The Dad of these sweet kiddos shared with me how important it felt to get some great pictures of his whole family together as his daughter is planning on moving to NY once she graduates. This really got me thinking about how the older your kiddos get the less time you get to spend together as a whole family, especially when kids start to head to college and work.

I captured nothing but true tender moments and I hope that these parents will cherish the memories of the first few days with their baby girl because very soon these early days and nights will seem like a blur of feeding, burping and changing diapers. When this Mama looks at these pictures in two months or two years, she will immediately be brought back to the smell and the tender brand new touch of her little girl.

As a Santa Barbara Family Photographer, one of my favorite locations to have Family Portrait sessions is the Douglas Family Preserve, because of it’s variety of beauty from the tall shady Eucalyptus trees to the epic ocean views.

Once we reach our spot where we’ll shoot, I’ll give you a quick run down of some of the shots we’ll take and where we’ll move to get the best light. Although it is not my photography style at all I usually start the session with a couple of “look in the camera and smile” shots. I start with these because they are the most familiar to most people and the familiar helps families feel comfortable.

When you book your newborn photo shoot…it will be in the first two weeks of your sweet babies arrival. This is a time when it’s all still raw and you are not getting much sleep and if you have other children they may not be getting the most of you, which is what happens and that is ok.

As a lifestyle family and maternity photographer a part of my creative process is to use the dramatic backdrop of nature to enhance and add drama and interest my images, whether it’s a session at El Matador State Beach in Malibu or a rolling meadow in Ojai. When you book a session with me we’ll talk about where we’ll do the photo shoot as a part of our preparation.

What I want to let you know is, that whatever comes up with your children during our session together, I will be there to support you and your family every step of the way. I’ll help create room for your kids to express emotion, take a break, and give them choices which can make them feel empowered. Giving kids choices is one of the most effective ways to get them to cooperate.