What is the Best Time of Day for an Outdoor Family Photoshoot? | Newport Beach OC Family Photographer

Light and color are my obsession. Like overboard so. I place people in crazy particular angles, with a super fine line of where I want my light source to be. I knit pick over my edits until they match exactly what I’m envisioning. I am not happy delivering anything less than my absolute best. And that is why I do not schedule my sessions for anytime other than sunset. Yes, I know that sometimes it’s a bit past kids bedtimes. Yes I know that on a Sunday it would be easier to just get it all done with in the morning and have the rest of your day to relax. However, there is truly nothing like the light that comes at the end of the day. The colors and tones unmatched to anything else. And so being the obsessive I am, I want your pictures to carry that sense of magic. For your story to be told in a way that shows the beauty of what it really is.

Beach light is the hardest of any to shoot in. There are no trees or buildings to filter the harsh sun, and unless there are a large amount of clouds in the sky “no mercy” is what I often feel it yell out to me. ;-) I have learned to find its particular flow though around that last hour, making its powerful rays work to my advantage. I am also learning to let go of total perfection though, and to remember that perfect moments always trump a perfect frame. Still though, who doesn’t want that beach glow to work for them—meaning plan that sunset trip to the sand. :)

This sweetest ever family has just moved to Orange County from New Jersey, and my gosh I loved every minute with them. So much love and joy between them, they made the entire process so fun and easy for me. I cannot wait to watch them grow into a family of five as they soon welcome their baby girl. Also, mom’s dress!!! Yellow has been by far my favorite color this year and I just love the way she used this one for her maternity photos. The way it pops against the beach backdrop is my favorite. <3

Surfs Up | Newport Beach Orange County Family Photographer

I often feel my heart hurt as I realize all the years that have swept us by. The babies, toddlers, preschoolers my kids no longer are. I feel like I just moved to Orange County yesterday, hitting up every park and beach within a ten mile radius those first few years. Somehow though they grew and our days now mostly consist of school and all those activities after. I sometimes wish I could go back to those slow adventure filled times, but I’m also learning that today has its own fresh beauty—new memories and moments that are to be had.

Last weekend they took their boards into the ocean for the first time, and watching the joy and excitement on their faces was everything to me. Something else that means the world to me though is that I was able to capture it. To freeze today, a day I may forget otherwise, or remember only hazy. Every photo doesn’t haven’t to be professional either. I only get my big camera out on them a handful of times a year really. But that little phone that’s most always on me has the most amazing way of also freezing our moments. Or replaying them as videos happen to be my personal favorite. Still though, that big camera can do something that my phone just isn’t capable of, and that is really capturing what I saw with my heart. Golden beauty of my life with them.

When Is the Best Time to Take Your Family Photos? | OC Newport Beach Photographer

I get asked sometimes when is the best time to have family photos taken. And I totally get what they mean by the question. Is the warm summer best when you can really play in the waves? Or the still warm but less crowded fall to double up with the Christmas card? Or maybe bearing the crispness of the winter with its low tides and stunning skies. Or is Spring the ideal with its still empty beaches but warmer temps and golden light? All seasons have their pluses and minuses. All seasons are honestly unpredictable weather as well. Honestly though my answer for the best time is simply “right now.” So often I have women tell me their going to book me when they loose more weight, and I get that. I really do. Your kids, though, they don’t care about a few extra pounds, and they won’t later on when their looking back at memories of their beautiful mom. Others tell me when their schedules slow down, but let’s be a bit of realist—its most likely not slowing down till your kids move out someday.

And so my first answer for the best time is simply now. When it is still today. When your family is just as it is, perfectly imperfect. With all the love and chaos that means life with kids. Because today comes and goes before we blink, and pictures are the most tangible memory we will have to look back on.

The “recommended” time to have maternity photos is between 30-35 weeks. This mom was only 17 weeks, but her husband’s job has all kinds of unpredictable hours and if they waited until the “right” time the chances were slim they could make it happen. He happened to have a random couple of days off and we set up this shoot in less than a week’s time. We made it happen and they now have these sweet memories of their growing family together.

No More Stiff Smiles | Newport Beach Orange County Family Photographer

When I first started in photography I did a lot of the more traditional type sessions, as it just seemed like that is what everyone wanted. You know, those twenty different backdrops and compositions, but all with the same fake smiles at the camera for each and every one. But in the middle of it I started sneaking in the more informal shots. The ones where smiles became real because they were produced by true joyful moments.

It didn’t take me long to realize this is where my photography heart found its favorite niche. Slowly I would incorporate more and more of this type of shooting into each session. As for blogging and social media I showed nothing traditional at all to put the idea of candid lifestyle into all my future family’s minds. And you know what, I found myself truly enjoying my time photographing these families. Gone was the stresses of making sure everyone looked perfect, smiled perfect, placed their hand perfect. Now I could actually embrace the messy, and allow my creativity to lead our time.

I have found that true joy, true smiles, come when families are simply allowed to have fun. So now I fill our time with games and movement, with tickles and races. It may not be the photography for everyone and that is 100 percent ok! But it is the type of photography I have found to love, and who doesn’t want a job that they love right?

Where is the Best Place to Have Family Photos Taken? | Orange County Photographer

I will not deny the awesome beauty of our Orange County beaches. Families ask me to photograph them at it almost exclusively these days, and I have no complaints in this area whatsoever. :) That said, if you thinking of mixing up the beach scene, whether you’ve already done it before or perhaps you don’t particularly love the sound of getting wet and sandy, then I have a suggestions for you! And that is sometimes the best place to create memories is as simple as that familiar trail right by your home. 😍

This is a spot they have been to so many times, for walks or a stop to the playground close by. This oldest daughter even came here with her friends to take Prom pictures in the Spring. The thing I find so special about it is now they have these tangible memories to have for years and years to come, memories they can show their boys someday. And now whenever they walk this trail it will mean just a little bit more to them too.

When Families Come Back Again | Newport Beach Orange County Family Photographer

Being a photographer in Newport Beach means a large amount of families who I shoot are here on vacation. We have Disney land, an Ocean, and an average mid 70 degree life—it’s not a shabby beach town by no means. But not everyone I shoot comes here annually, and often after our session I do not see them again. However, there are those who do make it a yearly stop, whether to see family close by or just a favorite place to get away from either the cold or heat, depending on their radius. :) And sometime those annual people ask me to photograph them again. As a photographer I can tell you there is absolutely no greater compliment than this. I also feel allll the emotions about it each time. I am able to watch their family grow, capturing these beautiful milestones along the way.

These three are no exceptions either. I first met them last summer at one of my favorite sessions of the year. This one was only better as I felt like we were already long time friends. And these kids, my goodness, are gold. They love their momma deeply and it shows through every last moment.

100 Days Without Sweets | Orange County Family Photographer

Doing a little interruption here of my usual talks of beach and family and photography with a little mom brag about my own two kids. But the photos were taken right here in Newport Beach and the sunset was amazing, and we all went right into that icy cold ocean, and I lived on the wild side with no special gear to keep my camera dry—so it still kind of counts I think. ;-) But you guys, my kids are officially 100 days in with no sweets, deserts, candy, or anything with excess sugar. 🍭 Kids are beasts, you guys!!! They’ve been through Easter egg hunts, birthday parties, camps, the list goes on and on. Sugar is hanging everywhere in front of them and they haven’t even flinched in their resolve. It started as a 30 day challenge, to purge ourselves from what I felt was becoming an unhealthy addiction. They jumped on the bandwagon full force and decided they would go to 100 with me as well. I told them this week I’ve decided to attempt a whole year but they definitely don’t have to join me. But they each instantly responded they were all in. So here’s to 265 more to go! 🙌 A few things I’ve noticed about them through this:
1. They eat a LOT! Without the incentive of desert at the end of a meal, they devour their plates until they are actually full.
2. They are very health conscience. Giving up sugar to replace it with health and strength into our bodies has led to so many questions of what other things are good and bad for them and they are 💯 about filling themselves with the good now. This has led to such amazing meals together as a family, with my kids sampling every last dish.
3. They demolish fruit. I seriously cannot keep my house filled with enough of it now. Those natural sugars taste like heaven now. ☺️ I don’t think I could have ever made it this far myself without them. They’ve made me realize we are capable of so much more than we allow ourselves to believe sometimes. I have never felt so great! And seriously, my kids aren’t anything extra special. I think we sometimes just don’t give these little humans enough credit as to what they are capable of. 💪

My husband has been wanting to dabble a bit into photography lately, so I showed him a few things and passed it off. I am forever so so grateful when he grabs these memories for me. It makes me realize all over again how important it is to really get in the frame with your kids, as time is oh too fleeting. How is my son so big all of a sudden anyways?? <3

Our Family Trip to Seattle | OC Photographer Vacations

How have I went this long without blogging any family beach sessions?? I’m always on top of that! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind summer over here with my kids going to a year long school and their vacation only lasting five weeks in between grades. You guys, I already have a 1st and 2nd grader and I’m a total emotional wreck about it—where did my babies go!? Before we hit the backpacks though we somehow jammed almost every last day of our time off with travel. Michigan and Alabama to visit all the relatives, Palm Springs to soak in the pool and palm trees, and our favorite new place EVER: Seattle.

My goodness I am in love with Washington. Like I want to move there tomorrow obsessed... Except I do tend to shrivel up in cold and rain so I would probably be moving back to Orange County come December. ;-) I honestly didn’t take too many photos on my big camera as I like to really be present with my family when we’re together like this. But I did have to take one evening to capture some of this amazing landscape. Rattlesnake lake was one of our favorite little spots there. So peaceful and serene, and huge plus with kids, right next to the parking lot. The spot with the mountain was actually just a random field where we pulled over on the side of the road and snapped a few photos! Luckily no one came running out telling us to get off their land. ;-)

Also random side note: at the same time we were vacationing in Seattle, Southern California was hit with two massive earthquakes, the second being a 7.1! It was far enough from our place that no damage was done, but even six hours away we’ve seen videos from friends of chandeliers swinging and water pouring out of pools. Even more crazy, the week we arrived back in Newport Beach, Seattle was hit with a large earthquake of its own! When we first moved to the West Coast we were terrified of the possibility and had our game plan all thought out, down to which of us would grab which kid if we needed to make a run for it. It’s like Mother Nature decided we would just be too much to deal with so planned accordingly. 🙃

Don't Skip the Maternity Photos | OC Newport Beach Family Photographer

I may or may not be guilty of saying this about every genre of family photography. I mean, what’s better than capturing people who love each other, right? Add one of our gorgeous Orange County landscapes to this mix and who am I to complain? BUT, maternity sessions have and will always hold a very special place to me. There is just something so unexplainable about this moment is our life as a new mom. This special place where it all began. Where we anxiously were awaiting this new life growing inside our own body. Worries, fears, hopes, joy—the beautiful unknown.

I know what it’s like to be pregnant, I had two babies of my own. We don’t always feel gorgeous and most days the thought of glamming up can easily be shot down with some sweat pants instead. ;-) But if there is one thing I will never regret having done is maternity photos with my first child. To this day I have a large canvas hanging in her room and she loves to mention how it is her inside of me. We often think we will remember exactly what it felt like, how we looked, the moments that happened. But life has this way of turning the past into fuzzy memories. It’s the beauty of photography though. It helps bring back some of those hazy scenes.

Such a gorgeous evening we had for this sun soaked maternity session last week! After what seemed like an endless eternity of SoCal’s “May gray/June gloom” it seems that those summer skies are finally gaining the upper hand! And I just love the way the colors complimented this momma’s blue dress too! The sweetest people you could meet, these two are going to be the best parents. I cannot wait to see them with their soon to be here little guy.

Live in Color | OC Newport Beach Family Photographer

My style of editing has most definitely evolved from when I first started photographing families four years ago. But since the very beginning one thing that has always drawn me in has been color. It’s why I will not let my skies blow out, even though it would make the editing process much easier. It’s why I love when families fill their outfits with dashes of colors, rather than all neutrals. I find myself pushing the vibrant line constantly and it makes me happy.

But, I’m not going to lie, sometimes while I scroll through my Instagram feed, my explore page, my favorite photographer muses, and see the way the edits are so vastly different from my own I start to feel like the oddball out. I sometimes tell myself I'm going to just start stripping my photos of color and take on the moody emotional look, or blow out the background into white glowy goodness and become a bright and airy girl. More than any other reason just to feel like I kind of belong. That I can join in their groups and feel that sense of community. But as many times as I say it, as many times as I try, I simply find myself somehow unable to do so. I love color, like an insane obsession with it, and I just can’t stop that right now.

The best part though: I may not be the “in” right now as far as the latest trends are going, but not everyone else is either. And time after time families tell me they chose me BECAUSE of my colors and light. And so I’ve learned that the greatest thing of photography is that art is subjective, and when you stay true to yourself you will find your people. :)

June Family Vacation | OC Laguna Beach Family Photographer

I’ve read all the info on SEO and google ratings, and with that the one thing I’ve always tried to stay on top of is blogging. But we went to visit allll the families for the past two weeks doing a triangle from Orange County to Alabama to Michigan and back again. It was so much fun, crazy relaxing, and all the memory lanes. But although we chilled it was busy chilling, visiting and adventuring, and everything photography went to the wayside—or should I say seaside. ;-) I had all these ideas that I was going to finish editing all my previous week’s sessions and blog a few posts. At the end of it I managed to barely keep up with my emails! But the break was so needed, and refreshed my mind that was reaching burn out. I now feel ready to bring on all the soaked summer family shoots!

Annnnd speaking of family, oh my heart I loved my time with this one! So much joy and love all tangled up between them. And in the middle of all this May gray/ June gloom Newport beach decided to give us a break and brought its A game sunset!

Who Wants to Mix Up the Beach Vibes??? | Orange County Family Photographer

Ok, I will start with saying I LOVE the beach. We moved to Orange County for those ocean waves and spent our first year almost no where else! I also love shooting at it, and it is where families generally always ask me to photograph them at. I have no complaints. ;-)

BUT as much as I love those Ocean blues, my eyes do enjoy changing up the scenery from time to time. I feel like my camera breathes out a small “thank you” with each fresh click. So when this family told me they wanted to go with a more rustic vibe for their session I definitely did a little happy dance inside. It was such a fun and relaxing time together and I didn’t lose my voice from shouting over the waves either! ;-)

Alsooooo, how could this post be complete without a huge mention of these outfits! I generally recommend for families to choose coordinating, over matching colors. But for momma and me dresses that are this adorable, I’ll make an exception. Mom’s outfit is from one of my all time favorite shops https://morninglavender.com/, a big online shop but lucky for us Souther Cali girls, located right here in Old Town Tustin! And baby’s adorable matching piece is from a local boutique I just heard of, https://twinsiesrock.com/collections/girls/products/aurora-maxi-skirt-mu

My Sessions Now Include a Picture Slide Show!! | Orange County Family Photographer

Hello all my old and new and forever beautiful families and couples! I am SO EXCITED as I just added video slideshows to all my sessions!!! Every time I pick up my camera I strive for my photos to not just be a pretty picture but to capture a piece of your real life story. And I feel like for the first time I am going to be able to really show that. I’ve also noticed in just this short time of playing with these how it is pushing me while shooting to reach deeper. To not worry so much about the single canvas but rather that entire life filled album.

This is your story, always worth capturing.

*If you are viewing on your phone flip horizontal. :)

Mom & Me in Newport Beach | Orange County Family Photographer

Mom and me sessions will forever ever ever have my heart! It’s probably mostly because I am a momma myself, and love my two kids so much it literally hurts sometimes. To capture the bond between a mother and her child, that sweet love and pure joy—it leaves my photographer heart with so much happiness.

This day was stuck in the middle of the infamous Southern Califfornia “May gray, June gloom,” but right as we met up the sun decided to peek out at the point where the sky meets the water and give us the most beautiful soft colors. Not to mention this mom’s dress creating its own gorgeous pop!! Vici dolls is one of my all time favorite shops for women’s dresses and you can quickly see why!

Also lucky for us was the day’s gloomy skies all early afternoon making for a beach almost entirely to ourselves! There was one other man taking some landscape photographers and that was about it—photo shoot winning! :) I do love summer beaches and the way you can jump right into the water, but I’ won’t lie, I’m going to mourn the fact when we have to start getting tricky with the angles to avoid the photo bombers. There is just something so liberating about being able to go wherever you want and capture the moment exactly where it is happening.

Enough about all that though, here is some sweet mom/daughter love for you:

Baby Makes Four | Newport Beach OC Family Photographer

The first time I photographed this Orange County family big brother was just turning one. I have no words to describe how much it means to me when families come back again, especially for such special milestones of their life together. I shoot so many people from out of state while vacationing here in Newport and I absolutely love it for sure! But there is something so very special when I get the chance to watch kids grow behind my lens.

Their fourth baby... I remember when I was going to have my second child-the thoughts of how I could possibly love him the same as my daughter. She was my whole world, my heart so big for her it literally hurt. What if I loved him just a little less? 
And then I saw his face for the first time and laughed at that ridiculous fear. 
I always think it’s the most miraculous thing about being a parent. The way our heart seems to only expand. 

Engagement Photos at Sunset | Newport Beach Orange County Family Photographer

These two are getting married in Paris this summer!! How crazy fun is that?! And how extra lucky for me that I was able to first capture their engagement photos on a perfect evening in Newport beach, with a sunset that left my photographer heart doing allll the happy dances! :) Their love for one another was just the sweetest thing ever to photograph too. And side note, after I said my goodbyes and was driving off I looked back to see them finishing the evening with an extra long kiss. <3

Two things that used to terrify me: shooting at the beach and photographing couples. They’ve now both become some of my very favorite things about photography because I chose to step outside my comfort zone. I’m a safe person by nature. I like to live in my circle and stay tightly there whenever possible. But as much as I fear that little, massive word called ‘failure’ I’m learning how much I will miss out on if I never leap. Challenging myself to accept the crazy truth that growth is not possible with falling first.

World's Happiest Baby | Newport Beach Orange County Family Photographer

Seriously, I can’t even with this face!! From the moment I met him to the time I said goodbye he rotated from chill to smiley and back again. I so badly wanted to take him home with me! And although it looks all sunny and pretty, it was in fact freezing and windy in Newport. We even had the entire beach to ourselves as everyone else in Orange County deemed it much too cold to go outside. ;-) This guy didn’t let it faze his happy little self though, and made all my photographer heart dreams come true. Annnnd we cannot finish without pausing to gush all over this little blue man suit and hat too! Seriously, how crazy good did he pull it all off?!

Family Photos in Spring Means So Much Green | Orange County Photographer

By far the main time I get asked to do photos somewhere other than the beach is in the fall. And I get it, you want your kids to look as close to age as possible when sending out those family Christmas cards. BUT, as much as the brown fields can lend their own rustic charm, there is just something so whimsical about that green. When decorating your home it is even said that, “Green also has a calming effect when used as a main color for decorating. It is believed to relieve stress by helping people relax.” Who doesn’t want your family photos to feel relaxed, right? :)

It took me four long years to finally accept our brown landscape as it’s own charm. And then all these crazy rains came to SoCal and dashed that all to pieces! I thought there was no where I loved shooting at more than the beach, but this spot gave me a run for its money. AND, it wasn’t as much the landscape as the ease of the entire time with this sweet family. There were no loud crashing waves making me shout out everything I wanted to say. There were also no crashing waves to make the kids want to do nothing but jump in and totally ignore their parents. ;-) We weren’t all shaking from the icy cold winds by the end, and big one for me, there was no else around, making it both comfortable and easy for all of us.

SO if your thinking of mixing up the beach vibes, especially in the springtime, this may be just the right idea for your next photoshoot!

When the Earth Becomes Your Mural | Newport Beach Orange County Family Photographer

If there is one thing I have learned living here in Orange County, it is that Newport Beach never has two skies the same. One day will be cloudless while the next will have so many clouds we cannot even see the sun. I have also learned the weathermen are actually weather guessers 90% of the time. ;-) They will tell us overcast and gray and then I show up to a breathtaking sky. Or they will declare pure sun and last minute a marine layer will blow in and take over the sand. I have found that more often than not I should just go with it, as when I first started I rescheduled some epic skies thinking they were going to be pouring rain!

I have also learned to embrace whatever the weather gods choose to give me, as really how can you go too wrong at the beach, right? Cloudless days create bright, glowing happy moments. Overcast days make for some pretty soft blues as your backdrop. It’s all part of SoCal nature and I love embracing all the varieties of its beach life.

With all that said though, there do seem to be these rare days when the clouds honestly feel like they are singing down all their good luck and happy vibes on me, turning the entire landscape into a real life mural. Raw colors just waiting to be captured and painted on the canvas of my editing software. ;-)

And lastly, how could I leave this whole color painting photography rant without pointing out the importance of your own outift choices as well. The pinks and blues this family chose just pop off the pictures in such a beautiful way here, adding that touch more beauty that really goes such a long ways. We all of course have our own styles and there is no “wrong” piece. BUT, imagining the same backdrop with all black and browns just wouldn’t be the same for me. So when going through your own photo session wardrobe ideas, remember to think about those beach colors, and the ways you yourself can add those pops of color and vibrance to your family’s canvas!

Why I Love Awake Babies Too | Orange County Newborn Photographer

I’ll start by being totally transparent here and admitting that sleeping newborns are in fact much more easy to photograph than awake ones. When they sleep you simply place them as you want them and snap away. You can bunch up their arms and legs, reposition the angle of their head, and move about grabbing different angles from the same position. Awake babies are a much different story. They get much more irritated with us, they make faces, and often become crossed eyed. They often move their head in positions not facing the good light and get upset before you have a chance to grab more than a couple snaps in one place. BUT regardless of all that, I still love those wide eyes. Yes, it is more work. Yes, you have to overshoot each scene. But yes, that eye contact and little expressions are everything!

It’s one of the main things I love so much about lifestyle newborn photography. Because we don’t have to spend hours getting them to fall into a deep slumber. We just go with what they give us, and capture all those real life moments that can’t be replaced.

This doll rotated between awake and catnapping, and omgoodness she gave me all the baby fever too!