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We know how important your family photos are. They capture a special time in your family’s life story. So I’ve compiled some of my favorite tips to help make your family portrait session the best ever! Use these tips as a checklist as you prepare for your family photography session.

1.  Decide What to Wear, Ahead of Time.

Make sure that you go through your closet and decide what everyone will be wearing prior to the day of your session.  Try on all the clothing and make sure it fits everyone well.  Also, if you have older children, make sure everyone is on board for the clothing choices.  We want everyone to look AND feel their best.

2.  Save the Sweets for Later.

For the littles…please don’t give the kids candy prior to the session.  We want to offer them a sweet treat as an incentive to do their best and have fun during the session.  If they have already had their fill, this won’t work very well.  Also we really want to avoid that “sugar crash” that happens about an hour after eating sweets.  Finally, blue, red, orange or green candy stained mouths are really hard to fix in PhotoShop!

3.  Relax, No Cheese Please.

We know that family photography can be stressful for Mom and Dad, but the best thing you can do is relax and have fun.  We want to tell the story of your family at this stage in your life.  While giant smiles are amazing, the soft thoughtful looks, as well as belly laughs and everything in between are great as well!  We kindly request that you make your family session a “Cheese Free zone”!

4.  Decide on a Goal.

It is helpful to have a clear vision of what you would like to accomplish with the photography session.  Do you want a beautiful art piece for your wall, a custom designed album, gift prints for loved ones, etc.? Let us know!  We love to be able to shoot with the finished product in mind.

5.  Get Your Rest.

Make sure everyone is well rested on the day of the session.  If you have small children, try to plan your session around the best time of day for them.  We find that for kiddos under 3, early morning works best.  For the best lighting for outdoor sessions, we typically book 1 to 2 hours after sunrise or 1-2 hours before sunset.  Or  we can book your session in our studio for beautiful lighting at any time of day.

6.  Get Personal.

Bring something that is uniquely personal to your family.  Does your child have a favorite blanket?  Bring it!  Is your dog an important member of the family? Bring her along.  We really want these images to resonate with you for years to come.

7.  A Favorite Location.

Pick a location that is meaningful to your family.  Are your fondest memories sitting under an umbrella on the beach, or spending time at the Fun Zone?  Maybe your family loves to go antique shopping in downtown Orange?  Where ever the location, you should incorporated it into your photography session.

It’s been a month since our Christmas in July special began and boy have we been having fun with these family shoots. I wanted to share with you some of the wonderful feedback we’ve been getting from families who’ve participated in family shoots. 

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have a session with us, here’s what just a few of our clients are saying. We are honored to help create lasting memories for each family we serve!

Christmas in July family photos

“In past years, it was truly like pulling teeth (a small joke as my husband is a dentist) to get our two adult children and my husband to a family portrait session.  After our session with Kristin, they each said that the entire experience was fun and easy, and asked for prints for themselves.  Home run!”  

-Allison Karahadain
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Christmas in july family photo

“For the past 12 years, I have been blessed to have Kristin photograph my children. Each year, we take a family photo that is used in our Christmas cards. Kristin is amazing. With gentle guidance and complete control, she is able to showcase my family in a way that brings out each of our unique personalities while creating an overall setting that is both picturesque and timeless. I especially appreciate the opportunity to get my Christmas cards ordered early so that I can sit back and relish the holiday season.” 

-Gina Hartigan

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christmas in july family photos 3

“Thank you SO MUCH… It was the first time I was part of anything like that.  It was so fun and you all were amazing–so professional, so nice, so fun, SO PATIENT, and so talented.”

-JoAnna Hutchison

A big thank you to our clients! 

Is it time to treat your family to a new photo session? See my Christmas in July Special below and book today, before all the spots are full. Email me at kristin@blueskysstudio.com or call 949-510-3862

Christmas in July Special

Holiday photos in the summerLet’s face it, this summer Christmas is probably the last thing on your mind. But did you know that summer is the best time to take family photos for those holiday cards? Here are my top ten reasons why you should book your family portrait session today.

#10. Easier to book. It’s easier to get a weekend appointment (or an appointment at all).

#9. Sun-kissed skin. You will still have that fresh, summer glow instead of that winter pallor.

#8. A chill photo shoot. Your session will be more relaxing, because you don’t have to worry about fitting it in to your busy holiday schedule.

#7. Bragging Rights. You can tell your friends that you got your holiday cards finished early!

#6. Clothing Sales. Fall clothing is on sale. You can pick up a really cute outfit for every member of your family at a discount. Check out www.peekkids.com for amazing outfits for kids 12 and under.

#5. Beautiful weather. The weather outside is amazing this time of year–and oh those spectacular sunsets.

#4. No Crowds. You won’t have to fight the masses at the popular holiday portrait spots.

#3. Holiday Card discount. You will get 20% off of your holiday cards when you place your print order at the same time.

#2. The Savings. My Christmas in July package (good thru 8/31/15) is only $299 (reg. $499), so you’ll save $200 right off the bat.

#1. Those Family Portraits. Because you aren’t holiday shopping, cooking for holiday parties or traveling to grandma’s house, you will actually make the appointment. And you’ll finally have creative, contemporary portraits of your family that you will enjoy for years to come.

Contact me today to book your summer holiday photos: kristin @ blueskysstudio.com or call 949-510-3862

It’s that time of year again. The time of year I bring back one of my most popular specials: Christmas in July.

Check out the details and email me today too book your session!  They are filling up fast.

Christmas in July Photo Sessions

What do you get when you ask two Mamas and their families to be ready for a photo shoot by 7:45 am?   You get a virtually private beach, happy babies and the whole day in front of you to enjoy.   The hardest thing with photographing babies is hitting the sweet spot for timing.  Since small babies typically nap 2-3 times a day, I have found that mornings really work best.  Despite a little June Gloom, the beach still looks beautiful, more like a watercolor backdrop, and the babies are happy…. well for the most part.

Will and Ella gave us lots of smiles, a few small tears and a whole lot of baby time for both Deseree and me!  Thank you so much to this beautiful family for getting up early and trusting us that it would look amazing!  Here is a little sneak peak!  Don’t miss the slideshow at the end!  Enjoy:

To see more highlights from this session, enjoy this slideshow: