SALT LAKE CITY — Summer is already sweet, but when you add kids or grandkids into the mix, the season becomes downright magical. Photographer Kayla Trujillo spends her days behind the camera capturing that magic for families, and she’s the first to remind us that the best photos aren’t always the polished ones. They’re the ones that feel like summer.
Below, we walk through each of Trujillo’s insights—paired with her own words—to help you document the season in a way that feels real, joyful and lasting.
Photograph the messy moments
Trujillo is the first to admit that summer with kids is rarely tidy. But that’s exactly why the photos matter.
“For some reason for me, like, summer feels messy,” she said. “Like, my kids play in the dirt … my daughter has, like, wet hair all the time, and then watermelon or popsicles.” She emphasized that these imperfect moments are the ones that bring her the most joy when she looks back.
Those sticky faces, muddy toes and wild hair tell the real story of childhood.
“I want to remember that because that is who she is, and that is what summer is, she said.”
Don’t skip the traditions
Even if you repeat the same activities every year, Trujillo says those rituals deserve a spot in your camera roll.
“There's richness in that, and you can see the difference,” she said, “you can see your kids age over the years if you do the same picture every year.” Whether it’s a Fourth of July snapshot, a yearly Bear Lake trip or a simple backyard barbecue, those repeated images become a timeline of growth.
And if your family resists? “Make everyone stand there, even if they're grumpy, and do it,” she said.” It’s one minute of effort for years of memories.
Focus on small details
Capture the details — even for big kids
We tend to obsess over baby details—tiny toes, wispy hair, button noses—but Trujillo says older kids deserve the same attention.
“My son's freckles get really dark in the summer… or like right now he just got braces,” she said, “and I wanna remember that.” These small features mark a moment in time, and they disappear faster than we think.
Even the environment matters. “There's nothing that makes me happier than when I pull in my driveway and there's bikes everywhere and there's chalk,” she said. Those everyday scenes are part of the story too.
Create a photo bucket list
Start a summer photo bucket list
This year, Trujillo’s family is trying something new—and it’s as charming as it is intentional.
“We just hung one [a brown paper roll] on the wall… everything that we do,” she said, “we're gonna take a picture, and we're gonna pin it up there.” The idea is simple: each summer activity earns a photo, and each photo gets added to the wall.
Her kids are already invested. “They are like, ‘Okay, this week let's do our bike ride, and let's do s'mores outside,'” she said. The visual scrapbook becomes both a motivator and a memory keeper.
Print the photos you take
Digital photos are great, but Trujillo believes printed ones do something special for families.
“The more pictures your kids see of themselves as a family, the more they feel part of your family,” she said. Whether it’s a photo book, a wall display or a simple corkboard, seeing those images daily reinforces connection.
And if you’ve ever flipped through a summer album, you know the feeling — warmth, nostalgia, pride. “It makes me so happy… scrolling back and hopefully printing and seeing back as well,” she said.
Where to find Trujillo’s work
If you’re inspired to book a session, Trujillo keeps her schedule updated online.
“You can follow me on Instagram… or my website is trulyphotographyut.com,” she said.
Just don’t wait too long — she’s already booking fall sessions.
Summer moves fast. Kids grow faster. And as Trujillo reminds us, the messy, ordinary, joy‑filled moments are the ones we’ll want to remember. So grab your camera — or your phone — and start capturing the magic while it’s here.
This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.
