ENCINITAS, Calif. - eTradeWire -- ENCINITAS, Calif., Oct. 20, 2026 — An Encinitas family photographer has published free online guides to family photos at San Diego County beaches and a lagoon reserve — verified the way locals do: in person. Wade Mortenson of Wade Mortenson Photography counted the Swami's Beach staircase himself (145 steps) and its blufftop parking lot (44 spaces, two accessible).

The guides cover Swami's Beach, Moonlight Beach, Cardiff State Beach, San Elijo State Beach, Terramar Beach, Scripps Pier at La Jolla Shores, and San Elijo Lagoon, a shaded boardwalk reserve five minutes from Cardiff Beach. They read like the briefing a friend would give: what parking costs, which beach allows a leashed dog in the photos, where the tide pools open at low tide, which beaches have no stairs, and when the lots close. The Scripps Pier guide adds engagement and proposal sessions, including Scrippshenge — the twice-a-year alignment when the setting sun lines up dead-center down the middle of the pier.

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"Every family asks me the same questions before a session — where do we park, can grandma handle the stairs, can the dog come," said Wade Mortenson. "So I put the answers for each beach in one place, with the real numbers. If the guide helps a family pick the right beach, it did its job — whether they book me or their cousin takes the photos."

The guides are free at wademortenson.com, collected on one hub page:

• Family Photos at Swami's Beach — wademortenson.com/Swami-s-Beach-Family-Photos
• Moonlight Beach Encinitas Family Photos — wademortenson.com/Moonlight-beach-encinitas-family-photos
• Family Photos at Cardiff State Beach — wademortenson.com/Cardiff-state-beach-family-photos
• Family Photos at San Elijo State Beach — wademortenson.com/San-Elijo-State-Beach-Family-Photos
• Family Photos at San Elijo Lagoon — wademortenson.com/San-elijo-lagoon-family-photos
• Family Photos at Terramar Beach — wademortenson.com/Terramar-beach-carlsbad-family-photos
• Family and Engagement Photos at Scripps Pier — wademortenson.com/Scripps-pier-la-jolla-shores-family-photos

Mortenson plans to extend the series across his most-photographed locations, from Oceanside Pier to Sunset Cliffs. Sessions at every location can be booked online or by phone at (760) 498-6233.

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About Wade Mortenson Photography
Wade Mortenson Photography is a family portrait and fine   art photography business in  Encinitas, California. Wade Mortenson photographs families at beaches across San Diego County and exhibits limited-edition coastal seascapes at the Off Track Gallery in Encinitas. Every one of the  business's 43 Google reviews is five stars.