Cute DIY Easter Photo Ideas

Easter has come so early this year and while we’d love for you to bring your little cuties in for a professional family photo session for Easter, we realize you might just want some fun photo ideas that you can do at home.

So, we’ve gathered some fun photo ideas that you can recreate yourself.

Let’s start with the littlest ones. Babies are so fun to pose with colorful props, because let’s face it, they make everything look adorable. And as long as they’ve had a nap, they don’t usually protest. ;)

Little Bunnies

How about dressing up your little bunny and taking a photo of her sitting in the grass at your local park? This sweet,ruffly romper gives this little girl a beautiful Victorian touch for Easter.

This romper is available on Etsy.

Or if she’s younger, how about curled up on a fuzzy blankie?

Pro Tip: To make photo shoots easier with any baby or young child, make sure they’ve had their nap and have some favorite toys and silly faces at the ready. For newborns, it’s best to pose them while they’re still sound asleep.

This adorable crocheted bunny outfit is available on Etsy.

Easter Eggs and Baskets

Add some color and fun, by duplicating this adorable baby easter basket photo. All you need is a basket, plastic Easter eggs, and a bunny headband.

Pro Tip: To get baby in a good mood play with the eggs with her before you begin and have another adult handy who can entertain her with tickles or giggles while you take the pictures.

Have older kiddos? You can have even more fun with creative photo ideas! Check out some of these.

Ducklings

How about this Japanese cutie with her baby ducklings?

This picture doesn’t require a lot of props either: simply an umbrella, rain-boots and some rubber duckies.

Pro Tip: Get your child involved in the fun by having them help you arrange the duckies. You could even encourage them to come up with a story about the duckies to get them even more engaged in the game and photos.

Egg Art

Another way to get the kids in on the fun is to have them make the first letter of their name in the grass with Easter eggs! Then experiment with fun and silly poses in the grass until you get the right shots. Make the whole exercise silly and you’ll get some great candid pics like this one.

Tea Party

Host an Easter tea party with your kids and snap pictures while they play. Make some of their favorite treats and let them explore how they might have fun with their tea party.

Pro Tip: situate your play table under the open shade of a tree and experiment with different angles to get the lighting right.

Picnic in the Park

If your kids aren’t into tea parties, what about a picnic? This setting can easily be done with a cute old blanket and some yummy lunch. Pet bunny is optional, of course.

Springtime Blossoms

Take advantage of the beautiful trees blooming all around Orange County this time of year. While you’re playing in the park with the kids, take a moment to snap some photos! They don’t need to be as posed or color coordinated as this one, just have fun with it. Some of the best photos come from playing around.

Candid Confetti Egg Game Photos

Speaking of playing around, is one of your family traditions playing the confetti egg game? If not, maybe you should adopt this fun (yet messy) Easter tradition!

It makes for some great, silly and very candid photos.

Pro Tip: If you’re taking photos with your camera phone set your camera to “burst” to get multiple fast images with each click. This will help you to capture the action best. Click here to learn how to adjust your iPhone camera settings. And if you’re on an Android device, click here.

Click on the photo to get instructions on how to create and play the confetti Easter egg game.

However you celebrate Easter or springtime, we hope you have fun and capture some great candid memories. And when you’re ready for some professional family photos we’ll be here too.

At the Park, kids modeling, Kids Photography, Orange County Photography

Orange County Family Photographer- 2 year old session

Orange County Family Photography– How to manage a two year old at a portrait session. Everyone that knows me is totally aware that I am obsessed with toddlers. I love the way they talk, I love the things that they say, I love to play games with them, they just totally crack me up. So while lots of photographers shy away from photographing toddlers because it isn’t easy, I think as long as you have a good understanding of what will go on during a toddler session, everyone will remain calm and have fun!

Toddlers usually start out a little shy of the camera– let’s face it, this is a new environment and most of the time the photographer is a stranger pointing a black box at their face while everyone is yelling at them to smile or say cheese. In my experience, this does not work. At Blue Sky’s Studio we typically prep the Mom or Dad before the session and ask if they will just let us quietly talk with their child in the beginning with no expectations, no smiling, etc. A typical reaction would be this, where the little one looks at their Mom or Dad for reassurance.

Once a toddler starts to warm up, the best way to get great expressions is to play games with them. I will often snort like a pig and tell them that is what my doggies say. They will typically laugh and say noooooo, that is what a piggy says. You get the point, they play along and they will usually give you an amazing huge smile like this.

Now is when the real fun starts, I always tell the parents not to worry at this point because things are going to get a little crazy, but these are going to be a true representation of your child’s personality. You know, something like this:

Things to remember about toddlers- You get about an hour to photograph them and then they are usually done. You can bring multiple changes of clothing, but often times they will not tolerate more than three clothing changes. I frequently have parents say to me, “I don’t think you got anything, my child wasn’t really cooperating.” I smile and say, “we will see”. Here is just a few of my favorites from a recent session. When she got a little tired out, big brother was there to give some love and affection and then she was back to her camera ready self!

We named her curl Fred!

We played tons of games with the hat.

Had to give brother some affection while she took a break!

To book a family or kids session, click here!

At the Beach, At the Park, Family Photography, In a field, In home, Orange County Photography

The Best Orange County Locations for Photos (Part 2)

In my years as an Orange County photographer I have more than a handful of amazing locations up my sleeve. So here’s part two of my best Orange County Photography Locations. (The first 10 locations are here.)

Rancho Las Lomas

This resort and zoological garden is a little known Orange County setting for great photography. Located in Silvarado Canyon, it’s lush setting is perfect for family photos.

San Clemente State Beach

Traveling a little further down the coast San Clemente State Beach is a less crowded, more varied seaside backdrop for a stunning photography session.

Nellie Gail Trails

Nestled in south Orange County are the 26 miles of trails of the Nellie Gail Ranch. The native California greenery gives way to beautiful grasses and trees, making this an especially unique photography location.

Your Home

Sometimes you don’t need to travel at all to find the perfect setting for your family photos. Sometimes you need only stay at home. At home photo shoots can be especially fun as they not only show your family’s story, but your home as well, adding an especially unique element to look back on.

Downtown Laguna Beach

I’m lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful beach communities in Southern California and my studio, in Laguna Canyon is just minutes from one of the best “downtowns” in the county as well. This location is a treasure trove for a variety of shooting possibilities. (Read even more in this recent post about Laguna Beach Photography)

Los Rios Historic District

San Juan Capistrano boast several great photography locations, but one of the most fun is the Los Rios District, just across the train tracks from the Capistrano Depot. You can even stop for a bite to eat or tea time after your shoot.

At the Beach, At the Park, Family Photography, In a field, Kids Photography, Orange County Photography, Studio photo session

10 of the Best Orange County Photography Locations

The right photography location sets the tone for your photos. Here are just a few of the best Orange County locations I use.

Let’s start with these fun family photos at the Balboa Fun Zone in Newport Beach.

1. The Balboa Fun Zone

Since it’s opening in 1936 the FunZone has been a popular place to have some old fashioned fun. This is a great Orange County photography location for family photos because there are some many fun spots to take photos, plus you can entice the kids to cooperate with games, treats and rides! Win, Win, Win!

2. The Studio (Blue Sky’s, that is)

If the weather is rainy, or maybe too hot, or if you just want that polished look, Blue Sky’s Studio “studio” is a perfect location for a photoshoot. Clean white backgrounds, props and different furniture options can give your photos a clean, classic look. Plus it’s located in the heart of Laguna Canyon, our next photo shoot location.

3. Laguna Canyon

Just a hop, skip and a jump from our studio is the beatific countryside of Laguna Canyon. It’s hard to believe this photo location is in Orange County, but it’s the perfect little break from the hustle and bustle. And it makes for lovely natural photos.

4. The Newport Pier

This quintessential Orange County photography spot is perfect for family portraits with a casual, fun feel. The wooden pier reminds me an older time when surfers shot the curl and woodies dotted the coast. Check out this brother and sister photo at Newport Pier.

5. Upper Newport Back Bay

An oasis between the ocean and the wilds of Newport Beach, Irvine and Costa Mesa, this swath of nature is a great spot for outdoor photography. The smell of sagebrush welcomes you to this beautiful Orange County photography location.

6. SOCO

The South Coast Collection (& The OC Mix) is no just a great place to shop. It’s blend of clean industrial meets trendy water-friendly succulents and greenery makes this photography location the perfect ciy/nature mix.

7. Mission San Juan Capistrano

Step back in time to Old California. This unique photography location gives your photos a rustic charm of an original mission.

8. San Onofre State Beach

What could be more Orange County than a surf inspired family photo location. If your family loves the beach this photography location is a perfect vintage-inspired location.

9. The Red Horse Barn

This Orange County photography location is an unlikely dose of western culture right in Huntington Beach. This rustic, elegant setting has beautiful landscaping and as you can see is a great format for stunning family portraits or children’s portraits.

10. Table Rock Beach

This Laguna Beach location is a gem, unlike many beaches, it offers so much more than the typical sand and seascape. It has lovely rushes, a nice staircase and interesting sandstone cliffs. It’s a great place for a family photo session.

If you are looking to book a family portrait or a senior portrait session, we would love to work with you! Just click here to fill out your information and we will contact you as soon as possible: More Info Please

Blue Sky’s Studio is a family, high School senior and branding photography studio that specializes in magazine quality photography in Orange County, California. Kristin loves photographing Orange County families, high School seniors and Orange County businesses including corporate headshots. To schedule a session with Blue Sky’s Studio, in Laguna Beach or other Orange County surrounding areas, you can send an email to Kristin@blueskysstudio.com. We are now booking for the Fall Portrait session 2020. We are taking special precautions because of Covid-19 to ensure that you are safe and healthy.

Blue Sky’s Studio specializes in photographing on location in the following areas, Laguna Beach, Irvine, Newport Coast, Newport Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, Coto De Caza, Dana Point, The Ritz Carlton, The Montage Resort, the Surf and Sand resort and the Monarch Beach Resort.

At the Beach, At the Park, Creative sessions, In a field, In home, kids modeling, Kids Photography, Orange County Photography, Portrait Photography

Fun Valentine’s Day Photo Ideas

I’m having so much fun shooting Valentine’s Day themed photos this season. These kids (most of them are kids anyway) are just too adorable. It makes you realize how precious and pure the love of a child is. Below is some inspiration for your Valentine’s Day photos.

Check out these ideas (and photos) by yours truly. And get ready for cuteness overload. ;)

Kisses & Hugs

It’s so fun to get siblings to show some love, their character shows through in wonderful candid shots. These first two are my babies.

You’ve got my heart on a string…

The beautiful sisters above are a great segway to “hearts!” Hanging some glittering hearts all around in the studio gives Valentine’s photos a fun, whimsical feel.