Holiday Photos Begin | Irvine Family Photographer

Holiday sessions are now in full force, and I love it! Yes, there is less sleep going on, and one or two (or three or four) extra cups of coffee. BUT, I get to meet so many wonderful families, and this makes my tired heart so grateful! There are a million and one different photographers to choose from here in just Irvine, let alone all of Orange County, and I cannot say how much it means to me when a family chooses me capture their love. Like these four, who I got to spend yesterday evening with. My goodness they filled me with so much joy! Our original location was a no go due to the wildfires that swept through the day before, but I think this adorable little spot fit them even more perfectly! And what better way to capture the holidays than with real pinecones around you! Let's be honest, it doesn't get any more Christmasy than that when it comes to Southern California! ;-)

And so although I am editing like a madwoman I just had to take a quick break to share this beautiful day!  

Collect the pinecones...

Show off the pinecones... 

Be done with the pinecones! Haha, life with big brothers! ;-) 

Mom & Me | Irvine Family Photographer

This lady right here is a total mom boss! Working, getting her Master's degree, and being a rock star mom to three crazy adorable kids. Not to mention, managing to also look amazing herself! Her babies adore her, which was so evident throughout. <3 We met at one of my favorite spots in Irvine and even managed to sneek in some pretty green colors in the middle of our Orange County fall season (i.e. brown season!) ;-)

Life with kids is no joke! Its hard work and frustrations. There are tears from both babies and parents. But at the end of the day, after they are all tucked into bed, we somehow forget the tears, and instead remember the smiles. The cuddles and tickles, and never ending silliness. And those are the memories I love to give. 

Little Brother Coming Soon | Irvine Maternity Photographer

There is something so unexplainably beautiful to me about capturing maternity pictures. They have never seen his face and yet their love already so deep they would die for him. It is the miracle of birth. The cycle of life that shows us there is still so much hope in this world. This family was as sweet as they come. Such a relaxing evening walking the trails and capturing the cutest bump. I could only laugh too as I thought how different pictures will be for them after baby arrives. Calm and relaxing probably the last word in their vocabulary. ;-) 

Because I Never Print at CVS | Irvine Family Photographer

If you've ever had a photos taken with me before you will know that I am a crazy lady when it comes to getting your photos printed off with a high quality printing lab. I spend way more time than I will ever admit on editing my pictures to perfection (or at least my version of it!) I make sure that all the numbers are correct, the warmth right on, the skin tone glowing. And when I hear that someone went and took my hours of work to a chain store like CVS I cry big tears on the inside. Who you go through to print your photos will make sooooo much of a difference. If you're all for the dark and muddy, green skin toned look then Costco is your pall. ;-) But when it comes to hanging your art work on your walls, please do it good. :-) 

And that is why on this evening we were on our way to Costco to pick up a picture (insert a hide myself in the closet emoji here!). I found out just that week that my son's teacher needed a family photo for him to bring to school. Fast forward to the day before and I realize we don't have a single family photo of us printed off! Sure I have a million and one other different combinations, just nothing recent with all four of us in the same frame. And so I threw all my conviction to the wind and embarked on my same day pick up adventure. On our over we drove right past this gorgeous trail and went to explore for a few minutes. I hadn't been here since this spring when everything was wrapped in Colorado greens, and honestly I thought I wasn't going to like it. But oh what golden hour can do to brown fields! 

6 Months New | Irvine Family Photographer

We met at one of my favorite little spots just outside of Irvine for a laid back time of cuddles and smiles. I first had the privilege of capturing this guy when he was still hanging out in his momma's belly, and I was beyond excited to finally meet his sweet face in person! And sweet is the understatement of the year. I could eat him up! Although impossible to catch in a photo, when you see that little mouth wide open, he is usually shouting with all the happiness in the world. :-) Loved this time. Love this family. Love that I get to call this thing my job!! 

Disclaimer: you may catch some pretty bad baby fever, so proceed with cation. ;-) 

P Family|| Orange County Family Photographer

This is the third time I have gotten to have this family behind my lens, and I think I like them more and more each time. Seriously, they are so sweet and just the best to be around. This was a super last minute arrangement (mom reached out to me Saturday and we were shooting that Wednesday) to take advantage of the last of these spring greens. I'm soooo glad we were able to work it out so quickly, as this lovely shade has now turned itself back to brown again. Orange County has so many beautiful places and I am forever thankful to live here. But Orange County in the spring is a whole other level of pretty. And how perfectly to go with this beautiful family, who I will also point out killed it with their outfits! <3  

Senior Pics in Laguna

I will totally admit that I was imagining a bit of stiff and awkward male, but this guy totally threw it out the park! I swear he must have been a model in a past life! Not only did he have the posing down, he was as nice as they come, making it such a fun and relaxing evening in Laguna.  I'm so happy I was able to capture this special time in his life, as one chapter finds its ends and he embarks on the next one. 

We also squeezed in a bit of time for his awesome family, who are as sweet as they come! :-)