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!

A Letter to My Daughter | Newport Beach Orange County Family Photographer

In a world that teaches you to fit in, I pray you always stand out. In a society that is slowly letting your gender rise, I pray you soar. In a life where peers will judge you by everything outward, may you trust your heart. Know your worth is more than gold. That you are enough... go live every last one of your dreams sweet girl. I’ll always have your back. 
Love, mom ❤️

All the cards seemed to align for this evening. They had an early day at school, I didn’t have any photo sessions, and it was somehow not raining—its has rained more than ever before here in Newport! Well, in all of Orange County and Southern California actually, but Newport is where it hurts, as I can’t be shooting family sessions in the rain! ;-) We did a very last minute run over to the beach for about 15 minutes tops before it got too dark and we had to head back to the car. But such a perfect 15 minutes it was to me. These guys are my whole world, the reason I became a photographer, the ones I used to get behind my lens daily. Lately though, it is becoming more and more rare. I don’t want to forget any of it though. Any of them. I want to look back at crisp clear memories. Of not just the way it “looked” that day, but rather how it felt. How my heart leapt being with them. Motherhood has been the greatest gift of my life. And these two are my whole world.

Using Your Wedding Venue for Family Photos | Orange County Photographer

I took the treck from Orange County to Temecula that day to document their love at the exact same place they said their wedding vows five years earlier. Little did they know at the time that just a few weeks later they would find out about that honeymoon baby as well. ;-) Five years, two sweet girls, a move from the OC back to their hometown, and the sweetest time of dancing, cuddling, and memory lane later.

This is the fourth time I have had the privilege of photographing this dear family. The first one little sis was just a baby! This mom always slays it with the outfits and this time was no different. I just love the whimsical element the girls’ dresses added to the entire shoot. And talk about a whimsical place! Lake Oak Meadows is its own little piece of beauty right there in Temecula! I would highly recommend it for your own wedding, or simply to mix up the family pics as well! It is a little drive from Newport, but totally worth it. :)

Motherhood Session | Newport Beach Orange County Family Photographer

Motherhood sessions are one of my very favorite things to capture as a photographer. And for totally biased reasons, since I am a mom of two, and 100 percent obsessed with them. :) Newport Beach has such a whimsical feel to it and I just love the way it shines its light and colors on all the connections that are present with mommas and their littles…

My son was sitting nonchalantly on my lap the other day, his little hand in mine, when it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. The realization that is, of how quickly we were approaching the end of it. Between the two of my kids I have had a little one in my life for over seven years. Hugs and kisses, cuddles and hand holding, waking up with small bodies pressed against mine, it’s all so second nature. Something that in the moment I must have always felt would just be present. But my “baby” is turning six next month. Six! And as we sat there together that day I suddenly realized how fleeting it really was, how irreplaceable.

I tried to remember the way it felt, what his little hands looked like in mine... I knew then that in ten years from now, when his sixteen year old self won’t be sitting on my lap any longer, that most of the things I concern myself with now, stress about—maybe even lose sleep over sometimes—won’t matter. What will matter were these simple moment. Small and fleeting and all mine for a little while longer. 
So as I go and clear my box of Kleenex I just wanted to give these words to all you mommas of littles: always hold them a little extra longer.

His Princess | Newport Beach Orange County Maternity Photographer

Hello beautiful family so full of love and joy for one another! You would never even know it was freezing temperatures out—well, freezing for Orange County at least. ;-) Such a fun maternity session we had at Newport Beach and its low tide magic. And lucky for us the rains the previous weeks broke down the sand revealing more rocks in this little cove than I’ve ever seen here before! I just loved the texture it gave to the whole scene, and of course with a little boy around, what’s better to add that ocean than a bunch of rocks, am I right?

I want my family sessions to be full of life and laughter. To not only have a pretty picture to look back on, but to have great memories behind it. And these three brought so many sweet ones! By far my favorite was about half way through our session when big brother ran up to his momma and exclaimed “You look like a princess!” This boy mom is about to add another male to the mix, and I have no doubt she will always be seen the same. And another favorite quote from earlier on, “I’m sitting on my brother!” And he most certainly was too! ;-)

I Think I Need Another Baby | Orange County Laguna Beach Family Photographer

How many kids do you have? I used to think two was the perfect number, but my goodness all these babies I surround myself with and I just swear I need one more!! 🙈 I blame it solely on moving to Orange County too. This weather and surroundings just makes them too happy for me to resist! And speaking of Orange County, hello rain soaked soaked landscapes, turning even our deserts green! Seriously, I was in photographer heaven high this evening seeing all this formerly dead brush suddenly full of life and color!

The family to match it wasn’t too shabby either. ;-) SO much love and happiness between them, they were a breeze to have behind my camera! Happy first birthday to this real life doll as well. You just have to scroll to the end to see how she picked up her entire cake too. ;-) Smash cakes, green deserts, soft skies, and girls in pretty dresses—I couldn’t have asked for a better evening!

Number One Thing to Do In Orange County: Newport Beach Photographer

When you think of Orange County what’s the first thing to come to mind?? BEACH, right?!?! Seriously, what would this place even be without its cliffs, rocks, and breathtaking blues? A trip to the OC would be a total failure without a trip—or two or ten—to our crazy breathtaking shores. Ok, yes, I may be argued that in fact the number one attraction here is Disney Land. And I won’t complain in the least if that’s your thought process as over half the families who come to me do so during their week long trip to Disney! BUT as many days as they spend with Mickey their mouth always drops just a bit when they step on our Pacific land.

When we first moved to the OC we spent our every last spare minute on the sand. And I every last click of my shutter. My car was perpetually one large sandbox and my trunk filled to stock with shovels, buckets, and extra towels. Because even on the days we were just going to “hang out” one of my kids still did not fail to get soaked. ;)

I come to the beach so often to shoot now that I actually rarely take my own kids here. But still my car is one large sandbox as (little secret) I LOVE to shoot right there in that magical number one salty beauty. And I just love how fitting it all is, how things really do seem to run full circle. I get asked to shoot at the beach almost exclusively these days. The very place where I first learned all the ins and outs of photography. The place that always brought us peace at the end of a long day.

Winter usually means we run more from the water, getting little more than our feet wet. Not the case when it comes to my favorite kind of people though—Canadians. It was 50 degrees with winds 19 miles per hour. For us local OC folks, that is simply polar vortex terms. ;-) But they had just been in negative 40 windchills the week before. “It’s not too bad out!” they told me, and made all my water loving dreams come true.

I’ve been starting to do more and more couples shoots over the past year and YOU GUYS!! This genre I used to be so crazy intimidated by is becoming one of my very favorites! Still though, it doesn’t make me want to do any weddings yet. ;-) Sticking to romantic sunsets for now!

Vow Renewal at Sunset | Orange County Newport Beach Family Photographer

They left their kids with the babysitter and chose to celebrate their ten year anniversary with a vow renewal at Newport beach. There have been times in my photography journey that I have felt deep emotions behind my lens, but this one left me having to stop the tears. Marriage after kids honestly isn’t celebrated enough. Here’s to falling more in love each day. 

My goal every single time I go into a photo session is to capture real and authentic emotion. I incorporate lots of movement, games, prompts, etc. Anything to keep your mind off of the big camera in your face and instead focused on one another. But for moments like this my only “job” was to focus on them. No prompting for this kind of emotion. Just raw love to be seen.

Newborn Photographer of the Year Award!!! | Orange County Family Photography

Omgeeee you guys!!!!! Out of only 29 images this one was included and put me in Looks Like Film’s best newborn photographers of 2018!!!!!!! I really have no words for how surreal this is! The insane talent in this photography group is top of the top. I scroll through it way too often and simply drool over all the beauty and creativity. And to somehow be a part of it... no words. 🤯 Big thanks to this baby boy for smiling on cue too-I think he knew how much it would mean to me. 😆🙌💃🏼😭

I’m often known as the beach photographer here in Orange County, and I have no complaints there either! But, I also LOVE photographing new babies and their families, both in the comforts of their home or right at the hospital too! Those first weeks with my own “babies",” now 6 and 7, will forever be etched into my soul as the most life changing moments I will ever know. Love that can never be put into words right there in front of you. And those photos that I have from that time, all the way from the big camera to iphone snaps, still bring tears to my eyes when I look at them today. I remember this every time someone invites me into their own new life together. I don’t take it lightly and I try with everything in me to capture those newborn memories I know they will never want to forget.

You can see the full link of newborn cuteness overload here too! https://www.lookslikefilm.com/2019/01/30/newborn-photos/

Why I Love Colorful Clothing at the Beach | Orange County Newport Beach Family Photographer

A quick glance through my photos and it’s little secret how much I am obsessed with color. In fact, I don’t even give black and white edits! Blue, green, orange, pink, red, purple—just give me a rainbow please! I actually did get a real live rainbow once and only once; probably the happiest day of my life!

I often get asked what colors to wear when taking photos at the beach and although there is that color wheal of what goes with what, mostly I just say choose color. Blacks and browns simply just don’t cut it for me. Of course I don’t mean as a side along, like dad in blank or brown pants is totally great! But a long black dress on the beach, although so crazy elegant in a million other venues is just not my vibe for the sand.

The beach is filled with the most exquisite colors around. I literally feel my heart start beating a little bit faster in those last 20 minutes when everything around me suddenly takes on the deep hues of magic. And nothing makes me happier than when the clothing of the families I am photographing makes its own pop of magic right along with it!

This doesn’t mean you have to show up in neon. Actually please, please, please never wear neon—haha! It doesn’t mean the clothing has to be super rich and vibrant either. In fact, often the softer shades are best as when colors are too rich things can get a little overpowering when the sun shines on them, and also cast that very color onto your skin. No one loves a green face! ;-)

So with that, come ready to have a great time. And bring those colors with you!

Also totally unrelated to clothing but you may be wondering how my kids were in the water in the middle of January. Was it a sudden heatwave day? Not in the least! It was freeeezing, no one else was even close to the water. My kids are simply crazy. I’m not one to talk though, I left with dripping wet pants too. Anything for the shot, right? ⛄️ 🙌

Fire Breathing Girls | Newport Beach Orange County Maternity Photographer

“As for my girl, I’ll raise her to believe she breathes fire.” ~Jessica Kirkland

I love that I live in an age where I can run this business of my own. I love that behind my lensI get to capture women who encompass all different avenues of strength. I love that even in the middle of this time of female CEO’s and entrepreneurs, the raw beauty of motherhood is not lost. That she is everything and enough. No matter if she returns to work or stays home, breasts or bottle feeds, co sleeps, crib sleeps, no one sleeps... She simply tries her best, day in and out. It is enough, whether she feels it or not. Eventually though, she will, and in turn be able to pass this same message down to her own girl, “Breathe fire little one, it is what you were made for.”

Believe it or not we were considering rescheduling this beach session as the entire day was gray and dreary. SO glad we decided to go for it though as while the rest of Orange County remained dark, the sun decided to peak through the clouds right over Newport’s shoreline, leaving us with such soft pretty colors. The perfect compliment to the sweetest spirits of these parents to be. Maternity sessions are one of my very favorites. A time filled with all these unknowns and wonderings, excitements and anticipations of what’s about to me. Moms are so strong, and to show them their strength, mixed with so much beauty, is everything to me.