This summer, several families I know were getting ready to leave the Bay Area. When this family asked me to photograph their last days in San Francisco, we started at Bernal Hill — one of the places they had spent the most time.

I tend to photograph families in places that are already part of their lives, and Bernal Hill was one of those places for them.

On the Hill

Their son was really into the kite — we spent a good stretch of time flying it in the typical San Francisco wind, with the city spread out behind them. They all took turns on the tree swing too. They lived in the neighborhood, and Bernal Hill had been part of their everyday life. You could feel that in the session — this wasn’t just a location, it was a place they were saying goodbye to.

He also spent part of the afternoon photographing his parents with his own camera.

Back at Home

After the hill, we went back to their house. They read books, tended to the blueberry plant on the back porch, played games, drew with sidewalk chalk. Grandma joined later, and we were able to photograph a few generations together before the move.

It felt like a regular afternoon for them — which is exactly what they wanted to remember.