So this past weekend we met with Traci, a hardworking mom from just over the Orange County/Los Angeles border who started her own portrait business last year. We discussed some basic photo techniques, shared information about our equipment, and talked about how we handle client sessions.  After talking shop, we finished up with some headshots for her marketing.  And it was perfect timing as the sun was just starting to sink.  We love that soft, afternoon glow!

We had so much fun with Traci that we’re thinking about doing more of these mentoring sessions. If any of  you are interested in taking better pictures—just for your family or as a side business—we’d love to hear from you! Here are some topics we can cover:

• What you need to know to get started

• How to use your existing camera gear and what you might buy next

• How to take better pictures without spending your life savings

• How to use natural light to your advantage

• Five easy tips to ensure pro images

And if you’re interested, we’ll even spend 15 minutes at the end of the session to grab some new headshots for your website or Facebook page. Contact us for pricing and details!

Pitcher Park is pretty tiny.  In fact, lots of folks probably miss it as they drive by the main entrance.  But what it lacks in size it makes up in charm.  Like this cute barn building, which served as great backdrop for this awesome duo.

Even on an overcast day, the greenery at Pitcher Park isn’t too shabby either.

After exploring the park, the four of us wandered through Old Towne Orange.

But I think we had the most fun along the train tracks.

And what’s a walk through Old Towne without stopping by the famed fountain in The Circle?  Pretty romantic, right?

Or how about a stop at Watson’s Soda Fountain for an Oreo shake?

Thanks so much to Kari and Chris!  You were our first engagement session for 2011, and you got our year off to a great start.  We can’t wait to help you both celebrate your big day in May.

The day: A Thursday
The time: Late afternoon, when the sunlight is warm, yet soft
The location: An orange orchard in south Orange County
The subjects: US!

What????????!!!!!!

For the first time since we got married, Keith and I put down our cameras and experienced life in front of the lens. You see, for the past four years (we celebrated our photography business’ fourth anniversary this week!) we’ve photographed a ton of great families and awesome couples.  But we never made the time to drop our cameras long enough to have some proper photos of our own taken.  And we’re so glad we did!

Guiding us along the way were the talented Mark and Candice Brooke of Mark Brooke Photographers.  We’ve admired their work for several years, so when we heard they were available for a session, we jumped at the chance to book it.

Not only did we get some great new photos we can proudly display on our mantle, but the session confirmed a few things we always suspected with our own clients:

1. It can be tough trying to find the right outfit.
2. It can be intimidating to have that lens staring straight at you.
3. During a session, you might ask yourself, “Does my hair look OK?”
4. Or you may ask, “This pose feels slightly awkward.”

But here’s the thing…while a session may bring out a few small insecurities, the result is worth it when a pro you trust is behind the lens.  Mark and Candice proved that, just as we hope we always do for our own clients.

We hope you enjoy these photos.  And when you book your wedding or family session with us, go ahead…it’s OK to tell us you might be nervous.  We’ve been there, and done that, but we’ve also had a ton of fun along the way.

This session was a first for us.  As you already know, Keith and I usually photograph families outdoors in and around Orange County.  But the awesome F. Family asked us to drop by their home for this special studio-type session.  And we LOVED it!

The family dog Rylee even got in on the act. She was actually very well behaved and required some coaxing to get involved; but soon enough Ella “shared” her cake with Rylee by spreading some frosting on Rylee’s head. What a good friend!

Thanks to the F. family for their hospitality and for sharing their princess with us for the afternoon.

We would love to do this again.  If you’ve got a one-year-old and cake, we’ll help you get your smash on!  Just contact us for details.

Megan is beaming, isn’t she? With such good-looking parents, baby William will be a handsome little guy, no doubt!

Love that bump!

Congratulations Megan and Stuart! We hope you enjoy this sneak peek. And we can’t wait to meet the little guy!

So without further ado, let me introduce you to Baby Parker.  How adorable is this little guy?

We photographed Parker at three weeks old.  Keith and I loved his full head of hair. We were also quite impressed at his strength.  In the shot above, he propped himself up for a few seconds after we set him on his belly. He’s a future athlete for sure.

Keith and I have been looking for ways to mix up newborn sessions.  We’re in love with all the great and creative crochet hats and diaper covers on Etsy.  We found this adorable bear hat through Crochet TLC.  Based on Parker’s expression, he may not have been in love with it, but we still think it’s pretty cute.

Thanks so much to the T. Family! We’re so thankful for the chance to spend the afternoon with you and meet the newest member of the family.

Since we needed a little western flair for the photos, we opted to meet at Irvine Regional Park in Orange.  The rustic wood fences that line the park’s pathways complemented Chloe’s outfit perfectly.  And check out her awesome hat and red boots!  The girl knows how to accessorize!

Thanks so much to Erica and Chloe for the fun morning session.  We’ll be on hand to photograph the party in just a couple months.  We can’t wait to help celebrate.

And a special tip for all you moms and dads out there…you don’t need fancy backdrops or studio lights to get gorgeous shots of your little ones at home.  Just experiment with a little window light and some cool fabrics.  In the shot above, we had some great afternoon light peeking through one of the bedroom windows.  We stretched out about three yards of this cool swirly fabric (compliments of Jo-Ann Fabrics) on the bed and placed Linley on top.  Landon was awesome and held up some of the fabric in the background while Keith and I photographed.  The result: cute photos!

Again, here’s that great window light.  It made for a great mother-daughter shot.

And don’t forget the details!  Photos of tiny hands, toes, and bellies make for great shots for the baby book.

Congrats to Miko and Landon!  Thanks so much for letting us share in documenting this special time for your family.

We met up with the K. Family at our secret Irvine location.  The lush landscape and golden afternoon sun set the perfect backdrop for this four-generation group.  And while photographing such a big group may seem daunting, we actually had a great system in place—we allotted time to photograph the entire group, as well as smaller family groupings and individual portraits of each family member.  And one of the best parts of working as a photography duo…Keith and I can split up and tag-team the smaller groupings. Yay team!  Thanks so much to the K. Family.  We hope you enjoy your slideshow.