Kids Photography Archives

All Kinds of Love (in family photos)

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic love. In fact, while romantic love is beautiful, there is so much other love in our world. So we thought we’d celebrate the upcoming month of love with some of our favorite Orange County family portraits that portray our clients’ adoration for their families. Enjoy the love fest!

These adorable little boys remind us of bygone days where kids played in the mud and had adventures using their imaginations. These cuties were photographed in one of our favorite Orange County wilderness areas.

Salty & Sweet. You can just feel the love this sweet family has for each other as they all share a loving moment at the beach. Notice how the beige texture of the sand and the blue-gray of the rocks compliment the whites and blues in this family’s wardrobe.

We get a lot of sun here in Southern California and it makes for beautiful bright family moments like this one. We love the genuine smiles and hugs this beautiful family has for each other.

There’s nothing quite like a mother’s love. And we adore capturing the darling moment when mamas love on their babies.

And of course we can’t forget to celebrate dad’s love for his children. What a great moment between father and son.

They say the family that laughs together, stays happy together! We all had so much fun taking this threesome’s family portraits during the golden hour at a local Southern California beach.

And it looks like these families aren’t having any fun at all during their photo sessions! ;)

Many of our clients get anxious the first time they hire Blue Sky’s Studio to take their family photos. They get anxious because they know first hand just how hard it can be to get all of the kids to cooperate for family photos. We absolutely love working with kids and after all of her years of working with children and families, Kristin is a pro at capturing not just beautiful smiles, but the unique and special love siblings have for each other. Don’t you just love these photos of siblings–you almost wouldn’t know there was a photographer there, they’re so in the moment.

Speaking of siblings…We’re so thankful to be able to capture sweet moments like this one between brother and sister.

And sister and sister.

And of course, even though life isn’t all about romance, we couldn’t finish this post without a few romantic pics of mom and dad. After all, where would the family be without their love that started it all?

We hope you enjoyed this fun collection of family love photos. We hope you are surrounded by love this Valentine’s Day.

XO

-The Blue Sky’s Studio Team

Want to see more awesome family photos? Check out our main site over at Blue Sky’s Studio.

Family Photography, Kids Photography, Kids Photography, Orange County Photography

What to Wear: Fall Kids Fashion 2017

It’s that time of year again where the weather begins to cool down (well, maybe not so much in Orange County). The kids are getting ready to start a new school year. We’ve been prepping for one of our favorite family portrait seasons: autumn.

Fall is a beautiful time of year to have a family photo session in Orange County, not only is the more neutral, earthy color palette a gorgeous backdrop for your family, but the cooler(ish) temperatures make accessorizing and layering even more fun and feasible.

Here are some children’s fashion trends to help you dress your little munchkins in fall fashion for their photography session.

Denim is In

Check out these cuties in their indigo: childrens-photographer-orange-county

Ballerina Skirts

Not just for dancing anymore, these adorable frilly skirts aren’t just fun to wear, they bring a playful beauty to your child’s photos:

Layer up

Layers and accessories are a great way to add texture to your child’s fall portraits. Plus it really brings home the seasonal feel.

Classic Black with a Little Texture

If you want to keep your wardrobe low key, but still interesting, classic black with a touch of modern texture will really show fall colors and your child’s beautiful features. This sweet little girl looks stunning as she plays in the fall leaves.

Speaking of Classic

Traditional styles are always in fashion and give children’s photography a timeless look. Dress your children in varying shades of the same color palette to produce a family photo that is simultaneously interesting, yet focused on your children’s faces.

Boho Babies

Layered, accessorized Boho is still in and especially fun for fall children’s portraits as it ties in to the feel of the season.

No matter what your adorable children wear for their family photo session in Orange County, we’ll help you choose the right themes and looks. We are honored to help you capture those precious fleeting years of childhood.

Book an Orange County Family Photography session today!

At the Beach, Fashion, kids modeling, Kids Photography

Orange County Family Photographer- Moving Portraits

Orange County Family photographer– We want to tell the story of your kiddos year after year! What better way than with moving portraits that combine still images with video. Here is a little sneak peak of what is to come. If you want to book your moving portrait session which combines still images with a few short video clips, call us at 949.510.3862. Have a beautiful rest of your weekend and enjoy the beautiful Lylah.

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!

Kids Photography, Portrait Photography

Orange County Family Photographer-Tips and Tricks

Orange County Family Photographer: Tips and tricks for getting amazing images of your younger kids.

Top Questions Regarding Kids in a Photography Session:

If your child is at all shy, please be patient. We give them as much time as they (not you or I) need to warm up to me and my camera. It is very rare that even the most apprehensive child doesn’t become my buddy after 20-30 minutes. Eager to please, many parents urge their child(ren) on, and this rarely ever helps. Please allow us to create a bond with your child at their pace. Please give us a little space with your child so they do not feel as though they have to “perform” for you with us.

Please do not answer for your child when we ask him or her a question. We try to bond with them by getting them to talk to us. Often times, we will reach out to “test” your child(ren) to see how they will respond. Depending on their reaction (if they reach back to hold a hand/finger), we will know how to proceed. We like to take time to get to know your child and let them get used to us before we start shooting.

Please please please do not tell your child(ren) to “smile” or say “cheese”. That’s our job. Besides, “cheese” or “smile” is almost always a fake or forced smile. We will get your child(ren) to smile by other measures that create real smiles such as goofy faces, funny stories, talking up their interests, etc…you know, kid stuff!! We’re great at kid stuff (we’re kids at heart)!

We encourage any ideas or props in your session, so have fun with it and get creative! Many parents bring in 1-3 outfits and various accessories such as hats, scarves and jewelry. However, it’s important to keep in mind that changing multiple outfits on younger children usually changes their moods too. We recommend keeping it simple for the younger subjects. They grow up so fast!

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What should my child wear?
A little planning and clothing harmony helps create a better looking portrait. It is important to wear complimentary tones and colors, but matchy/matchy attire is not required. Neutral colors work great in almost all situations, and simple goes a long way. It’s best to avoid busy patterns and prominent logos or writing on clothing. Bright colors, hats, scarves and other accessories work great in the studio, in a field, in a historic district or in an urban shoot. In a group shot, remember all of the clothing should be complimentary. It’s important to remember that children do not like binding or uncomfortable clothing. Bare skin on newborns is classic and timeless. If there is a color/outfit that you LOVE your child in, bring it. We encourage you to bring several clothing and accessory options for a studio shoot. Ultimately, the photography should be about your child and/or your family and the clothing should compliment the shot!

2) How long will the session take?
We take all the time it will require to capture the best expressions and poses (children permitting). It’s important not to rush through a photography session. Most sessions last approximately 30-60 minutes. Some may take longer depending on the purpose/type of session, so it’s important that everyone participating is relaxed and enjoys themselves.

3) My child won’t smile, what should I do?
Let us handle getting your child to smile. We have been photographing children for years and we are very good at getting children to give us genuine smiles. The best way to get great smiles from children in your portraits is by playing games, singing songs, and talking about things they love. Keep in mind though, that some of the best and most favored photographs with many of our clients are the more serious, contemplative expressions of their children. If you notice, a great deal of the classic works by master artists from years ago to modern artists and photographers today capture amazing expressions that are not always smiles.

4) Should I be present during my child’s session?
For older children we usually create the best results when Mom and Dad are not around. For younger children and babies, it’s always best to have a parent present during the session. Both parents can be present, but only one is required.

5) Can we have our dog in the picture?
Pets are always welcome!

6) My child is very shy (or is very active). What should I do?
Nothing other than informing us of your child’s temperment on your Session Consultation Sheet. Your child is coming to a new place with people he/she doesn’t know with various equipment and lights. It can be overwhelming for some children. The best approach is to be patient. They will warm up to us/settle down at their own time and pace. It’s important not to make a big fuss about the photography session beforehand for children who become anxious about new situations. Kristin or Deseree always begin a child photography session by talking with the parents first. This sends the message to your child that you and Kristin are friends and helps convey safety to your child. Kristin will then turn to your child and ask them a question. Please let them answer. This is when one of us will offer our hand to see if your child is receptive. It’s important not to rush your child or urge him/her on. We love working with children and want to have you rest assured that we will create beautiful photographs that will last a lifetime!

Taking the time to prepare for your child’s photo shoot will not only make the experience enjoyable for you and your child, but will also help create an environment for amazing photographs for you to treasure forever.

If you are ready for a session with your little one, just email us the best time of day and we will get you on the schedule at kristin@blueskysstudio.com.