Family, Heritage, and Little Piper at the Lake

This past weekend, Wyld Story had the joy of photographing family portraits at WetSet Village, a private water ski lake in the California desert that holds deep family heritage for Tucker’s sister, Ellie. For her, this place isn’t just a training ground for competitive skiing-it’s where countless memories were made growing up. Capturing her family here, alongside her husband and their six-month-old daughter Piper, felt like documenting legacy in the most meaningful way.

We had photographed Ellie’s maternity session in Maui last year, so being invited back to capture Piper’s first photos at six months old felt like a full-circle moment. Piper is in that fun stage of life where she’s super interactive, quick to smile, and so curious about everything around her. To make the shoot even more special, we got to hop in a boat and head out to the little island in the middle of the lake to get some epic views.

Of course, working with babies always means flexibility. The golden sunset light we love wasn’t an option, since it landed right at Piper’s bedtime. So instead, we shot earlier in the evening when the light was brighter, using a bounce and a quick pace to make the most of it. It was a team effort with Tucker behind the camera, Alyssa posing, and our other sister Katie helping make Piper laugh!

What made this shoot special wasn’t just shooting for family and capturing Piper at six months old- it was the story of her family and documenting the place she belongs to.

If you’re looking for a family photographer in San Clemente or an affordable wedding photographer in Southern California, shoot us a message! We’d love to capture your story!