are rare and set accordingly.

Orange sun watercolor art background
Seasonal notes

Only offered when schedule aligns with a rare negative low tide.

Make it a day

✓ Gospel Flat Farm Stand on the way into Bolinas. The best farm stand you’ve never been to. Produce grown on the property, honor system (actually), fair prices. Build a picnic!


✓ For those who need all day adventure, the hike to Alomere Falls is nearby.


✓ Coast Cafe Kiosk for coffee, BoVida for smoothies & bowls.

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.

Let’s pick a date

Tidepooling sessions are offered on rare negative low tides — dates are set well in advance.

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: 120 min
  • 75+ digital images
  • (or) 40+ film scans
  • Immediate family + 2 extended members included
  • Print release
  • Shareable online gallery available for 30 days
  • Cost: $1,475 $975 (beta)
Show Available Dates

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