I moved to Seattle nearly two years ago, and I have to say I've fallen in love with this place.

The sheer variety of gorgeous, photo-shoot-worthy locations in the city alone is staggering. Want an urban feel for your engagement session? There's a spot for that. A windswept beach vibe for a family portrait session? There's a spot for that. How about a perfectly manicured garden in full bloom for a sophisticated senior photography session? There's a spot for that, too.

For this session, I wanted a backdrop that would perfectly complement the vintage feel of this darling pinafore dress, and I think this location was spot on.

Bonus: what child doesn't love throwing pebbles into water or climbing rocks and balancing on giant pieces of driftwood?

The essence of childhood truly comes out in those pure, unguarded moments when a child just lets loose her imagination and plays.

During this portrait session, little Alice looked for pirate ships on the horizon and tossed pebbles into the waves to count their ripples. She ran up and down the small stretch of beach, chasing imaginary dragons up the rocky "mountains" and showing off her amazing twirling skills.

I may not be able to literally freeze her in time and keep her small forever, but she'll always have these photos to look back on and remember the innocent joy of childhood.