When another photographer chooses you to photograph her family, it is a true honor. It is also extra exciting because you know that you are going to have an epic session. Photographers and their families tend to be naturals in front of the camera and this recent family was no exception to that rule.

Although we have plenty of photos taken of our own children and family, most people do not have updated family photos that includes their extended family members. In fact, most of us only have the rigid posed photos that were taken at the last family wedding. As your dynamic changes, it is important to get photos taken that show the unique bond that exists within your extended family.

Let’s face it. Life with kids is chaotic. Between our jobs, caring for the kids, shuttling them to activities and trying to maintain the household, it can often be hard to find the time to do the things we want to do. One of the greatest things about the Summer months is that we tend to have more time. The kids after school activities are done, we schedule vacation time and we tend to unwind and relax more, which makes it the perfect time to schedule a family photo session.

One of the greatest aspects of my job is having the opportunity to watch my clients’ families grow. I first photographed this family four years ago when their first daughter was born. Since that time, I have seen them for milestones, holiday photos, and their second child’s newborn session. I was so excited to work with them again for their daughter’s first birthday session on the beach. They usually do studio sessions, so the fact that we were doing an outdoor family session on the beach was exciting.

Well folks, Summer is officially here and I am ready for it. I photographed this amazing family last year at the beach on one of the hottest evenings of Summer. I was thrilled to photograph them again this year for a sunset family session that took place on the Summer Solstice. The weather was not quite as balmy for this session, but we still had a gorgeous weather that was perfect for family photos on the beach.

Every milestone in life should be documented and graduating from college is a particularly important milestone. A college graduation is the official start of one’s journey through adulthood. Moreover, there is so much hard work that goes into college that it should be celebrated with pride. It is the perfect time to capture photos of this new and exciting chapter in life and a senior photo session can do just that.

Large group family photo sessions are a lot of fun to capture, but they do require some strategic planning and coordinating, especially if there are young cousins involved. To capture the images one is hoping for, I send out a questionnaire prior to your session, which will help me learn who I am photographing and the age of the children. It will also help me learn your goals for the sessions, groupings and types of images you are looking for and other pertinent details. This will help me to plan my time with you properly and time is of the essence with a beach sunset photo session.

I am excited to share this recent proposal session featuring a truly sweet couple. They met at The Inn in Long Beach and my client wanted to propose to her in town. He wanted to shoot on the beach at sunset, but needed some help choosing the right time, spot and other details, with which I happily assisted him.

The most important part of a secret proposal is having a solid plan in place, which is why I always meet with my clients prior to any proposal session. During this meeting, we choose a specific location, go over backup plans and discuss other pertinent details that set your day up for success.

I recently was able to photograph the most adorable couple. They are high school sweethearts and have been dating for 10 years. When I first spoke to my client, he wasn’t exactly sure where he wanted to propose, but he wanted it to be unexpected for her and to take place on the water at sunset. I helped him come up with a plan and location and was excited to be able to capture this moment for them.

A sweet 16 is such a special occasion for a young lady. It is also a great opportunity for you to capture updated portraits of your child. Your daughter is on the cusp of adulthood and it is important to capture images that document the all of the whimsy and light heartedness of this stage. Before you know it, she will be off to college. It is also a great opportunity for your daughter to dress up, have some fun, and enjoy the limelight for an hour or so. I mean, who doesn’t want to feel special?

Although most people schedule a baby’s first photo session shortly after birth, this is not the only time one can schedule a newborn photo session. You can schedule a photo session of your new baby whenever you feel most comfortable doing so. If you are open to a more relaxed approach to newborn photos, you can schedule a session at any point within those first six months.

My recent client contacted me because she was expecting her second baby boy in just six weeks and she wanted to schedule a family maternity session on the beach. She said that she wanted photos that documented her last moments as a family of three. I know how hard it is to schedule a photo shoot with toddlers, but I think it is such a great idea to document this special time.

Although I love a good golden hour session, this time of day is very late in the Summer months. Sunset isn’t until 8ish this time of year, so 7pm can be a challenging time for some babies. For those families, we can schedule early morning sessions at one of my park locations. You can still get fantastic and meaningful photos in the morning. So, for those of you who feel your little ones will not be in an agreeable mood at sunset, the morning session is for you.

Spring is in full swing and we are already midway through May. One of the best things about Spring is that cherry blossoms are in bloom. These beautiful trees are only in bloom for a short time, so planning a family session at a location replete with blooms involves some planning ad flexibility. This year the cherry blossoms seemed to bloom later than usual and then once they did bloom, we had consecutive days of wind and rain, which can damage the blooms. Fortunately, I found a location that worked well for this recent family session.

Those first few weeks home with your newborn baby are so special. I absolutely love documenting this time for my clients and I love that I can do so in the comfort of their own home.

There is something so intimate and cozy about an in home newborn session that really allows me to focus on the emotions and connections of those first few moments with baby.

A 16th birthday is a significant milestone in a young lady’s life. It signifies the transition into adulthood and it coincides with those last two years in high school, during which time your child is preparing for the next chapter in life. All of these changes make this moment the perfect opportunity to capture updated photos of your daughter. For many people, the only professional portraits they have of their children at this stage of life are school portraits. However, do those photos truly capture the essence of your child? A sixteenth birthday is an opportunity to capture your daughter and her maturing personality and do so in a way that is authentic and natural.

I just love photographing families in their homes. It truly is the most authentic way to capture families. This is especially true when a new baby is welcomed into a home. I am a mom and have photographed many babies, so I know how difficult it can be to get out of the house to head to a studio for newborn photos. This is one of many reasons why I travel to your home to capture your sweet little baby’s first moments. I truly want the entire experience to be as stress free and seamless for you as possible.

It feels as though I have gone somewhat into hibernation since the holidays. After the holiday rush, I took a few weeks off to recharge my batteries, which included taking a much needed break from social media and the Internet in general. I have been using that time to delve deep into a few professional development courses and I have also been shooting some fun maternity and extended family sessions over the last few weeks. I will be sharing those images once I get the OK from my clients.

Holy moly…it is cold out there. I don’t know about you, but I am over this cold weather and looking forward to the Spring. For many of you, this Spring is particularly special because your little ones will be receiving their First Holy Communion.

I love to document children on their Communion day. This special moment is the perfect time for me to capture a wide array of classic portraits of your child. My communion portrait sessions are centered on capturing candid and natural images of your child, as well as beautiful and artistic images that encapsulate this very special rite of passage for your child. Some of my most favorite photos I have ever captured are those of children on their Communion day. I just love the dramatic natural light that a church provides for portraits, but it also seems that this special day allows for a child's whimsical nature to shine through and I love capturing that silly and relaxed side of children too. Scheduling the photos before the communion day ensures that you capture beautiful portraits of your child in a natural and relaxed way, without the stress of rushing around on the day of the ceremony. Plus, most kids love the opportunity to dress up in their special outfit before the big day.

I had so many newborn sessions in November and loved every second of them. All of these sessions were scheduled right in the comfort of my clients’ homes. This particular client opted for the in home session because she also has two children under five and felt that scheduling the photos in her home would be the best route for her family. I couldn’t agree more, which is why I currently only offer in home newborn sessions. I want you all to be comfortable and at ease during your session, so we can focus on capturing beautiful images of your newly expanded family.