1. The goal is to coordinate and compliment! When the entire family is dressed exactly the same, e.g. white button down shirts and khaki shorts, photos can come across flat and there is a loss of self- expression. Photos will appear much more engaging and interesting when each family member's clothing is different and complimentary. 

2. Avoid graphic designs on shirts as well as clothing that displays logos and brands. These can distract in a photograph. 

3. Look at your home décor. If you think there’s any chance that you’d want to print the photos from your session (and we highly encourage you to), then you’ll want to choose colors that compliment your home or the room where you plan to display the photos. 

4. Limit patterns. It can be distracting if mom is in a floral print, dad is in plaid, and the kids are in stripes. It will come across very busy looking. Typically, if patterns are incorporated, make sure to lay the clothes out and see if the patterns are not-overbearing and are complimentary.  

5. Textures photograph beautifully, so incorporate them all you want! Scarves, hats, layers, vests, all look great in photos and add depth. 

6. Cream is better than white. Believe it or not, white is difficult to photograph. It takes on color around it and can often look cyan under a blue sky, which then reflects on skin. Cream is warmer and typically more complimentary to skin and looks better in photographs. 

7. If there is a very large height discrepancy between parents, it typically looks nice to close the gap by either wearing a pair of heels or wearing flats to bring heights closer together.  

8. If your session is at the beach, we highly recommend dressing with preparation to get a little wet and messy. Shots come across much more spontaneous and natural with bare feet and being close to the water.

9. Outfits should be on the same level of formality. E.g. Mom should not come in an evening gown while the kids are dressed in a t-shirt and drawstring shorts. And on that topic, it's best not to be too casual or too formal. Somewhere in the middle is perfect. Remember self-expression and comfort are everything! We want you to dress to express your family’s style while making sure everyone is comfortable and ready to have FUN! 

Here are just a few examples of families that chose beautiful colors and textures that photographed very well...

San Diego Family Photographer

Remember these are not rules! This is just some advice for those who want some guidance. Wear what you want! What is most important is that you're comfortable and expressing yourself and your family authentically. We want you to enjoy your session and leave having had fun!

W H A T   T O   E X P E C T 

Chad and I are passionate about newborn photography. We care deeply about delivering a gallery that is timeless. We want to give you photographs that you will look back on in 10, 20, 30, 40+ years with great love and fondness. Safety is our number 1 priority. There has been a lot of training and studying hours put in over the years. We clean and prep everything prior to handling your baby and I scrub in before sessions with a deep, thorough hand washing. Chad and I are both vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. We are up to date on our pertussis vaccines and we get annual flu shots. We have good ventilation in our studio space with 2 open areas creating a cross breeze + we have a HEPA filter going at all times and a fan to ensure circulation continues even if the breezes die down. And for now at the time I’m writing this blog, I (Lindsey) wear a mask as I’m the one that handles the babies. This may change in the future as things improve, but for now, I still wear a mask. As I said. We take safety very seriously. 

H O W   T O   P R E P A R E

So how can you prepare to set your family up for a successful newborn session? Here are some helpful tips!

• Try to keep baby awake a couple hours prior to the session. This will increase the likelihood of a sleepy baby for our session. 

• Give your baby a nice full feed right before the session. 

•Dress baby in something that is easy to take off. Something that zips off is perfect. This way, we don’t have to disturb baby too much when we undress prior to swaddling.

•If you have and use a pacifier, bring it! Anything to help soothe your baby is going to be helpful. We keep the studio space warm and have a space heater. In addition, we have a heartbeat/white noise track playing, which soothes babies well. 

• Bring a diaper bag with a few extra diapers just in case. 

•Don’t stress!! Even with full preparation, some babies will have difficulty settling. This is okay. We have lots of tricks and ways to still get beautiful shots. Also, if a potty accident occurs, do not worry. This can happen and we clean thoroughly after every session. 

• If siblings are going to be included, be prepared to do the family and sibling shots at the beginning of the session and then plan to have 1 parent take the sibling/s home or to the park if they are younger. Toddlers tend to get restless and bored when the session transitions to focusing on the newborn. It is much easier for the parents to divide and conquer with 1 parent that takes the siblings out for the rest of the session and 1 parent that stays behind. 

W H A T   T O   W E A R 

• You don’t have to bring anything for the baby unless there is something special and sentimental you want included in the photographs. Otherwise, we will provide the wraps that photograph beautifully and we have headbands if parents want these included in the shoot. Our style is about simplicity. We don’t do costumes, elaborate sets, etc. We aim for simple, classic images.

• When planning what to wear for parents and siblings, stick with mainly solid colors if you can and avoid lots of patterns or graphics. 

• Avoid very bright/neon colors. These tend to cast color on both you and the baby.

• If there is a large height discrepancy between mom and dad, mom should bring a pair of heels to slip on to close the gap in height a bit. 

• Pure white tends to be difficult to photograph. Creams are much preferred and add some warmth. 

• The family clothing should not match perfectly. Example: all white shirts and jeans. Outfits and colors should complement each other, and outfits should be on the same level of formality. Let me explain… Mom should not come in an evening gown while the toddler is dressed in a t-shirt and drawstring shorts. And on that topic, it’s best not to be too casual or too formal. Somewhere in the middle is perfect. Like this:

•Also, please have all family members come dressed and ready. Sometimes clients come and want to change or change the kids at the beginning of the session. This can cause up to a 30 minute delay and we have a designated amount of time to get all the shots we need.

• When toddlers are going to be in the family portion, sometimes shoes will be in the photos if they are held. Be sure to bring shoes that you would want in the photograph that match the clothing and the formality of the clothing. Example: if a toddler boy is in a button down shirt and khaki shorts, but has neon spiderman sneakers in the photos, it can be distracting. A lot of times parents opt for no shoes on the toddlers in the photos.

• Sibling shots with toddlers can be very difficult. Come prepared with the bribery of your choice and prepare siblings prior to the shoot by telling them what is expected. Show them these pictures and tell them they will be doing something similar. Get them excited!!! Sometimes videos they love or songs they like are helpful, so have these ready to go if needed!

Bear in mind these are just tips. Dress to express yourself at your comfort level. You can wear whatever you want. These tips are just given to help guide you with what we know photographs well!!! Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!

My name is Chad Tuthill. I am one half of a photography team consisting of me and my wife Lindsey called Zoetic Photography. For the past 7 years, we’ve been focusing on portraits of families, kids, babies, and couples, and are happily continuing to do so! But after the last 2 years of going through what everybody is going through in one way or another and to varying degrees, we’ve set out to reconnect with the world in another way. 

Photographing nature and environment can be such an emotional way to engage the earth. You can simultaneously experience the physical space - the texture of the ground, the temperature of the air, the energy of any surrounding people, the smell of specific plants - and also the artistic interpretation of what you are witnessing. You can home in on exactly what inspires you, what you are feeling, and with your personal definition of beauty. You can remind people what is both ephemeral and eternal about the planet, you can give people the inspiration they need to set out on their own explorations, and you can give people the opportunity to gain perspective from your own point of view. 

This is what we want to invite into our lives and yours as we move into an additional phase of sharing our photography and experiences with you. We do this in the hopes that we can all stay in touch with themes that are much larger than the fast moving twists and turns of the present and stay connected to universal events outside of our limited existence. Whether it’s capturing the stars at night only visible in the dark desert sky, or documenting crumbling mountains millions of years in the making, meditating on spaces where water meets land, or honoring the paths that take us there, we want to be a source of inspiration for travel, exploration, and enjoying what it means to be a human on earth right now. 

And we are going to start with the journey to...

D E A T H  V A L L E Y 

Death Valley never seemed like a place you actually go - more like a reference to a hell-scape from which there is no return. The name lurks in the background, proof of earth’s ability to obliterate any hope of the survival of those who dare traverse the desolate domain.

Of course, nothing could be further from the reality of what Death Valley actually has to offer. It is true that it can be dangerous - some days have reached upwards of 134 degrees, and with little cell reception you had better hope your car is in perfect working order. But this is not the norm for the largest national park in the contiguous Unites States. Outside of the dead heat of the summer months July and August, it can range from straight up cold to downright pleasant. As was the case for us when we spent the first days of May in the Valley. Approaching from where we live in San Diego county, it took just about 5 hours to get there. It’s a straight shot up the 15 until you hit the town of Baker, where you should stop to gas up (last “reasonable” gas prices available before hitting the park) and maybe grab something from Alien Jerky (trippy novelty shop that was far busier than it seemed like it should be, but somehow still worth poking around).

And just down the road from there is a photographer’s dream site - the Royal Hawaiian motel, perfectly demonstrating what a post apocalyptic world could become when law and order run for the hills and leave behind the keys for anarchy. We absolutely had to stop and do a mini shoot in that rare environment.

And then on to Death Valley for the final stretch down the 127 until you hit the 190 that takes you right into the park.

T H E  O A S I S

The Oasis at Death Valley is impossible to miss - it literally looks like an oasis surrounded by groves of palm trees sprung right out of the mountains’ edge. There are two Oasis properties separated by about a mile. The Inn at Death Valley is going for a more upscale luxury vibe with its big, beautiful pool and costly restaurant. Down the road a piece, you come to the Ranch at Death Valley. This is where we stayed and we definitely recommend it. It has a cool ranchy vibe with a perfect amount of conveniences to make it more than worthwhile.

The general store has everything you could want or need - great coffee, pre-made sandwiches, ice cream, keepsakes, and potato salad. What else could you possibly want?!

There are also THREE other eating options on site. The ice cream shop, which in addition to fantastic ice cream has great hamburgers and hot dogs, presents a really throwback diner feel that was very much appreciated.

There’s also a full buffet available in the 1849 Restaurant (though we did not try this because we preferred the other options).

If all that wasn’t enough, they also have The Last Kind Words Saloon, which is a legit saloon with fantastic decor, good food (though a bit pricey), and lots of drink options. 

The Ranch also offers a pool with a hot tub (though again we did not utilize them) and a couple tennis courts for those that would like to work out in Death Valley. 

The room accommodations are far more than decent and provide a great space for chilling between adventures. The AC in our room was a bit ridiculously loud and a double sink would have been ideal, but beggars can’t be choosers and this place more than took care of us during our stay. It is perfectly located in the park to put you only short drives away from so many incredible things to check out!

B A D W A T E R  B A S I N

Heading out from the ranch puts you on the 190 again which leads you to Badwater Road, where you will find the opportunity to stop and have many different experiences as you go. You really start to understand the full reality of the Valley title as you become surrounded by never-ending mountains on both sides while driving deeper into the Valley of Death. About 13 miles in, you come to a parking lot and stairs descending down to Badwater Basin. This is thee lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at -282 feet below sea level. The words “Sea Level” posted high up on the towering mountain behind the road really put into perspective just how deep the basin actually is. As you make your way across the boardwalk leading you straight into the basin, the milky-colored floor stretches out for miles and miles and feels impossibly vast. The soft crunch of what you come to realize is pure salt beneath your shoes (better make it hiking boots for your stay in DV) is a most surprising development. You soon discover the salt flats with its strange and other-worldly geometric hexagons of crystallized salt rising out of the very dirt. In places, it has a slushy quality more akin to snow than you would ever expect to experience in a place like this.

Given that this is actually one of the most extreme environments on the planet, Badwater Basin is definitely something to put on your list of things you cannot miss should you ever find yourself in that neck of the woods. 

D A N T E' S  V I E W

The fact that humans took the time to build a road all the way up to where you’ll find Dante’s View is a level of national park convenience that is a true gift to those who don’t quite find hiking to the highest peaks for epic, surreal, life-affirming views in their wheelhouse. This place delivers. Beholding the Badwater Basin Salt Flats from that height and with that infinite scope is a dreamscape that feels much more creatively birthed in a fiery fit of inspiration rather than gradually formed as a result of physical forces, sluggishly evolving over millennia. After a gorgeous drive up the mountain, there were only a few people around when we arrived. As we made our way up the path to various peaks weaving and jutting over the valley far below, we found ourselves alone with an entire 360 degree isolated experience that felt like a vision your being yearns for but never actually expects to find in waking life or outside of a fantasy. I’m convinced multitudes of sacred moments are had here and carried back to the homes of travelers worldwide. It was definitely the case for us. Sometimes, just being somewhere can have a lifetime of effect that can be accessed at any time. This is one of those somewheres. 

A R T I S T  D R I V E

Badwater Rd proves once again to be a pathway to the most surreal landscapes imaginable like paintings come to life, and none so much as Artist’s Pallet. Turning onto Artist Drive is one of the best decisions you can make in Death Valley. Though Artist’s Pallet is the ultimate lookout to get out and immerse yourself in the pure beauty, the entire drive IS the destination. The one-way road floats you through the multi-colored mountains, with shades of rusty reds, turquoise blues, burnt blacks, chocolate browns, creamy purples, and rosy pinks stunning you into an hypnotic meditation on land’s ability to affect you with its energy. You gradually find yourself surrounded by morphing and transforming hues with every curve of the path, making you wish it would never end. You might want to make sure you have a really good playlist providing the soundtrack to your voyage. Listening to music that puts you into a good state of mind is the perfect compliment to the serenity of the environment. We were listening to Barzin's "Stealing Beauty" and it pushed the ride into the absolutely surreal category.

Arriving at the Artist’s Pallet gives you the opportunity to sit with the beautifully muted, dusty colors on full display and available for you to explore should you feel like stepping into the canvas… We fell in love with this part of Death Valley and absolutely had to go back again the next day for another opportunity to encounter this divine space. 

M E S Q U I T E  S A N D  D U N E S

Heading north in the opposite direction of Badwater Rd. from the Ranch delivers you to the Mesquite Sand Dunes. For us, this was our most immersive exploration as we walked up and down and all around the dunes. Feeling almost blasphemous with every footprint left behind, we reluctantly disturbed the perfectly smooth wind-blown patterns in the desert sand. Coming here on a particularly breezy day would not be recommended for the sake of your eyes, but we were blessed with an evening of serenity, allowing us to wander and attempt to document the beautiful contrast of flowing sand-waves set against the rigid architecture of mountains approaching beyond the dunes.

This place is potentially the most sensual Death Valley has to offer with its soft hills of sand embracing you with each step, inviting you to explore the landscape and find private corners to take in a sunset, be still, and listen to the quiet. If you’re looking to have a spiritual experience, you will find it here. It is absolutely the quintessential desert vibe you never knew you always wanted. 

Z A B R I S K I E  P O I N T 

This is a great place to perch and get to see the surrounding mountains up close and personal. We first visited the Point on our drive into the park - it’s right off the side of the road and hard to miss. This spot’s a great introduction to Death Valley and an interesting piece of history to discover. We decided this would be a good place to return to later that night so we could photograph the stars. We made our way back around 2:00am and quickly realized we were not the only ones with that idea. While not the isolated, solo astro experience we are used to and were hoping for, we got the shot - but not without getting in each other’s way a bit. Though it was something that made sense to try, if we were to do it again, we would seriously just pick a place off the side of Badwater Rd. It would have been just as grand and more importantly, free of any other stargazers with the same goal competing in a confined space. Especially if you are hoping to do any light painting! Something to keep in mind if you are a photographer hoping to get the shot - though maybe you’d get lucky and have it all to yourself…

When it comes to choosing where to go explore and have adventures, extreme environments always have a certain allure. To fully understand what humans can experience on this planet, these dramatic landscapes provide perspective about just how actually hospitable earth is for humans by and large. To truly and deeply appreciate all of the luxurious locations we love to flock to, it could be a valuable exercise to engage with the desolate, the uninhabitable, and the potentially dangerous destinations (preferably in a safe way, of course). There is a strange beauty and an inherent peace just by virtue of the fact that there aren’t people competing for parking, loading up at a Walmart, and waiting in line for Starbucks. Especially for people who live in the south-western United States, Death Valley is too close to ignore. It is amazing that a half-day car ride can deliver you to such a vastly unique, alien place that is incredibly easy to navigate, seriously awe inspiring, and will leave an impression that lasts a lifetime. What more could any of us want from a getaway?

In other news, we moved to North County San Diego. This means we are meeting and photographing new families in the Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Encinitas, Oceanside and Escondido areas, but we are also still continuing to serve central San Diego as well!! We have simply expanded the geographical areas we shoot and we have found such wonderful gems in north county!!!

2022 has been off to a GREAT start with some gorgeous family sessions. We look forward to reconnecting with our client families and meeting new ones this year. Let's make it a great one!

Below are some photos from recent sessions! All of these were photographed in various North County locations like Felicita Park in Escondido and South Ponto Beach in Carlsbad!

Shot at Felicita Park in Escondido

1st birthday photos. Felicita Park, Escondido.

Carlsbad Maternity PhotographyCarlsbad Maternity photography, South Ponto Beach, Carlsbad.

Please forgive us for slacking on the posting and blogging. We will do our best not to let that happen again!!! 

Mom and dad were so proud...

Dad wanted to have a shirtless photo with baby girl and hilariously dropped and did 5 pushups right before we shot this. We've never had a client do that prior to a shot, and it gave us a good laugh!

Such a beautiful family...

At the end of the session. Little Luella calmly opened her eyes and gave us this gorgeous moment. 

These are just a handful of images from this session. It was such a joy to capture mom and dad in their earliest days of parenthood and baby Luella in her earliest days of life!

Family photographs are so important. These photos help us recall chapters of our stories and stages in our children's lives. The experience is also very important. We do our best to make sure the sessions are FUN. We know booking a shoot and preparing for it can be stressful. We always want clients to remember that these sessions are an occasion to experience a beautiful time in nature with your family. ENJOY IT!

Here are some of our favorite photographs from these past 2 sessions.

We have 2 upcoming mini sessions. Message us for dates and details! Our November calendar is filling up FAST, but we can't get enough of these beautiful families. This is what it's all about. Happy fall!

They have twin girls that are blossoming in their toddler years, but what is not apparent at first glance, is that this is actually a family of 5. Before the birth of their beautiful twins, they lost their son Julian in 2016 due to complications from premature birth. They got to meet their son, only to have him slip away along with all the hopes and dreams they held for him. We simply cannot comprehend the pain, the loss, and the suffering that this couple went through. 

Some close friends of the Salcedos gifted them a photo session with us to do their very first family photos. They had not yet had professional photos taken, but finally felt emotionally ready in their healing journey to take that step. 

One of the many ways this family keeps the memory and presence of Julian alive and well, is that they do a butterfly release every year for his birthday. It’s a sacred tradition that they invited us to photograph. Butterflies hold so much symbolism and meaning. They represent transformation, endurance, hope, life, and resurrection. We can’t think of anything more meaningful to celebrate the birthday of their little angel.

This gorgeous mama is indeed a metaphorical butterfly. She embodies love and grace and she is a warrior. Everything about this shoot was so meaningful. From the monarch shoes the twins were wearing, to the tattoo on mama’s wrist that is of Julian’s last EKG read. At the end of the shoot one single butterfly was perched perfectly on a bush and stayed there for us to capture a shot of it with Julian’s urn. Tears. His presence was certainly felt throughout the shoot. 

We were so incredibly honored and privileged to take part in this. This is the Salcedo Family. This is their story, and these are their very first family photos. Let this family be a reminder to us all to never take life for granted. We wish them so much love and happiness as they continue on their journey of healing and parenthood. 

I mean, SERIOUSLY?! The boots, the overalls, the chubs! 

We typically encourage a few outfit changes for these sessions. We have some very cute rompers for both boys and girls to use, but mama supplied all the cute outfits for this session.

Etsy and Michaels are great resources for unique props to bring a theme/vision to life for these sessions. The hay and the barrel bucket were both from Michaels and really helped with the cowgirl vibe!

Above we see Evelyn getting her dance on as she knows CAKE is coming! We work with a wonderful cake maker who does custom cakes for our clients, but this is the first time mama wanted to make her own cake! And...

How CUTE is this RED VELVET PIGGY CAKE?!!! 

And CLEARLY baby girl loved it! This session is what cake smash sessions are all about. It was fun, messy, creative and preserved an amazing milestone. This beautiful family will always have these adorable photos to cherish and remember what their little one was like at this age. I'm sure at least one of these will be included at her wedding someday. We are honored they chose us. 

Typically these sessions are baby only, but we do offer an option for family portraits like the one above. This little family was so much fun to work with. Happy birthday sweet girl. We have no doubt you'll make the world a better place with your sass, spunk, and infectious smile. 
 

Details:

Early Bird Family Mini Sessions 

Sunday 9/1/19

9:30-11:30 am

Rustic Trails Location

20 minute sessions

5 retouched digital images (photographer's choice) delivered via a password protected gallery in both JPEG (print) and https://cdn.zenfolio.com/zf/img/null.gif (online posting) formats.

$170.

Both of the above images were shot around 10:15 am. As you can see, the light is soft and the background provides beautiful color and texture. It has those gorgeous gold/brown autumn tones. San Diego can sometimes be difficult to bring forward that Fall feel, but this location always delivers that vibe. 

The path is easily accessed and the area is rich with color. The canopy can be pure magic as the light pours through. 

So throw on those Autumn colors and bring your family for these short, sweet sessions that will deliver all you need for those yearly family photos. You've got holiday cards, social media posts, and grandma/grandpa requests calling. :) Let's make some memories and document 2019. No one ever looks back and says they have too many photos. It's always the opposite sentiment. 

Email us to book!

Looking forward to this holiday season!

And Gjyshe (Grandma) came all the way back from Albania again and was able to be included in this session as well. It is always so special when we get to include grandparents!

Getting to know families and watch them grow over the years is such a meaningful part of being a photographer for us. We love this family and hope to have the opportunity to continue photographing them over the years!
 

We would be honored to photograph your Milestone Moments sessions! Contact us for details!
 

We were so happy to get to photograph this incredible chapter for this family. It's amazing how newborn sessions never fail to remind you of the immense importance of photographs and the beautiful family core of life that all of us should be lucky enough to experience when we come into this world.
 

We hope to photograph Riley again and see her grow throughout the years!
 

Happy Holidays and HAPPY NEW YEAR to our wonderful clients. Thank you for giving us such a successful 2018!
 

We caught some beautiful moments with the kids together:

And a fantastic, candid Father-Son scene:

We hope this gallery will make this San Diego sunset one they will always remember!

We felt very honored that Maya chose us to create her Maternity gallery and we know these photos will be a special reminder of this beautiful and sacred period for her family =)
 

He was absolutely right - it is so important to document these incredibly special times to preserve family history. We of course had to get a few portraits of this proud big brother:

The whole family was really excited about their upcoming arrival and it absolutely shows in these photographs:

We love this beautiful mom and sons moment:

We feel honored that we were able to provide these memories for this family!

We were honored to commemorate Declan's arrival and help his family celebrate their new addition =)

We started out with the family portion of the session and got some beautiful moments:

Big brother Aaron was so proud to be posing with his sister and new brother!

Then it was time for Eli to shine:

He even took a moment to open his eyes and ponder existence for a bit:

We are so happy we were able to provide more memories for this growing family! Baby Eli is lucky to have such a loving family to grow up with!

This beautiful family has the cutest little girls who had a blast together! We've photographed them before when their youngest was just a little baby, and it was incredible to see how much she's grown!

They are always so fun to photograph and we really hope we get the opportunity to do it again!

Ricky has always been a great little model, but this session took it above and beyond and he is definitely ready for the big time. Check it out:

See? He rocked it! We always love photographing this family and hope they keep coming back year after year...

When they arrived for their newborn session, we finally got to meet little Cole! Mom was beaming with love at her new addition to the family:

Next came the proud papa with his son:

Cole is a lucky baby to have such adoring parents:

When it came time to photograph Cole by himself, he was not feeling sleepy at all so we captured all the eyes open photographs we could:

When he finally felt sleepy, we were able to capture some beautiful, classic moments:

This gallery will help this beautiful family forever remember their first days with their first born! We love getting to create these family heirlooms for our clients =)

We were really happy that we were able to memorialize this father son moment:

Jamey did so well posing for his newborn photos! Here are some highlights:

It's always nice to have a classic black and white photograph in the mix!

Welcome to the world, Jamey. We hope this gallery will always remind you of how much you're loved =)

There is no better example than this gorgeous family!!! You can feel their love and happiness spilling out of every image =)

We would love to photograph your family and provide you with memories you can see and feel for a lifetime and beyond!!!

Then it was on to the Smash!

Declan went right for it and had fun with it all the way to the end! He knew how to bring in his 1st birthday with style =)

Here's little Ricky when he was a newborn:

We thought he looked pretty punk rock =P Next was our 3-month session:

He had such awesome expressions! Then came the 6-month session:

Such a cutie! At 9-months, he really started to look more like a toddler and less like a baby:

Clearly destined for the limelight... And then we finally came to his 1 year cake smash celebration!! We started the session off with a few outfits because cute:

When we introduced the cake into the picture, he wasn't quite sure what we wanted from him:

But he soon figured out that not only was he allowed to get really messy, but we were all encouraging it!! Life can be so confusing... It's so fun watching kids react to the cake - that's why these sessions are our favorite =)

It was such a pleasure and an honor to document the first year of Ricky's life. We hope this collection will always remind his family of how special his first 12 months were, and that it will show Ricky how loved he was right from the start!

We photographed this gorgeous couple a few months back who were anxiously awaiting their little girl, Serenity.

We were very excited to get to meet this precious little girl and create images that will forever help this loving family remember her arrival into their lives!

It's seriously amazing to meet the little person who was in their mommy's belly the last time we saw them. It is a constant reminder of how incredible life is, and how lucky we are to get to be involved in the stories of these blessed families and their exciting new adventure...

In between group family shots, we captured a couple spontaneous moments that we absolutely love =)

It's so special to be able to provide families with these galleries that perfectly preserve gorgeous glimpses into their lives. Especially when they are dear friends =)

Here she is as an adorable brand new baby:

Then she came back for her 6 month session and mega-cuteness occurred! Here is the proof:

This one is from her 9 month session! By this time, she's a seasoned model and needed very little direction:

And finally, she reached the one year mark and it was time to break out the cake. But first, we photographed her looking incredibly cute. Because, you know, fairies are awesome =P See? 

And then it was time for her to have her very first cake! What proceeded was the cutest series of photographs to ever bless the internet:

Happy Birthday Sophia!!! We loved getting to watch her grow up and we hope we'll be able to keep photographing her through the years! #cakesmash #oneyearofcuteness 

Penny was also the first newborn to receive our complimentary baby birth announcement video we now include with every newborn photography session. Check it out!

We hope this video was a nice surprise for Penny's family! This gallery is such a perfect way to welcome this precious little girl into the world and help her family always remember her first days on the outside... =)

Sunsets at the beach can be the most beautiful natural art with the moving reflections left behind by receding waves... It creates the perfect environment for a family to enjoy time together while appreciating their surroundings. This makes for good family photography!

These proud parents loved seeing the joy on their daughter's face as we snapped away, grabbing the photographs we needed to create portraits that would preserve these memories:

It was so much fun to see this little girl experiencing San Diego's beach for the first time!

This session was another opportunity to see that being a photographer is such an amazing way to use art as an effective service which contributes to the story of a family. Blending art and commerce is so often a point of contention and it's hard for artists to get to a place where they feel good about charging money for their creations. But photography is a unique venture that blurs the lines between creator and subject, and so tangibly and immediately benefits both. It's a privilege to work in an industry that has such emotional impact and value, where the more love and care you pour into the work, the more meaningful and important the end result is to those seeking the visual reminder of a time and place in their lives...

Both of Remy's parents are physicians and are enjoying their time off to spend with their baby boy! Here's Remy with his proud dad:

We love this gorgeous shot of a mother with her newborn son:

Then it was on to the newborn portion of the session! Dad settled in to take a nap on our couch, while Mom got to catch up on some TV, and we got to work. Parents really seem to appreciate the much-needed break they get while they're with us. They get to relax and know that we are doing what we do and taking the time it takes to get the shots we need. 

We loved this smiley shot we got of baby Remy. Such a great moment =) What do you think makes a newborn baby smile? Is it just biological comfort? Is it a memory? A dream? Whatever it is, there are few things that can bring as much pure joy to loved ones as a happy newborn, beaming with love...

Here are the gorgeous girls together:

There is something very special about a dad and his brand new daughter =)

Waverly is such a beautiful baby!!

We loved getting the opportunity to take the first official portraits for this family! It is a gorgeous gallery that they will always have to help them remember what those first days together were like... 

Meet Addison:

​And this is Malia:

​Before we met the girls, we were thinking it might be hard to tell them apart - but that was not the case at all! Not only is Addison quite a bit bigger than Malia, but she also has more hair so it was very easy to know who was who =) Look how beautiful they are all wrapped up and cuddling together:

​The girls were both so sleepy and cozy together that we were able to get these gorgeous poses:

​We finished the session with this beautiful basket set up:

We had such a great session with these girls, and we're so thankful our first twin experience was such a success! It's incredible to think that Addison and Malia will always have these photographs to look back on and see their beautiful and amazing first days of life. In the meantime, their family will have this stunning gallery to cherish as they welcome their gorgeous girls into the world =)

We love getting shots that reveal how small these brand new babies are! This one also shows just how loved she is:

We LOVE this next one - gorgeous simplicity:

Lovely AND cozy:

Bailey was such a good model, we were able to get some really great basket shots too!

It's always fun to think about how these galleries will be seen in the eyes of these babies when they grow up. I think it's safe to say that Bailey will see the love her parent's have for her and how celebrated she was when she made her entrance into their life and the world!

Grandma wasn't even sure she wanted to be in the pictures, but we're so glad we convinced her because this shot of grandmother and grandson is BEAUTIFUL:

It was gorgeous shot after gorgeous shot with Liam all throughout his session. He's such a handsome newborn!

This gallery was rewarding to create and an honor to deliver to Liam's family. We hope these photographs will be something they can always look at to remind them how incredible it was to welcome Liam to the world and into their life!

We were really excited when Charlotte's family reached out to us again and asked for portraits that would capture her incredible cuteness at 6 months! Charlotte's mom was a little nervous that her little one might not be in the mood for picture time, but when they arrived, Charlotte was happy and ready to go! Just look at how cute she is:

This photoshoot was such a great reminder that what we get to do is incredibly special! We do not take it for granted that the families with newborns we get to work with are all experiencing a beautiful, intense, sacred, life-changing, momentous period in their lives. The fact that we get to witness and even play a role in preserving these precious moments is a genuine honor. But when one of these newborns comes back to us 6 months later looking and acting so different, it really drives home that as photographers we get to become a part of a family's history, documenting their progression and creating timeless mementos that can be passed down through the generations to come... We're looking forward to the next time we get to photograph Charlotte!

Meet Miranda! This is her loving family:

Miranda has a very sweet big brother who had fun posing for this beautiful sibling photograph:

Miranda was so expressive and happy!

But she also had adorable sleepy stretches that gave us the chance to bundle her up and photograph her peaceful beauty:

It takes a village to raise a child and this photograph perfectly captures that reality ;)

It was a great opportunity to provide this family with a newborn session (even though little Miranda was not technically a newborn)! We're so happy she's finally back to optimal health and now the family has a gallery of gorgeous images that celebrate Miranda's arrival to the world =)

Mariah is such a great sister and loved holding her brother close, giving us these beautiful shots:

Then it was time to shine the spotlight on Stephen:

This next one is our favorite photograph from the session! A beautiful shot of a gorgeous baby:

We had a GREAT session with baby Stephen and his big sister Mariah! They were so fun to work with and had no trouble giving us exactly what we needed to create timeless treasures for their family =) 

Here are the results of our session:

Zoe was so proud to show off each outfit and it was a joy getting to photograph this happy girl =) Zoe has a little brother, and because they loved the way this session went, we get to look forward to creating portraits for him as well when he turns four - in about three years...

We're so thankful that we got the opportunity to help start this new tradition for Zoe and her loving family!

​Look at this gorgeous baby!

Mom and dad wanted to show off their little angle, so they brought in these wings:

We really wanted to capture this cocoon pose, so we had dad help us out in order to get the composite shot. With some clever hand positioning and some Photoshop magic, it worked out perfectly =)

This gorgeous basket setup was one of the last shots we got from the session. We took a break and tried to wait for Mikayla to fall asleep again. Dad was rocking her in the basket for quite a while, but Mikayla was just not feeling sleepy anymore! We decided to go with it and just start shooting. It turned out to be one of our absolute favorites!!

This was a really great session with a wonderful family, and we feel lucky to be the photographers that documented this beautiful stage of life for little Mikayla!

-First, Lindsey creates unique headbands/hats specifically for the upcoming shoot.

-The evening before the session, the studio is fully cleaned and sanitized to protect the baby.

-Then, colors and wraps are chosen and combined with backdrops, baskets, and headbands/hats and put in the order we want to shoot.

-The day of the shoot, we put the coffee on, get the couch ready to be chilled on, and throw HGTV on in the background. These sessions are a time for the parents to relax and hang out while magic is being created in our studio, and we want to make sure they have everything they need to be comfortable and ready for the next few hours of quiet time =)

-Meanwhile, the studio is being heated up to a toasty 80 degrees to encourage happy, cozy, sleepy babies.

-When parents arrive, we get to meet the baby and hear about birth stories and how the first days of parenthood have been treating them. This is a time to really get the vibe of the parents and create a bond as we prepare to photograph the family together.

-After making sure the baby is fed, burped, changed and sleepy enough to pose, we get started!

And this session was no different! We liked this family right away. They came to us via Tree of Life Birth Center, where our photographs are displayed on their walls. They had very positive things to say about Tree of Life and we are so thankful that they feature our art! It had been a looooooong previous night for them, as little Emerson didn't feel like sleep was something she needed... so needless to say, they were tired but ready to capture the brand new family unit:

After a great session with all 3, we moved on to the newborn portion of the shoot! We quickly found that Emerson was perfectly happy, comfortable, and willing to sleep - as long as she was being held. The minute anyone put her down, she wasn't having it! After a few feedings and numerous sleep-inducing tricks, we were able to get these GORGEOUS photographs that we absolutely LOVE:

Here's a look at Lindsey in action, creating beauty:

Mom really wanted to incorporate this stylin' poncho into the shoot, so after Emerson had quite enough of not being held, we decided to roll with her mood and grab this memorable shot of mommy and daughter:

We really enjoyed working with this family and this gallery has become one of our favorites we have created. We are so grateful they chose us for the great honor of documenting their brand new family =)

Isn't he beautiful?

We really wanted to emphasize Eli's size, so we made sure to photograph him in his mother's hands:

Our favorite shot of the day was this GORGEOUS black & white image:

It was an incredible experience and great honor to create a gallery of memories for this proud new mommy and her growing family =)

This is the whole fam:

They are very excited to meet the new little one!

We were able to grab some really cute moments - even though this future big brother was always on the move!

Then, it was time for this mommy-to-be to don thee dress:

​The next gorgeous shot was this glowing mama's favorite:

It was so great to be able to create a gallery that memorializes this really special time for this growing family! We're also getting the privilege of photographing their newborn when the time comes =)

To be continued...

Here's the birthday girl!

The theme: Cowgirl

The animals: Peacocks, sheep, bunnies, chicks, and ponies!

Just in case the petting zoo wasn't exciting enough: Balloons!

...and Face Painting!

Then it was time for cake! Cow-style.

Every partier got to take home their very own stick pony =)

Maeve's family made the day very special for everyone who came to celebrate their growing girl!

Here's the whole gang, dogs and all:

You could immediately feel the HUGE love in this family:

They were all incredibly natural in front of the camera, so it was really about keeping up with them and documenting their energy!

In the midst of all the wild energy, we grabbed a couple moments of pure serenity...

But there was still a lot of FUN going on in the background!

We were even able to get some great sibling shots - both human and K9 =)

It was a FAST and FUN session with the Mann's and we could not be happier with the gorgeous gallery that emerged!

We started with the family in the studio:

Sara is lucky she'll have such great older siblings!

This is the first shoot that we got to use the headbands Lindsey has been working on. They complimented baby Sara perfectly!

​Sara's mommy mentioned she liked shots of little baby feet, so we made sure we got a few of those.

Doesn't she look so cozy?

Though it took a lot of feedings, diaper changes, and baby bounces throughout the shoot, we were very glad we got the honor of photographically welcoming Sara to the world =) 

We set up a mini studio in-store with a backdrop, a perfect little chair for babies, and a great Jack-o'-Lantern prop! We photographed each baby for about 3 minutes or so. It was hilarious teaming up with the parents to try to make their baby smile =) Here are a few highlights from the day:

This epic shot is OBVIOUSLY our personal favorite:

We're looking forward to our next Babies R Us Collaboration, Baby's First Christmas! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

They even brought out Frank, the family Golden Retriever =) 

Lindsey caught this great tree-climbing moment:

This picture really shows there are few things as beautiful as a mother's love for her child...

And this was a great Father/Son moment!

Despite the heat and the constant swatting at the hordes of flies, we had a lot of fun photographing the Muncriefs. We found out only afterward that Mrs. Muncrief happens to be THEE Sydnee Michaels, Golf Pro extraordinaire! It was an honor getting to photograph this family and present them in such a gorgeous, natural San Diegan habitat =)

How cute is this kid?

SERIOUSLY?!

It is absolutely worth noting that Lindsey WON the attention of Enzo by jumping around, waving a red brush, and belting Taylor Swift songs. She earned these shots with her SKILLS.

We caught this moment of happy love between new parents...

This photo perfectly summarizes the day:

Yay Enzo! Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!!! *Imagine African singing from Lion King

It was a beautiful evening, and it was great to be able to show off San Diego's skyline behind this shiny, happy family...

One of the very first photographs of Landen we snapped caught his big blue eyes looking directly at the camera!

We captured this incredibly peaceful moment that turned out beautifully:

We love this image of Landen chilling like a little king!

This last shot of the day took some team work! Sean was a great sport and got right in there, holding on to the scarves that lifted Landen into photographic history =)

Congratulations to Heather and Sean! We hope these images will help them forever remember this incredibly special time in their lives...

His parents wanted to make sure he showed his San Diego pride - at least for as long as the team is here =/

After a HUGE feeding, a "milk coma" was induced and we were able to get perfect poses that look timeless in black & white!

Asher's mommy made this beautiful blanket, and it was really special to get to incorporate it. The result is gorgeous.

Our final shot of the day took some real shenanigans to pull off, but it produced this incredibly peaceful work of art =)

It was such a great experience getting to document this sacred time for the Lehmans, and we are so happy to get to be a part of Asher's life as he grows up and eventually gets to look back at how loved and welcomed he was when he came into this world! 

These are the bride's beautiful girls!  

Do you see the resemblance?!  SISTERS!  :)

The kids at this wedding were so very sweet.  The bride asked us to be sure to get a shot of all of them together.  CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!

Seriously, how sweet are they?

It was our honor to be asked to preserve this special day for this gorgeous family. Here's to happily ever after...

As you can see, Ilene was GLOWING...

Aaron was such a ham!  A natural born model!  

Aaron had this pose he used throughout the shoot. Ilene kept saying she had no idea where he picked that up or why he was doing it, but WE. LOVED. IT. We even made the whole family follow suit. :D

Next, we made our way over to the library... 

Yes, the library was closed and the gates were locked, but we didn't let that stop us from getting some great shots! At least until a guard reprimanded us and we had to be on our way! 

Isn't she lovely...

and this precious moment got us all choked up. He's going to be a wonderful big brother...

Such an adorable family...

This was one of the last shots as we were walking out of Petco Park.  

We cannot wait to meet their new little girl. Ilene has already purchased some outfits for the newborn shoot! Stay tuned...

This was one of the very first shots we captured of little Ayla and mommy Espie. 

Kai and daddy Collin had fun playing in the foliage and we captured this gem below. Kai certainly had the giggles this afternoon.

How cute is this family?!

We wanted some photographs with just the kids and they were more than willing to show their affection...

Which then resulted in faces like this after they started getting tired...

Hilarious cuteness overload!! Things came to a beautiful close and we wrapped the afternoon up with an awesome dinner at the nearby Draft Republic restaurant, which we recommend! It was super yummy!   

Until next time...