San Diego Pride

Photographing San Diego Pride: A Day Full of Joy

This weekend I had the opportunity to photograph the San Diego Pride Parade, and it's an experience I'll remember for a long time.

My wife serves as the Vice President of DEIBA for the Junior League of San Diego, and Pride is one of the events the organization participates in each year. This was her second year marching, but my first year actually sticking around to experience it.

Usually, I drop my wife off, find somewhere else to spend the morning, and come back once the parade is over. Parking around Pride isn't exactly easy, and that's just become our routine.

This year, though, I wanted something different.

I'd seen photos from past Pride celebrations and was drawn to them every time. The energy, the fashion, the creativity, and the emotion all felt like something worth documenting. As a photographer, I've always been interested in telling stories that don't always get enough attention. I love creating images that help people feel seen, and I believe photography has the power to preserve moments that matter.

Finding parking almost changed my mind. I circled the neighborhood for nearly twenty minutes before finally finding a spot just a short walk from where I'd dropped my wife and daughter off. It honestly felt like one of those little moments where everything lined up the way it was supposed to.

We still had almost two hours before the parade began, so I grabbed my camera and started walking.

That ended up being my favorite part of the day.

People were arriving from every direction, and there was so much personality everywhere I looked. Incredible outfits. Thoughtfully crafted costumes. Bold colors. Creative makeup. Handmade accessories. Every person had a story, and many of them had spent weeks or even months putting together the look they wore that day.

What surprised me most wasn't how willing people were to be photographed—it was how excited they were. Almost every time I asked someone if I could make their portrait, the answer came with a huge smile. There was a sense of openness that made photographing complete strangers feel effortless.

As I edited these images later, I realized that what stood out wasn't just the visual creativity.

It was the emotion.

Joy.

Love.

Pride.

Peace.

Confidence.

Connection.

Those are the moments I found myself saving over and over again.

I've always believed some of the best photography happens when people feel comfortable enough to simply be themselves. That's exactly what I witnessed throughout the day.

Looking back through this gallery, it's honestly difficult for me to understand how anyone could look at a community expressing this much happiness, acceptance, and love and respond with hate.

I walked away with far more than a collection of photographs. I left with a greater appreciation for the people I met, the stories I briefly became a part of, and the reminder that photography isn't just about documenting what people look like.

Sometimes it's about showing people exactly as they are.

And that feels like work worth doing.

I hope you enjoy these photographs as much as I enjoyed making them.