Serving vacationing families throughout Fort Myers, Sanibel & Captiva
BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED.
vacation memories.
Planning family photos while on vacation can feel overwhelming.
That's why I'll guide you through every step from choosing a location and coordinating outfits to helping everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera.
By the time your session arrives, all that's left to do is enjoy an evening together on the beach while I document the moments you'll want to remember most.
begin your experience
The way your child reaches for your hand.
The wind in your hair at sunset.
The laughter that only exists in this exact season of your life.
The Family Photos You'll Be Glad You Took
welcome to sara del monaco photography
VACATIONING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?
A sunset beach session is one of the most meaningful ways to preserve this season together.
Whether you're visiting Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, or Captiva, I’ll guide you through a relaxed experience that feels effortless, connected, and true to your family.
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sunset is past their bedtime. Now what?
It's one of the questions I'm asked most often, especially from parents of toddlers.
As parents, we've all been conditioned to protect nap schedules and bedtimes like our lives depend on it.
The funny thing is that beach sessions rarely feel like photo sessions to children.
They're hunting for shells, watching for dolphins, splashing in the waves, and turning an evening at the beach into an adventure. Most children don't even realize they're having their photographs taken.
In seven years of photographing families, I've yet to have a child decide they were done after fifteen minutes because they were having too much fun.
And if all that beach running happens to make bedtime a little easier later that night, consider it a complimentary bonus.
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naples, florida
allie
During the session, she went above and beyond anything we could have imagined to engage our boys. She gave them the time and space they needed to warm up and never made us feel rushed or stressed. She even got in the water and splashed around with them to capture the sweetest, most genuine smiles. It all felt natural, fun, and completely child-centered.
“
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
MY KIDS NEVER COOPERATE FOR PHOTOS.
Perfect.
Most parents who reach out to me tell me some version of the same thing:
"My son won't sit still."
"My daughter is shy."
"My kids are wild."
The good news? Children don't need to sit still, smile on command, or perform for beautiful photographs.
My sessions are built around movement, connection, play, and genuine interaction so your family can simply enjoy being together.
Some of my favorite images happen in the in-between moments.
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For people who believe love is in the everyday moments, not just the milestones
what's included?
Because beautiful photographs start long before we ever step onto the beach.
✓ Personalized location recommendations based on your family, vacation plans, and the look you love most
✓ Wardrobe guidance to help everyone coordinate beautifully without feeling overly "matchy"
✓ A relaxed, gently guided session designed around genuine connection rather than stiff posing
✓ Patience for little ones, flexibility when needed, and an experience that never feels rushed
✓ A proofing gallery where you'll select only the images you truly love
✓ Professional retouching on every final image
✓ Guidance every step of the way so you never have to wonder what comes next
My goal isn't simply to deliver beautiful photographs.
It's to make the entire experience feel effortless from the moment you inquire until your images are hanging on the walls of your home.
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this experience is for you if you value...
Images that feel as meaningful years from now as they do today
CONNECTION
OVER POSED PERFECTION
AN EXPERIENCE THAT FEELS EASY AND NATURAL
PHOTOGRAPHS THAT DESERVE A PLACE IN YOUR HOME
EXPLORE THE EXPERIENCE
sanibel, florida
steve + kourtney
It was clear she genuinely enjoyed being part of our day, and that energy brought out the best in us, especially during our sunset photos.
“
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Documenting who they are right now before the next chapter begins.
seniors
The moments that become part of your family's story.
families
For engagements, anniversaries, and the quiet moments in between.
couples
Celebrating the anticipation before everything changes.
maternity
EVERY SEASON DESERVES TO BE REMEMBERED
I believe we meet many versions of the people we love throughout our lives.
The toddler who insists on wearing rain boots to the beach.
The little boy with the missing front tooth.
The teenager who suddenly looks more grown up than you remember.
I'm sara
Some chapters are easier to say goodbye to than others.
That's why photography matters to me.
Not because life needs to look perfect, but because some seasons pass so quickly that we don't realize how much we'll miss them until they're gone.
For me, the best part of a session happens when everyone forgets I'm there.
The laughter between siblings.
The way your child reaches for your hand without thinking.
The look that passes between parents who have built a life together.
Those are the moments that feel real.
When I'm not behind the camera, you'll usually find me spending time with my husband and children, planning our next family adventure, baking something in the kitchen, curled up with a good book, or rewatching a favorite movie for the hundredth time with a cup of coffee in hand.
After seven years of photographing families along the beaches of Southwest Florida, there's one thing I'm still hoping to capture every time I pick up my camera:
I still hope to capture the image that makes a mother stop scrolling and say,
"That's my child."
Not because of a perfect smile or a perfect pose, but because it captures the very thing she loves most about them.
If you trust me with your family's memories, I'll care for them the same way I would my own.
Katie
"She made us feel relaxed and at ease and the photos show it."
The toddler who still wants to hold your hand.
The little voice that mispronounces certain words.
The way everyone fits together right now.
These seasons never last as long as we think they will.
Let's preserve this one beautifully.
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