Laguna Beach Family Session
These guys came all the way from Vegas to enjoy sunny Cali beaches, They were so excited to be here to soak up the sun and it was a great evening for family session with all that golden light shining. We shot their session at Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach to really capture the diversity of open sand + rocky shore with pools of salty water, pebbles and boulders. Just love this spot and these sweet families I get to meet along the way who travel from all over to visit where we live.
For this mamma-to-be we wanted a session full of earthy soft pastel tones. When Elizabeth contacted me to document this special time for her and her husband Robert, we brainstormed a color palette similar to the colors you see during the sun going down at the beach. We decided on a dreamy beach location; Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach. As a SoCal photographer, I'm a sucker for a rocky shore with pools of salty water, pebbles and boulders and this spot had just that for us.
Elizabeth picked up some flowers at the local market to incorporate in her session . She wore a flowy gown and then changed into a tighter more fitted gown that accentuated her belly a bit more. We really made our visions come to life! This was such a dreamy romantic session! It was a great day for a maternity shoot.
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.
This sweet family was a blast to photograph! We captured some good laughs while we took a stroll down the shoreline... the light was killer and the sunset was even more beautiful! I really enjoy sessions like these, pure joy shines thru in almost every shot. This family is so incredibly bonded and you can feel the love in every moment captured. This is why I do what I do; to capture that raw emotion & connection between humans.
Thank you to the Peterson Family for allowing me to document your gorgeous & very fun family!
The Parker's Family Session at Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach was just breathtaking! The light was to die for and don’t even get me started on their stylish outfits! (This is why I stress to all my families to please coordinate wardrobes carefully and be open to suggestions from your photographer because it can make such a huge difference in the outcome of photos, let me be the one tell you!) Here they first went with punchy reds & greys in solids and kept it real simple but eye catching! The second wardrobe palette they chose neutrals, those soft cremes, pinks & greys. I just loved this session so much because sweet little Landon (age 2yr) was full of personality and such a ham in front of the camera! This family was very interactive as they tickled, chased and played with their munchkins. I love to capture raw moments like this, it truely makes for the best memories.
Thank you to Danielle & Kelly for allowing me to capture your sweet family!
This sweet mommy & me session took place in Laguna Beach at the Montage Resort . I just loved that baby Ronnie + Mom were both in neutral tones, really giving this session an airy crisp look along the ocean front, bringing out the blues in the ocean & sky . Plus how stinkin cute is little Ronnie & that smile?!
Meet Stephanie & sweet little 3 month old Chole! I have had the privilege of photographing baby Chloe since she was in mommy’s tummy! I always LOVE getting to watch your little ones grow and DOCUMENTING their milestones! It feels like just yesterday I did baby Chloe’s newborn photos! For this session, we included Chloe’s proud grandma (hardly looks like a grandma though! ;) I enjoyed not only capturing the love between grandma & Chloe but the bond of mom & daughter as well!
