Rustic Christmas- Sometimes You Have to Mix it Up!

We all love beach Christmas photos. Who doesn't love to send out photos of you and your family having fun on the beach, in the sand? Especially to those relatives who live where it snows! We live in Southern California, we have to brag a little. But sometimes it's fun to mix it up. Living in Southern California, we have so many different backdrops to choose from- especially here in South Orange County! This year I did a lot of Christmas card photos at rustic locations. I love the way they turned out! And best of all, so did my clients.
This adorable family is a busy one! Mom is the owner of She Bloom Clothing- the one I take the catalog photos for and all three of her adorable kids are super active. Glad we were able to pin down a date!

Lucas~ Beach Photos

Another one of the kids I have seen grow up! This guy has come to see me for over 5 years as well. We've done his photos at the park, at the park with his dog, in his back yard and at the beach. But one thing remains the same- he is a whole lot of fun. He's never crazy to see me (Mom makes him get his photos done. There aren't too many boys over the age of 5 who are excited to see me at first!), but we always have fun. Such a goof ball!

Christmas Mini Sessions- the Helgeson Boys

This years Christmas Mini Sessions were a hit. Both days booked up quickly with both old faces and new ones.
Our first sessions took place on the beach in Dana Point. These two boys have been coming to see me every year for the past 5 years! Its been great watching them grow and change. Mom and Dad get thrown into the mix every few years too, but this was a boys only year.

Calvin- One Year Cake Smash

This adorable little guy turned one last week! The best part about the fact that we did his photos a week after his birthday was that he already knew about cake from his party- which means, he was one of my first little ones to NOT CRY! He was actually excited to see his cake. We did a few photos in his back yard, then did some indoor photos and got cracking on that cake smash.

Baby on the Way~ Maternity Session

I'm super excited for these two! I've know Jenny since she was in high school and babysat our girls! Now these two are going to have to hire their own babysitter. Their little one is expect to make his debut around February 6th, so keep an eye out for his newborn photos.
I offer two types of Maternity Sessions, Mini Sessions, which take place at one location or Full Sessions, which, like this one, take place at multiple locations- here were did a rustic location and the beach in Dana Point.

Christmas Photo Time- Mini Session Dates Announced

It's time to get dressed up and get photos taken to send out on Christmas cards and print off for Grandma and Grandpa as presents.

This year you have 3 options! You can do a regular session, a mini session or a mini mini session!

What is the difference?
Regular sessions do not have a specific time limit, can be done at the location of your choice, can include up to 10 people and pets for no extra charge and you can change outfits to get different looks.
Mini Sessions are 20 mins each at a predetermined location at a predetermined time, for immediate family only (mom, dad and kids), no pets and no outfit changes.
Mini Minis are also time limited- to 15 mins, at a predetermined location and a predetermined time, designed for smaller families or just the kids and no pets.

This year Mini Sessions will be held on Sunday, October 12th at the beach and Sunday, November 2nd at the park. The cost is $150 and includes 5 digital files of your choice. Additional digital files and prints can also be order from your own online gallery.

Mini Minis will be held on Saturday, November 8th at the park. The plan is to have these be more "stylized" with a Christmas/winter theme and some fun props. The cost is only $49 and includes one 5x7 print of your choice with options to purchase digital files and additional prints.

Times are limited on all three dates! So if you are interested, contact me as soon as possible to secure the date and location of your choice.

Welcome to the world Baby Natalie!

Two newborns in one month! Yeah! I really enjoy doing newborn photography and would like to expand my business in this direction. This time we welcomed Baby Natalie to first time Mom and Dad. She was such a sweet little petite thing with a healthy set of lungs! We did a few "Fresh 48" at the hospital and a week later I traveled to their adorable beach cottage to take a few more photos.

Newborn Photos- Baby Tess

I've been wanting to try my had at more newborns lately, but the problem is all my friends and I have teenagers. One of my girls is away at college and the other is in middle school. And when you don't have friends who are having babies or have toddlers, then its hard to get referrals.
Lucky for me, I have a neighbor who just had a little one. Yep, even our neighborhood is all teens and preteens! Little Tess arrived a couple of weeks ago. First I did a "Fresh 48" session with her at the hospital. This is done within the first 48 hours of birth, at the hospital or birth center (or home if you are really brave and had your baby at home!), and has a very documentary feel to it. Very few posed photos- just life as it is.

Then, about a week later I got to do a more traditional newborn photo session with this sweet little girl!

If you know anyone who is having a baby and wants newborn photos, I am in the process of what we photographers call "portfolio building" and I am offer some amazing pricing on newborn sessions for a limited time. Email me or message me on Facebook for more info. For every referral from a past client there will be a gift, for every referral from a new client who is not pregnant, there will be a discount on their family session. Again, contact me for more info if you know someone who is pregnant in the Southern Orange County area!!

Last She Bloom Girls Clothing Photos.. for now

We finally got all the outfits photographed for the She Bloom girls boutique clothing line catalog! Yeah! I adore this giraffe print with the hot pink chevron!

Clothing Company Photos

Are you sick and tired of these adorable little ones modeling the sweet fashions of the She Bloom girls clothing yet? How could you be?! These little ones are just too cute! One more shoot to go and Jen can do her Spring/Summer 2015 catalog!

Engagement~ At the Beach

Another adorable couple who will be getting married later this summer. Stacey and Walter wanted their engagement photos done in Laguna Beach because they love the beach and spend as much time there together as possible. I've done a ton of family photos at the beaches in Laguna, but amazingly I had never shot at the beach in front of the Montage. It can get very crowded there in the Christmas photo season, so I usually avoid it in favor of one of the smaller, less popular coves of Laguna. But this being the beginning of summer, I thought it was a great idea when they suggested it.

Engagement~ In the Fields

I photograph between 20-30 weddings a year working for other photographers, yet I don't consider myself a wedding photographer. It's something I market myself as or a type of photography I pursue. Don't get me wrong, I love love love photographing weddings! But I like to leave the business end of wedding photography to those that are better suited for it. But this year, I've had a number of friends or friends of friends contact me about shooting their wedding- so this is the year I just might have to think of myself as a wedding photographer! After about 100 weddings under my belt, I guess it's time?

These two lovebirds are getting married in August in Newport Beach!