BLOG - Emily Menzie Photography - Menifee Baby Photographer

Capturing Milestones: Sweet & Simple 1st Birthday Photoshoot

11.16.2025

This cute family’s little boys have the BEST curls! I’ve been so lucky to capture their first boy’s newborn and 1st birthday photos, and again when he welcomed his new baby brother, and now baby brother just turned ONE! I loved his sweet & simple 1st birthday photoshoot—he wasn’t too into it at first, but everything changed when the cake came out! I made sure to capture some photos of his big brother too — child portraits are one of my favorite things to specialize in.

Why Keep It Simple?

Simplicity in a baby’s photoshoot ensures the focus stays on your child. Minimal props, soft colors, and natural expressions highlight your baby’s personality and candid moments.

Styling Tips for a Simple Baby Boy Birthday Shoot

Neutral or Soft Colors: Shades like white, cream, beige, and muted colors create a timeless look.
Minimal Props: A favorite toy or a little cake can enhance the scene without overwhelming it.
Comfortable Outfits: Keep your baby cozy in a soft outfit or just a diaper — as simple as it gets!

Why Professional Photos Matter

Hiring a professional photographer ensures that even the simplest setups to capture sweet photos you’ll treasure forever.

Book Your Baby’s Session

Your baby’s first birthday only happens once—capture it with a simple, sweet photoshoot that highlights his or her unique personality. Contact me to schedule!

Vintage Airplane 1st Birthday Photoshoot

11.16.2025

Flying into one year with style! This handsome little guy is celebrating his first birthday today, and I loved capturing his vintage airplane 1st birthday photoshoot. His momma brought the cutest airplane rocker and aviation props.

The birthday boy was beyond adorable as he explored his cake. Cake smash sessions like this one are a fantastic way to celebrate your baby’s milestone while creating fun, playful, and timeless portraits you’ll treasure forever.

A cake smash photoshoot is more than just messy fun — it’s an opportunity to capture your baby’s expressions and curiosity. Adding a themed setup, like this vintage airplane, makes the session even more memorable and gives your photos a unique, personalized touch.

If your baby is turning one, a cake smash session is a fun and memorable way to celebrate and create keepsakes for your family to always treasure.

Book your baby’s first birthday cake smash session!
Contact me to create a personalized photoshoot that celebrates your little one’s milestone in a big way!

Adorable Baby Boy | Southern California Newborn Photographer

11.14.2025

Hi there! If you’re looking for a Southern California newborn photographer, I’d love to hear from you. For newborn sessions, I focus on creating a calm, cozy environment so babies feel safe and comfortable. Using soft wraps and gentle posing, each session is designed to highlight your baby’s sweetness.

I’m always happy to incorporate personal touches upon request, and this sweet baby boy’s photoshoot was simply precious, and his momma brought a little monkey outfit for him to wear — he was so tiny in it!

If you’re expecting a new baby, now is the perfect time to schedule your newborn session. Capturing this fleeting time ensures you’ll have beautiful memories to look back on for years to come — from tiny toes to sleepy yawns. Click here to view my session info and availability and contact me if you have any questions!

Southern California newborn photographer

In-Studio Family Christmas Photos

11.14.2025

The holiday season is here — the perfect time of the year to capture in-studio family Christmas photos! While I specialize in newborn, baby, and child portraits, I love helping families celebrate the season with some timeless holiday images. I loved getting to work with this cute family again after documenting their adorable little guy’s 1st birthday photos earlier this year.

My in-studio Christmas photo sessions are designed to take the stress out of holiday photos. No worrying about the weather, wind, parking, or crowded outdoor locations. Whether you’re looking for baby’s first Christmas photos, sibling portraits in matching pajamas, or a full family Christmas photoshoot, these photos make perfect keepsakes for your family and beautiful images to share on your holiday cards.

🎄 Book your holiday session today!
Check out my booking calendar to reserve your family’s session! \

Baby Girl’s Photoshoot | Menifee Newborn Photographer

11.13.2025

There’s nothing more precious than capturing the tiny details of a brand new baby — especially this sweet baby girl! As a Menifee newborn photographer, I specialize in creating timeless portraits that celebrate the sweetness of your baby’s earliest days.

Newborn photography is truly magical because it captures a phase that pass by so quickly. That’s why scheduling your newborn session within the first few weeks after birth is ideal — it allows me to capture your baby at their sleepiest and tiniest stage.

My cozy home studio in Menifee is fully equipped with beautiful props, wraps, and more so you can simply relax and enjoy watching your little one’s first professional photoshoot.

If you’re expecting a little one soon, now is the perfect time to book your newborn photoshoot to capture these once-in-a-lifetime moments with sweet portraits you’ll cherish forever. Contact me to reserve your spot!

Sweet One! Baby Girl’s 1st Birthday Cake Smash Session

11.12.2025

There’s nothing sweeter than celebrating a baby’s first birthday with a fun and messy cake smash photoshoot! I love capturing these precious sessions that mark such an exciting milestone.

This beautiful baby girl’s first birthday cake smash session was full of the cutest smiles! Her adorable setup perfectly matched her sweet personality — making for the most precious photos!

Cake smash sessions are such a fun way to celebrate your baby’s first year. They not only create timeless keepsakes for your family to treasure, but they also capture your little one’s curiosity and unique personality. Whether your baby loves smashing, tasting, or just playing with the cake, every reaction is worth remembering!

If your little one is approaching their first birthday, now is the perfect time to plan their cake smash photoshoot. Let’s make your baby’s “sweet one” milestone unforgettable — with memories you’ll cherish forever.

📸 Ready to book your baby’s first birthday photoshoot?
Contact me to schedule your session today! I’m located in Menifee and serve clients throughout the surrounding Southern California areas, including Murrieta, Temecula, and Winchester.

3 month old Preemie | California Newborn Photographer

10.25.2025

This post is ironically long overdue as this handsome little guy was born early! He came in for his newborn photoshoot at 3 months old, but as a preemie he was still very much in the newborn phase. I loved the vision his momma had for his photoshoot and I’m so excited to finally showcase his newborn photos!

A Gentle, Baby-Led Approach

As a newborn photographer, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many sweet families and their beautiful babies—but there’s something extra special about photographing preemies. These tiny warriors have already shown incredible strength and resilience in their first weeks of life.

When babies arrive earlier than expected, their newborn photoshoot usually happens a bit later than planned and that’s perfectly okay! For this sweet little guy’s preemie newborn photoshoot, I kept the session simple and timeless.

When to Schedule a Preemie Newborn Photoshoot

If your baby arrived early, you can still absolutely plan a newborn photography session whenever you and your baby are ready — as soon as your baby is home and thriving.

Book Your Preemie’s Newborn Session

Whether your baby arrived early or right on time, I’d love to help you preserve these fleeting newborn moments. My home studio is located in Menifee where I serve families throughout the Temecula Valley and the Inland Empire and surrounding areas.

Tiny Baby Girl’s Photoshoot | Temecula Valley Newborn Photographer

10.23.2025

This tiny and adorable baby girl was truly a dream to photograph! As a Temecula Valley newborn photographer, I absolutely love meeting new families and helping them show off how perfect their new little one is. This little beauty was SOOO tiny and delicate — she had the tiniest hands I’ve ever seen! She slept peacefully through most of her session, making it easy to capture so many photos for her parents to treasure. I loved that she kept flashing the sweetest sleepy smiles too.

One of my favorite parts of every session is capturing the connection between baby and parents. Those family moments always become some of the most meaningful images from the day.

I always aim to keep newborn photography sessions simple, cozy, and stress-free so parents can just relax and enjoy the experience. My Menifee studio is stocked with wraps, headbands, outfits and props, so everything is ready for you when you arrive.

If you’re expecting and looking for a newborn photographer in Menifee or the Temecula Valley area, I’d love to help! The newborn stage is so short, and within the first few weeks are the perfect time to photograph your little one during the moments you’ll want to remember forever. See my booking calendar or contact me through my website.

Unicorn Baby | Firefighter Newborn Photoshoot

09.25.2025

In newborn photography, the term “unicorn baby” is a nickname photographers sometimes use to describe a baby who is exceptionally easy to work with.

A “unicorn baby” typically:

Sleeps soundly and deeply through most of the session
Easily transitions between poses without fussing
Rarely cries or startles
Is naturally curled up and flexible, making posing smooth
Might even give a few sweet smiles or expressions on cue

The idea is that, just like a unicorn, this kind of baby feels magical and rare—since most newborns will have at least a few fussy or alert moments during a session (which is completely normal).

This beautiful little one was an absolute DREAM for her mini newborn photoshoot. I also loved including a very personal touch—her daddy’s firefighter helmet. We complemented the firefighter photos with some traditional newborn portraits as well to highlight her natural beauty.

These early days are fleeting, and incorporating such a meaningful family detail made this session even more memorable. One day, I hope this little girl will look back at her newborn photos and see not only how tiny she once was but also how loved she has always been.

I’d love to help you create images that tell your story! Contact me to book your baby’s photoshoot and let’s capture the details that mean the most to your family.

Absolutely Beautiful Baby Girl’s Newborn Photoshoot

09.24.2025

I had so much fun with this baby girl’s newborn photoshoot! She is absolutely beautiful and such a natural in front of the camera.

Newborn photography is all about preserving those fleeting early days, when babies are still so tiny and new. In just a matter of weeks, they grow and change so quickly, making these first portraits such a meaningful keepsake.

If you’re expecting, now is the perfect time to plan your newborn photoshoot. Sessions are best scheduled within the first two weeks after birth, when babies are still fresh, sleepy, and extra snuggly. I would love to help you create heartfelt, timeless images of your little one during this precious stage. Contact me today to reserve your newborn session!