The Thomas Family - in the Untamed Beaches of Carova

One of the most unique places to photograph families on the Outer Banks isn't reached by pavement at all. The Thomas family invited me to meet them at their vacation home along the Carova 4x4 beaches, where getting there is always part of the adventure.

I'll admit it... the drive north is usually a bit of a white-knuckle experience for me. Even after making the trip many times, there's always that little voice in the back of my head wondering if today will be the day I discover just how soft the sand really is. Fortunately, once I arrive, all of that disappears. The drive home is always much more relaxing, and spending the evening photographing families in one of the most untouched parts of the Outer Banks makes every mile worthwhile.

The Thomas family brought together three generations for their vacation in Carova. We photographed the entire family, individual families, grandparents with their grandchildren, siblings, cousins, and plenty of combinations in between. One of the things I enjoyed most was how naturally everyone interacted. There were smiles everywhere, lots of laughter, and you could tell everyone was simply enjoying being together.

The dunes along the Carova beaches create a completely different look from many other locations on the Outer Banks. With sea oats stretching across the landscape and very little development nearby, the scenery feels wild, peaceful, and timeless. It's one of the few places where you can photograph a family and feel like you're miles away from everything else.

As the evening continued, we moved between the dunes and the shoreline, giving the family a wonderful variety of portraits while taking advantage of the soft magic hour light. Those final moments before sunset always create some of my favorite images, especially when everyone has relaxed and forgotten there's even a camera nearby.

If you're planning a vacation in Carova, Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, or Nags Head, I'd love to help preserve your family's time together on the Outer Banks. Whether your beach house is at the end of a paved road or deep into the 4x4 beaches, the memories are always worth the journey.