Laguna Beach Graduation Photos: Peyton's Cap & Gown Session by the Sea

Celebrating a trailblazing Crean Lutheran grad with ocean views, family moments, and big dreams for ASU.

Graduation is such a special milestone—and celebrating it with a photo session by the ocean makes it even more memorable! As a Laguna Beach senior photographer, I love when grads choose to combine meaningful props with a stunning SoCal backdrop. Peyton's session was a perfect example of that.

Peyton recently graduated from Crean Lutheran High School, where she was a proud member of the first-ever girls flag football team—a historic new sport in high school athletics! She not only played but lettered in the sport, which she proudly celebrated by bringing her letterman jacket to her session.

We met through a personal connection—our families crossed paths when my youngest son attended the same private school as Peyton’s little brother. So it felt especially meaningful to document this moment for their family.

To capture that true graduation feeling, Peyton wore a navy blue cap and gown—one of the many colors and sizes I keep on hand for my senior clients since schools usually don’t distribute theirs until just days before graduation. This simple offering makes planning and styling sessions so much easier, especially when grads want their photos ready ahead of time.

We chose Laguna Beach for her session, taking full advantage of golden hour light and wide-open ocean views. The combination of coastal breezes, cliffside backdrops, and soft sand gave us the perfect setting to capture Peyton’s excitement as she prepares to head off to Arizona State University in the fall.

As a final touch, we included a few sweet family shots—her parents and little brother joined for a few frames. It’s always a privilege to include the people who’ve been part of the journey.