Orange County

The Hodge Family Session | Orange County Newborn Photographer

The Hodge Family Session | Orange County Newborn Photographer | Orange County Family Session

I am SO behind on blogging guys! Like a gazillion sessions waiting on my desktop to hit the BLOG, eeks!

 I’ve been photographing lots of new little blossoms of humanity lately and I’m loving it! It must be baby booming season you guys! This Orange County family session was really fun because of big sister who was full of spunk & energy! I just adore watching little ones become siblings and that I get to witness the love & joy of it right behind my lens! My goal for these sessions are not to force anything, to roll with the punches and capture the beauty that is already right there in front of us. I do a little posing and directing but mostly just to give big sister something to do with her hands ;) Their is nothing more beautiful than a family bonding and I really like to encourage story time, jumping on the bed and lots of cuddles + kisses to get those real & raw moments captured. 

OKAY- this sweet little boys nursery? Can we just hashtag #nurserygoals already?! I mean who doesn’t love a travel room , this theme was so darn cute! I love how mamma pieced together the wall of little travel books, the word “E-X-P-L-O-R-E”  and the little personalized car with their families last name.

Don’t even get me started on the incredibly beautiful garden swing they had just hanging out in their yard! I literally saw it thru their window as I was peeking thru their curtains (wait, that sound creepy. I mean in a non-creepy way ;) and said to them “ Can we please use that gorgeous swing surrounded by roses & greenery ?!  Hashtag #everyphotographersdream

The Barron’s Family | Orange County Family Photographer | Montage Laguna Family Photos

The Barron’s Family | Orange County Family Photographer | Montage Laguna Family Photos

A few of my recent clients have asked me , “Does the time of day you shoot at the beach make that much of a difference?”

Heres my answer : The golden hour occurs from about half an hour before, until about an hour after sunrise in the morning, and then an hour before sunset, to about 20 to 30 minutes after the sun has gone down in the evening. When you shoot in this soft light the light is golden in colour and often changes colour from yellow, to orange to magenta. 
-The light is soft, i.e. no major contrast such as hard shadows and very bright highlights. 
-Colors are more exaggerated, the color of the light is far more emphasized, much more oranges, reds and magentas are visible in the scene.
It is for these reasons that photographers choose to shoot in the early morning or early evening, these times produce the most dramatic images.

Many of us were taught to shoot under bright sunlight, in the middle of the day, with the sun behind us. Sure, that can work, but you won’t get dramatic results every time, in many cases, your images will look very average. This is because light is harsh at this time of day.

So to many of you who are wondering, yes, the time of day can make a HUGE difference in the outcome of your photos.

Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach | The Dunbar’s Family Session

Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach  |  The Dunbar’s Family Session   

The Dunbar Family has allowed me to photograph them for quite some time now, all the way from when their sweet Paisley was just a little baby! She is now 2 yrs old  & going to be a BIG sister this coming April! I just seriously adore this sweet family and love being able to document this special time for them and watch their little family grow! I feel so honored when families trust me to capture such precious milestones for them . One of the most rewarding parts of being a photographer is getting to witness & document a couples journey into parenthood and so on. It was a gorgeous day for a maternity/family session and we lucked out on some of the best sunset light at a gorgeous little beach location

Being a business owner & stay at home mommy | Audrey + Jaelene | Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach CA

Being a business owner & stay at home mommy to Audrey + Jaelene

These two. They have my whole heart. Some days I feel overwhelmed with gratitude to be a stay at home working mommy while other days it can be very challenging and I forget to take the time to really relish in this beautiful time of them being little still and even needing me at all. Right now I’m juggling potty training a toddler, school pickup & drop offs, sports, homework with my oldest and all the other tasks of mommy duties all while running a business . Running your own business is no piece of cake. Neither is raising a family.  Though I always say family comes first , before work or house duties - it isn’t always easy.

There is enough guilt to go around for any parent, so I make a conscious effort to let it go and focus on the positives. I may have a hectic schedule, and, as a result, my children are learning how to be independent and self-reliant. I also know one day they wont need mommy to  brush their hair or make their lunch or tuck them in at night, and some days I have to remind myself to slow down so I can enjoy these everyday in-between moments. The messes on the table, legos on the floor, dirty laundry piled everywhere ; one day they wont be there. I will miss that when its gone (well maybe not the laundry part;). Right now I’m juggling running a business and being home with a toddler and up-keeping a house (which is the first HOUSE we’ve ever lived in) and it can be a lot to keep up with it all. Daddy works long hours too and finding a balance can sometimes be hard for all of us.  But days like today, where I'm soaking up the sun watching my girls build sand castles so innocently in the sand, I remember that homework can wait, cleanup can wait, dinner can wait;  quality time with these two little beautiful girls (and my husband) is whats most important right now. Giving them my undivided attention when they ask - that is what I am doing my best to work on as a mommy who feels so busy and rushed for time all the time. I know they see that. I know they watch as I frantically run around like a chicken with its head cut off so that work is caught up, house stuff is caught up, everyones needs are met and the ’to do” list is all checked off. I know they see me regularly nod my head to them as they are sharing something with me:  “mommy look at the painting I made” as I am trying to return an email to a client or finish editing a session.  I know I should pause whatever it is I’m doing to give them those valuable minutes of  attention & time because all else can wait .  I know. I know. I know they wont be this little forever. 

Some days feel really short though guys, don’t they? Like their aren’t enough hours in the day to get breakfast started, shuffle to school & sports, prep dinners, clean the house, devote time to work and still manage to find time for yourself.  It’s all about finding a healthy balance. The truth is you can do it all if you just change what your definition of balance is. There are times where my business gets more attention than my kids and vice versa. In the end I like to believe that it all balances out. Part of being an entrepreneur is being comfortable with changing direction quickly. 

Entrepreneurship, just like motherhood, is not a 9-5 job. Some days I stay up until 3 am working and then have to do a 7 a.m. child drop off at school. Be kind to yourself. Make time for you even if it's just to breathe and smell the air. Kids are going to make messes, they are going to eat your reports and download viruses to your computer. Your best weapon is a sense of humor. Enjoy your mommy entrepreneur life, wear the title proudly. We are basically super heroes.

My goal for 2016 is to not sweat the small things (i.e.: messes, missed nights of homework, running late in the morning, getting behind on work. . .etc), not push myself to do it all and be it all- all the time; but to be present in the moment and give my family more undivided attention - Because believe me when l tell you, nothing in the world is more important to me then my family.

PS: These photos of my girls were taken on a whim one day when we decided to head down for the beach to catch some sun rays. I will cherish these photos of my two girls and their incredibly close bond. 

The Bohorquez Family Session | Riley Wilderness Park - Coto de Caza, CA

The Bohorquez Family Session | Riley Wilderness Park - Coto de Caza, CA

 

Oh gosh , this family session was just perfect! Those rolling hills + sun beams + sweet little Ronnie’s face ! I am still swooning! 

AMANDA + MATT // Corona Del Mar

Amanda came to me wanting to celebrate her graduating from Cal State Fullerton but also to celebrate her 4 year anniversary with Matt. This session was so much fun getting creative , incorporating pieces from her collage years like her school books and cap & gown.  The light was killer and we just had blast ! Matt was a huge help carrying all her books like GENTLEMEN, making her laugh during the session  and mommy came along carrying all her wardrobe changes. Meanwhile you could see in both their eyes (her moms & boyfriends) how proud they are of Amanda & all she has accomplished. She will be graduating with a Bachelors in Child Development and I couldn't be happier for her! And lastly, CONGRATS on your 4 year anniversary you two lovebirds!