When Your Bestie is Having Her Baby | Newport Beach Maternity Photographer

My beautiful friend had her baby boy this month and my goodness there is nothing like those “firsts” together. This little person, who was there for so long, just tucked inside, is finally face to face. And in that moment, you wonder how ever lived your dats without him.

This photo shoot was definitely extra special to me as one of best friends ever met me for a sunset shoot in Newport. It had been gloomy all day along the beach until close to time, when the clouds blew out for the most gorgeous evening. Maternity will forever be one of my favorite genres to photograph.

My Own Maternity Photos | Newport Beach Maternity Photographer

37 weeks pregnant and I just knew I wanted to document this special time with our rainbow baby still in my belly. Between school, work, and all the kids activities though, it was so hard to find that free evening. It was a random weekday where we all happened to be at home. I looked out the window and saw the sunset was going to be beautiful. With that, we ran like madmen and women and got ourselves together in 20 minutes flat. Rushing up to the hill by our house I knew we had about 15 minutes of sunlight left. I figured if my husband could just grab a single good one I would be so happy. Well, my kids were dreams, my husband outdid himself, and they gave me the most special gift of this pregnancy. I will cherish these photos forever with my greatest loves.

Let's Say Goodbye to the Stuffy Photoshoots | Newport Beach Family Photographer

If you’re wanting the super posed, super perfect children, photo session… I’m probably not your best bet! :) Give me all the fun, happy families, please. Swing those kids around and throw them in the air. Chase them till you’re both ready to crash by the end. Energy, excitement, and love of life is what children are made of, and how I love to capture that true sense of who they are. I fully believe when you look back at all this joy it will be well worth the chaos that most often defines a family photo session at the beach. We will leave full of sand, a little bit of exhaustion, and priceless memories of your beautiful life together.

This is the second time I had the privilege of getting this family behind my lens. The last time big sister was in her momma’s belly for our first maternity session together. Now they are getting ready to add a baby brother to the mix, and I couldn’t be more excited for them. The weather was absolutely perfect at Newport Beach this evening with the sun illuminating their sweet love. Let the photos speak for themselves—stuffy photos are so yesterday’s news. ;)

Maternity Sessions in the Cold Still Works: Newport Beach Family Photographer

Winter photo sessions are my very personal favorite! Yes, it is cold. Yes, I have to go unthaw in a hot shower when I get home. But, also, YES, to empty beaches!! Not only does a small crowd help make it so much easier to get those beautiful landscape shots, but the comfort level is next level. Unless you model for a living, no one is usually super comfortable being behind a camera. But how about being behind a camera with people sitting on the sand just staring at you? Or trying to get a shot and having to keep waiting for others to walk by? In the winter months we get to erase all of that, and just concentrate on having fun! And hello, the fun I had with this beautiful, growing family! These two are going to be the BEST parents ever!

Also, side note: who else wants to wear a yellow dress on the beach?! I absolutely loved the way this color popped among the sunset!

You Can Have Fun at Your Family Photo Session | Newport Beach Photographer

Gone are the days of stuffy fake smiles at the lady you just met. Hello to having fun on the beach together, playing and dancing, and enjoying an hour together on the sand. When you allow your family to make it a good time, that is where the magic begins. Yes, I “pose” you, putting you in the good light and giving simple prompts to create some fun and sweet moments. But letting yourselves enjoy the moments, allowing your children to run and dance…. Tickles and cuddles and creating those moments of togetherness—that is the type of photography I love. And it’s not so hard when we work together to make it happen. :) Newport gives us its big playground, let’s enjoy it while the kids are young. :)

Give Me All the Maternity Photoshoots Please | Newport and Laguna Beach Family Photographer

I feel like the luckiest photographer as I almost always have at least one or two maternity photoshoots each month! I have no doubt they will forever be one of my very favorite genres to shoot. I never take it lightly that I have the privilege to document this priceless moment in time for these growing families. We met for this photoshoot in the middle of Southern California’s “June gloom” so made sure to arrive extra early just in case the clouds stayed thick. I was so happy when the afternoon winds blew all but the beautiful skies away for these sweetest parents to be. And how perfect that Newport beach showed up with its pinks and purples for baby girl!

Beaches and Bellies | Newport and Laguna Beach Maternity Photographer

Have I happened to mention once or twice how much I love photographing maternity sessions?? ;) There are just no adequate words to describe how beautiful this time is. Watching as your belly expands, knowing there is a miraculous life that you will have the privilege to raise. First time parents are my very favorite to shoot, as I know the way their hearts are about to beat right outside their chest.

I love for my maternity sessions to carry that whimsical feeling of the inner hopes and excitement parents are feeling at this time. To give each mom a small piece of that unmatched beauty that is motherhood. She may not always feel so pretty. By the end it’s sometimes more liked a beached whale—haha! But her beauty is far beyond the physical. It’s that real glow that comes from growing a real life. My number one goal each and every time I pick up my camera is to show her how amazing she is.

And this evening, my goodness! When we showed up Newport Beach was pretty heavy with clouds, but I saw that along the horizon there was a patch of clear and was pretty sure it would break out for us. Within a few minutes it did just that, showing off in all its unmatched glow and illuminating the sky! Just perfect for one of the sweetest couples you will ever meet, who are going to be THE best mom and dad.

My Very Own Wild Flower | Orange County Maternity Photographer

Being a mom has been by far the greatest gift of my life, and the thought that I am going to get to have another child to hold again is a dream come true. At 30 weeks pregnant the reality of it seems to really be hitting me lately, especially as I feel her karate chopping inside me each day. ;)

I really wanted to make sure I documented this pregnancy as I didn’t with my first two and greatly regret it. I told my husband we should go head over to this field that I thought was turning green and he agreed. But by the time sunset rolled around I felt tired and nothing like dressing all up. I’m so glad my husband encouraged me to just go and take a quick few photos though as I will treasure these forever now. And oh my gosh, this field!!! It doesn’t last long here before all turning back to brown, so only fitting it decided to bloom right in time for my own special wildflower. <3

There is definitely going to be an age gap between her and my “big kids.” My daughter almost nine years older, and my son seven, but love really does know no age. As we were walking to school the other morning Boston told me she couldn’t stop thinking of all the great places she’s going to take her sister to someday. And I know this baby girl is going to be crazy lucky to have such an amazing human to look up to as she grows. My son doesn’t go to bed without kissing my belly and telling his baby sis good night. And first thing in the morning he asks her if she slept good. My heart is beyond full, anxiously counting down to the moment I get to see her wrapped all up in their arms.

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.

Baby Girl Coming Soon | Laguna Beach Maternity Photographer

We met at Laguna beach to capture some maternity photos for this mom and dad to be. She told me she could feel her baby girl kicking throughout our time together and all my baby fever came flooding back in. ;-) Some of the sweetest people, they are going to be such great parents. And I think the heavens totally agreed with me, showing off just for them. <3 

Sister Sister | Laguna Beach Maternity Photographer

I will let you in on a real life truth: Beautiful sunny Laguna beach has been beautiful sunny freezing COLD! Well, for Orange County standards anyways. ;-) But another real truth: my families totally rock it! You would never know that by the end of this all our teeth were chattering and we drove home with our heaters set to high. But they didn't let it stop them from having a perfect evening in the sand--and water! And this sweetest, happiest (although cold) girl is about to have a little sister! And I have no doubt there is going to be overflowing amounts of love and joy passed to her newest one. 

Speaking of overflow, here is probably a total overshare of photos but I just can't help it. Each one makes me smile. 

Something In The Water | Laguna Beach Maternity Photographer

I swear something must have been in the water about seven months back as I think I may have done more maternity sessions this month than all of last year combined! Aaand I hope the water keeps pouring, because I absolutely LOVE them! Add to it my other all time love, family, and I go to sleep smiling. Well, and spend my time smiling like I did with these three (four). Big sis was definitely unsure of all that water, and our luck it was high tide too! But as long as she could stay snuggled up close to mom and dad she was ok, which created some sweetest moments together with the sweetest family one could ever meet. I can't wait for them to add little brother to the mix. He is already so loved. <3 

Bellies & Beaches | Orange County Maternity Photographer

“Lucille Ball was the first woman to show off her pregnancy publicly, on-screen (in demure, wide-waist dresses). While this was a big step forward for pregnant women, bumps were far from front-and-center, and maternity-specific fashions were scarce.” ~whattoexpect.com

I love that my children are being raised in a culture that is learning to see pregnancy as something so very beautiful and childbirth as unmatched strength.

I love that someday this mom's son will be able to look back at these and see how beautiful she was. See how excited and already in love his parents were with him and one another. That they celebrated him before they ever saw his face

Baby Mooning at the Montage | Orange County Family Photographer

“If I know what love is, it is because of you.” ~Hermann Hesse

We met for a sunrise session which was hidden around there somewhere. Not a problem though as the Montage totally delivered us its own soft beauty. Shooting here at sunset can be a beast with the crowds of people and other photographers. Who would know though that this early in the morning the only others on the beach were two dog walkers. It seems that most of Orange County prefers there sleep. :-) Empty beach, clean air, pretty blues, and two of the sweetest people around. They are going to be the best parents and I loved everything about my time with them. 

Baby Loving | Orange County Laguna Beach Maternity Photographer

"Cling to what is good." ~Romans 12

How true these words fit these three, soon to be four. So much sweet love and joy surrounds them. Lots of cuddles and kisses and all the things that make my photographer heart full. Laguna has been so cold lately. I mean, 58 degrees is borderline freezing for all us local Orange County people! ;-) But they totally rocked it without a single complaint. Empty beach, cold but sunny skies, low tide, and all this connection--I couldn't have asked for a better evening. And I cannot wait to watch their family grow! 

Beach Bumps | Orange County Maternity Photographer

Seriously, what better way to capture your pregnancy than at the beach? I know that I tend to say this about every type of family session, but maternity pics are one of my very favorites! There is just something so raw about all that beautiful unknown and anticipation. They have never seen their child's face, heard his voice, or felt his little touch, and yet they already love him with all the passion in the world. These parents are waiting on baby #2 and watching them with big sis leaves no doubt how loved this baby is going to be. 

I will also point out that if your considering a winter beach session, do it!! I did not photoshop out a single person here (insert a million dancing lady emojis here!) We met at Laguna on a weekday, and had the place almost entirely to ourselves. Not only is this soooo good for those wide landscape shots, but how much more comfortable are you without a million beach loungers staring at you the entire time? ;-)