Austin’s newborn photoshoot started off with his parents bringing me cookies from their cookie business…need I say more?! Obviously the entire session was perfect, especially the star of the show himself:
I was so excited when Josie’s momma contacted me for 2nd birthday photos after a wonderful first birthday photoshoot last year. This time, she specifically requested some of my favorite shots: mommy-and-me photos and some beautiful individual portraits of Josie. As expected, two-year-olds can be a bit tricky sometimes. Josie wasn’t exactly eager to cooperate for the photos (which is pretty typical for her age), but her adorable expressions made it all worthwhile. It all worked out in the end — she and her momma are both such beauties!
This post is long overdue, but she is too cute not to share. During this little beauty’s session, I got to capture some of my favorite first birthday shots: Portraits, cake smashes, and tub time!
Baby portraits are the best way to showcase the expressive nature of little ones and highlight their adorable features! When it’s time for the cake at the end of the session, it’s always fun to see what the baby will do. Some dive right in, others are shy and careful. It’s a great way to let the baby’s personality shine through.
While I usually end first birthday sessions with a cake smash, I always leave the option for some tub time after the cake smash photos. This not only helps clean up the mess but also adds an extra layer of fun to the session. Babies typically enjoy splashing around, which results in candid and joyful photos — it’s usually baby’s favorite part! This cutie LOVED the tub portion of the session and showed off her smile in abundance.
Last month I had the opportunity to collaborate with several small business owners in Menifee for a fantastic 5-day giveaway hosted by Menifee Mom on instagram. I was thrilled when the winner of my giveaway reached out to arrange a cake smash session for her baby girl Penny’s 1st birthday! The icing on the cake (no pun intended) was that her big sister Scarlett has a birthday just a few days after hers, so they both joined in for a double birthday photoshoot!
Sibling sessions are so very special, and I’m excited to announce that I’ve expanded my offerings for baby and child photoshoots, including a Cake Smash Mini session for clients seeking a short & sweet cake smash experience! Speaking of cake smash photos, did you know many grocery store bakeries provide a complimentary smash cake when you let them know it’s your baby’s 1st birthday?! Learn more about my tips for first birthday cake smash photos here!
Weighing in at just over 5 pounds, I loved capturing little Oakley’s tiny newborn photos. At just two weeks old, she was incredibly alert and seemed to have major FOMO, not wanting to miss a moment. Her parents opted for my Mini Newborn session, a choice that fits perfectly with the new options I’ve recently added to my booking site:
Newborn Session Options
Clients can select from three newborn session options tailored to accommodate various preferences, and ensure that every family can find the perfect fit for their newborn photography needs:
- Full Newborn Session: This comprehensive session takes place in my home studio in Menifee and lasts about 2-3 hours. It offers multiple setups and poses, personalized to your preferences, including colors and props. Family, parent, and sibling photos can be included for no extra cost.
- Mini Newborn Session: A short and sweet session lasting up to 1 hour, focusing solely on the baby. This option is perfect for those who want quick yet beautiful photos of their newborn.
- Lifestyle Newborn Session: This session lasts up to 1 hour and takes place in the comfort of your own home, any time within the first 8 weeks of your baby’s life (between 2 days to 2 weeks old is ideal). It is a beautiful way to document those precious bonding moments with your new family member. Parents, siblings and pets are welcome and encouraged to join in the photos!
Happy birthday Rylie! Rylie’s 4th birthday photoshoot couldn’t have been more perfect because she is an absolute doll. She walked in and said “My name is Rylie. I’m ready for my photos!”. After raising my own 3 kids and working with little ones for many years, I’m confident to say 4 years old is hands down the cutest age ever, and Rylie proved that point in spades.
I started off with taking photos of her beautiful family. Her little brother is two years old, which is always the trickiest age to photograph, but it all worked out! It was also fun getting shots of just Rylie and each of her parents to capture the bond each of them have. She and her brother loved playing with the balloons I had set up, and I made sure to get as many portraits of beautiful Rylie as she’d allow (which were many, because she was so cooperative, expressive, and as cute as can be).
While I mainly work with infants, I always love when clients contact me to schedule photos for their children as they grow! Every child is so special and unique, and a birthday is an especially fun time to book a photoshoot to celebrate. I highly recommend reaching out to discuss scheduling a special photoshoot for your little one(s)! Read more about my Child Photography Sessions here.
After moving to Southern California a few years ago, I took a break for almost a year and finally opened my studio again after settling into our new home. One of my very first new clients here was big brother Ryan when he was just a newborn himself! When he came back this time around, he had just turned two years old and welcomed his new baby brother, Cody. Ryan was such a champ for family and sibling photos. I didn’t even have to coax him, he was so happy to join in for the photos and snuggle his baby brother with so much love.
I never quite know how things will go when a two year old is part of the photoshoot (anyone who has ever met a toddler knows that they usually have their own ideas, haha!), but I couldn’t have asked for things to go more smoothly. I absolutely loved this newborn photoshoot and I hope you will too! Baby Cody looks so much like his big brother, and he was such a dream for his newborn session.
If you’re looking to book your own newborn, baby, or child session (with or without family shots included), please reach out! You can book directly through my scheduling calendar or contact me any time.
I kicked off 2024 with these adorable 6 month old twins for their newborn photoshoot as my first session of the year, and it’s hard to believe this year is already over halfway through. I’ve recently introduced the option of a complimentary 6 month photoshoot with newborn sessions. This is a super quick 10 minute photoshoot with 5 free images (additional images can be purchased, but this is completely optional). Celebrating the halfway mark through baby’s momentous first year is such a special milestone! I can’t say it enough, but 6 months is by far one of the cutest ages. From learning to sitting up, to new teeth popping through their adorable gummy smiles, to loads of personality coming through, to the chunky rolls many babies have at this phase…there is so much to capture at this fun stage.
Cade and Elaina’s momma brought some fun 1/2 year outfits and crowns to commemorate their 6 month photoshoot. Aren’t they the cutest?!
It’s a girl for this absolutely beautiful family, and they came all the way from the Irvine area for their new baby’s photos! Big brother was so cooperative and full of smiles (not always an easy feat with a two year old and a newborn!). I couldn’t believe how gorgeous baby girl’s eyelashes are! Try to spot her adorable dimple too… so sweet!
The Importance of Hiring a Newborn Photographer
Welcoming a new baby is a momentous occasion filled with joy, love, and precious moments that pass all too quickly. While it may be tempting to rely on smartphone snapshots or amateur photography, hiring a professional newborn photographer can make a world of difference in preserving these fleeting memories. Here’s why investing in a professional newborn photographer is so important:
Safety First
The safety of your newborn is paramount, and professional newborn photographers will handle and pose babies with the utmost care. They understand how to achieve those adorable poses safely. This expertise ensures that your baby remains comfortable and secure throughout the entire session.
Expertise and Experience
Newborn photography is a specialized field that requires specific skills and knowledge. Professional photographers have invested time and resources into mastering the art of capturing newborns, including:
Soothing techniques to keep babies calm
Proper lighting and composition
Posing that flatters newborns
Attention to tiny details that make each image special
This expertise allows them to consistently produce high-quality images that match their portfolio, giving you confidence in the final result.
Time-Sensitive Opportunity
The newborn stage is incredibly brief. Professional photographers understand the importance of timing and can capture those sleepy, curly poses that are characteristic of brand-new babies. By hiring an expert, you ensure that these fleeting moments are preserved before they pass.
Professional Equipment and Props
When you hire a newborn photographer, you gain access to their arsenal of professional-grade equipment, including:
High-quality cameras and lenses
Specialized lighting setups
A variety of props, outfits, and accessories
This eliminates the need for you to invest in or source these items yourself, allowing you to focus on enjoying the experience.
Editing Expertise
Professional newborn photographers possess advanced editing skills to address common newborn skin issues such as jaundice, flaky skin, or baby acne. They can enhance images while maintaining a natural look, ensuring that your baby’s photos are both beautiful and authentic.
Peace of Mind
As new parents, you have enough on your plate. Hiring a professional newborn photographer provides peace of mind, allowing you to relax and enjoy this special time. You can trust that an experienced photographer will handle everything from posing to lighting, resulting in stunning images that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
A Worthwhile Investment
While it may seem like an added expense, hiring a professional newborn photographer is an investment in preserving precious memories. These images will become family heirlooms, allowing you to relive those early days and share them with your child as they grow older.
The importance of hiring a newborn photographer cannot be overstated. Their expertise in safety, posing, lighting, and editing, combined with their professional equipment and props, ensures that you’ll receive beautiful, high-quality images that capture the essence of your newborn. These photographs will serve as timeless reminders of this fleeting and magical period in your family’s life.
Kennedy’s 1st birthday cake smash was full of her gorgeous smiles and beautiful brown eyes! She was so happy and joyful through every moment, even with a bit of a mishap with the cake at the end. Her personality is every bit as beautiful as she is, and I loved meeting her and her parents.
1st Birthday Cake Smash Photography
Cake smash photography is such a special way to celebrate a baby’s first birthday! A lot of families love to display these photos at their baby’s first birthday party, or simply as a way to commemorate this precious milestone.
A typical cake smash photo session consists of:
- Pre-cake portraits: I love to capture baby’s portraits and personality and do a few different setups before bringing out the cake!
- Cake smash: The main event where the baby gets to dig in to the cake. Some babies absolutely love it while others are more timid, but that’s the beauty of every session…getting to see baby’s personality and curiosity shine through!
- Clean-up: This can include some cute photos with baby playing in a little tub — babies usually love this part the most!
When planning a cake smash session, consider the following tips:
- Choose a theme or color scheme that complements your baby’s personality or birthday party decor.
- I recommend light or white cakes with whipped cream frosting or “naked” frosting. Buttercream tends to be a bit sticky and difficult for babies to swallow.
- Be prepared for a mess — frosting tends to get everywhere! Bring extra clothes for both the baby and yourself.
I have a variety of outfits, headbands, banners, cake stands, cake toppers, and balloons. Clients are always welcome to bring anything to make their session unique. Personally, I prefer to keep things simple to truly focus on the baby, but I’m always happy to discuss client’s wishes for their baby’s first birthday photos! After all, babies only turn one once…make it special with a 1st birthday photoshoot! For more information, take a look at my cake smash info page and reach out to discuss your baby’s first birthday session.
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