For this family portrait session, Keith and I got to explore some new territory: Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach.  The C. Family suggested the location to us—it was spot for their first date.  And after visiting the beach we can understand why they are drawn to this particular spot—it’s got a great stretch of sand, some cute stonework, and an awesome view of the palm-tree dotted cliffs in the distance.  Here’s proof:

This three-year-old guy was adorable and a ham in front of the lens.

As the sun started to sink, it’s romantic orange rays hit the sand just right so we grabbed a few shots of just mom and dad.

And let’s not forget about the other two members of this family—Boo and Ollie.

Thanks so much to the C. Family for giving us the tour of this new spot!

You’ll notice that most of our family sessions include little ones, but this group was special—it consisted of mom, dad, and their two adult sons, plus a friend that could one day be a daughter-in-law! Aren’t they a cute couple?

And did we mention that our sessions are fun?  Lots of laughing usually ensues.

The mission has everything we like: colors, textures and great landscaping. And don’t forget the architecture. There are several popular features that make for great backdrops like the fountains and historic church bells.

Ready to book a session at the mission? Let us know. The grounds of the mission are a premium location as a permit is required for on-site photography. But we know the folks on-site and can help to make all the arrangements. Thanks so much to the S. Family!

1) Despite the rain we’ve had almost every weekend since February, we have managed to squeeze in a few portrait sessions.  We’re working hard to prep those photos for future blogs posts.  Stay tuned, there are some pretty cute shots on the horizon, especially of an adorable newborn that we can’t wait to blog.

2) Since this is the off-season for engagements and weddings, Keith and I have spent several weeks making sample albums from our 2009 weddings.  This year marks the first full year we’re offering albums to our clients, and we’ve got some awesome options for both press-printed coffee table books and traditional leather ablums.

3) Keith and I love gadgets.  We especially love cheap gadgets.  And it’s even better when those cheap gadgets come from Hong Kong via eBay! About a month or two ago, Keith and I attended a local photographer get-together to hear a presentation by wedding photographer guru Mike Larson.  His presentation included a brief off-camera flash demonstration.  And what was his device of choice to trigger his flashes remotely? Cheap gadgets off eBay!—Yongnuo flash triggers.  We were sold on their ease of use, speed, and small size.  That night we ordered our own set and we’ve been hooked since.  Want a little sample? Check out this photo we took at local park one evening.  We had a lot of fun testing the flashes that night. I’m just glad the residents surrounding the park didn’t call the police on us.  We must have looked like quite the pair.

We met the clan at Yorba Regional Park in Yorba Linda, which was a great location with a lake, bridges, and lots of greenery. The four younger girls, all under 5 years old, were adorable in their jewel-toned outfits and took the opportunity to run and play, while their older cousin did a great job of reigning everyone in (she also has fantastic grey-blue eyes). The whole group was super cute and made our job easy!

This was our last session for 2009, and it was great to end the year on such a good note!  Enjoy the slideshow!

But I’m not complaining.  You see, Keith and I discovered one shop in particular that we’ve grown to be quite fond of—Yogurtland.  During last summer’s heat wave we made several trips to our local Yogurtland to cool off with their deliciously addictive frozen treat.  My favorite combo: strawberry with Madagascar vanilla and a few gummy bears on top.  Keith prefers a mix of chocolate and peanut butter.  So what’s your favorite flavor mix or topping?

And if you want to talk with us about your wedding, or maybe a family session you’d like to book, send us a note.  We’d love skip the coffee shop and instead chat with you over a cup of fro-yo.  We’ll even spring for the gummy  bears.

All three kids (including twin girls!) were easy-going, full of smiles, and absolutely adorable. One of the girls brought her “pet” hamster, a Zhu Zhu pet, a toy which was all the rage this past holiday season. It was fun to see one up close.  And even the family dog, Princess, stayed put for a few shots.

Thank you to the M. Family for a wonderful morning at the park.  We hope you enjoy the slideshow!

Last Fall, we met the T. Family at our Secret Irvine Location for their annual holiday portraits. The weather was great, and the grasses were lush and green with lots of bright yellow leaves peppering the grounds. Plus the late afternoon light provided an awesome golden glow.

And one of the things we admire most about this trio is how they interact. You can tell they actually enjoy being together. There’s just no faking that! This positive, happy interaction makes our job so much easier as we’re able to capture several candid shots of the family having fun, and then sprinkle in a few posed shots to fill out their family album.  This is one good lookin’ family, don’t you think?

Much thanks to the T. Family for not just being awesome, but for being great friends, too!

Last November, we joined the B. Bunch for a morning at the park.  And we lucked out with great weather that day (we previously photographed them in July when the temps were a little too toasty). The family arrived in subtly matching clothes, with Samantha and Tessa wearing colorful red dresses that added an amazing pop to the photos; Kristina and Jason were equally chic in dark shirts and jeans.

Both girls did a awesome job in front of the lens.  And we got a kick out watching little Tessa play in the Autumn leaves.  It was also great to take some time to photograph just Kristina and Jason together.  Thank you to the B. Bunch!  We can’t wait to see you again this Fall!

Lots of our clients like to wear matching white shirts and khaki pants or something similar.  While it’s a classic and clean look, we think the added color in these photos really make them pop while still creating a cohesive feel. And from our experience, all-white outfits tend to blow out and lose detail outside the studio where light control can be a challenge.

These pictures were taken at our Secret Irvine Location last September, which is a great time to book a family portrait session since the weather tends to be good, the days are still long, and you get your pictures well in advance of any holiday cards you might be thinking of sending. Oh, and if your family is super cute, that makes any session a memorable one!

Much thanks to the S. Family for another wonderful session.  We can’t believe how much Jack has grown since 2008, and we hope to see you again this year.

But this next family was a bit different for us: three adult siblings! And we loved every minute of it!  We met up with this trio at our secret Irvine location.  Even though the sky was overcast, we were able to take full advantage of the fresh Spring greenery.  And Jon, Curtis, and Kristine were awesome to work with; they were up for exploring several different locations with us to use as backdrops.  But even more than that, their session underscored the importance of taking time out to connect with your siblings—even as adults—to get a few photos taken.

So what are you and your siblings waiting for?  Feel free to drop us a line to schedule a session. And remember, Mother’s Day will be here before you know it.  We know Mom would love to have a new photo of her “babies” to display on the mantle.