A Family Session at Playa Prieta, Near Las Catalinas
A Family Session on the Guanacaste Coast
Playa Prieta sits just south of Las Catalinas on the Guanacaste coast — a quiet beach that most people drive past without stopping. This family had a connection to both spots, so it was an easy choice for where to do their session.
It was a hot afternoon. Bright and flat light for most of the session, which meant we spent a good part of it just letting the kids do their thing. A boy, six, and a girl, nine — both with a lot of energy and zero interest in standing still for photographs. That actually worked in our favor. The images that came out of that part of the session show how this family actually is together, not how they look when someone tells them to smile.
Then the sun dropped. For about 15 minutes the light went from harsh to incredible — soft, warm, bouncing off the water and the rocks in every direction. We made the most of it. That window closes fast on the Guanacaste coast — you get maybe 10 or 15 minutes of that light before it’s gone. But when you’re in it, the photographs almost take themselves.
Playa Prieta is one of those spots that rewards the people who know to go there. If you’re planning a portrait session in Costa Rica and want something that feels off the beaten path — not a crowded beach, not a resort backdrop — it’s worth considering.
Most of my portrait work is based out of Tamarindo, but I photograph families and couples all along the Guanacaste coast. If you’re visiting the area and want to document your trip with a session, get in touch and we’ll find the right spot.
