This year for Holiday Mini Sessions, I brought an old favorite back. It has been years since I have been at this location…but man… I was so glad to be back there again! I truly LOVE the trees here…aren’t they gorgeous?

This family was new to me this year, and they are possibly the most relaxed “first clients” I have ever had! I was beyond impressed and wish they could give me classes.  😉 It was such a joy to be able to capture them…and I had such trouble narrowing down to only three photos to show you! I hope I get to see them again next year!

Meet the H family!

My goal at every session is not to put you in “my favorite poses”, but to capture images that speak to who you are as a family; capture images that are uniquely YOU.

Below are three families that are all new clients to me. Same location. All three amazing and fun families in totally different ways. I am hoping you can see their unique family personality shining through!

Meet the B family:

Meet the D family:

The M family:

This family has also been one that has had photo shoots with me almost every single year since I opened the business (only missed one year!) How blessed am I to have clients who stick with me year after year?! And the best part about clients who have been with me forever…I can say sit on this super ugly set of stairs in an ugly back alley…and they trust me enough to do it! And I love the shots we got here! Come see our first time in Little Italy…

Now that the Holiday cards are out, I am excited to share with you some of my favorite shots from our Holiday Card Mini Sessions.

First up, the L family. They have not only been clients of mine practically every year since I opened my business (they only missed one year!), they are also some of the most incredible, faith-filled, genuine, kind, people you will ever know. So yes, I love them!

We tried out a new location this year…the Horton Grand Hotel in downtown San Diego. Here are two of my favorite shots!

$175

More Details:

• Mini sessions will last 30 minutes and are perfect for getting the latest family picture for your holiday cards! Sessions will include a mixture of posed and natural family photos. Things will move quickly, so please ensure you arrive 10 minutes before you session starts so we don’t lose any of that precious family picture time.
• Mini Sessions are limited to families of 5 or smaller.
• All images from the Mini Session will be up in an online gallery for your viewing 7 days after the session.
• The Mini Session will include three (3) digital images for your holiday card needs.  The files will be full resolution and will be emailed to you as soon as you contact me with the image selections.  These images will come with a print release so they are yours to have, share and enjoy.
• Sessions are booked on a first come, first serve basis.
• Session fee can either be collected via credit card before your session or by check/cash at your session.
• When you book, I will send you a contract, more details, tips for what to wear and shoot location and answer any other questions you might have.
• Prints will be available at listed price for purchase as will a CD with all the images from the session.
• The session includes a $25 print credit that you can apply towards the purchase of CD of all images from your session or toward prints.

Location Details

Mountain and Field: In the morning Iron Mountain is one of my favorite places, with it’s golden field and mountain as your back drop. If you haven’t done field family photos before, this really is a beautiful spot for it.

Pier at the BeachYou have done beach photos before, but have you done the pier down in Pacific Beach? The structure of the pier makes your average beach photos more interesting and dynamic, perfect for this year’s family portrait.

Urban: An old brick wall can be just the right background for some beautiful family photos.

Red Barn: In this San Marcos location I found a red barn, classic white fences, tree logs, and best of all beautiful light in the afternoon.

Magical Trees: If you have a tree climber, this location might be the one for you.  In the morning the light comes through the peppercorn trees that are perfect for the climbing ones in your family. One of my favorite hidden areas in Mira Mesa!

Cactus Garden in Balboa Park: A little bit of the desert right here in San Diego. Pictures here will give you a modern, clean, and very Californian look, to your family photos.

Several years ago I saw some engagement pictures done in Joshua Tree National Park. With my love of clean lines, simple backgrounds, sun-flare, and a modern twist on family portraits….I was immediately IN LOVE with the desert session. However, I quickly wrote it off. I mean, could I ever really get a family to drive 2 hours out to the desert…with KIDS…and then expect those kids to be HAPPY in pictures? And is there really anyone who wants their family photos in a desert?

THEN. JODY. EMAILED. ME.

“YES!!!” I typed to her, “I have always wanted to do a desert photo session!!!”

We spent many emails back and forth trying to convince each other we weren’t totally crazy. I don’t know if we succeeded…or we just succumbed to the idea that we wanted to do it even if it WAS crazy. And Jody is a risk taker….and super laid back….the perfect kind of mom for a photo shoot in the desert.

With that…out to the desert we drove…

And my heart *swoons* every time I look at these photos we got. What an amazing day. I do hope someday another laid-back-risk-taker-mom asks me for desert family photo shoot.

When I get the honor of capturing newborn babies I feel like my heart grows ten sizes larger.

The H family gave me the honor of capturing their first baby when he was a newborn….so when I got to capture his little brother… 7 years later…you have no idea how excited I was to get to have this incredible honor yet again.

When I walked into Rachel and John’s home I was immediately in love with their style and decor. I LOVE modern. I LOVE mid-century modern even more. Somehow I hoped to capture newborn photos that not only captured all that they love about their new little guy (as well as their older guy)… but also capture all the photos in their incredible style.

I think we came out with something a little more modern than most newborn photos….and I simply adore them.

Thank you Rachel and John for the honor of capturing your precious little guy!

I was walking around UCSD campus and fell in love with the simple, modern architecture.  There are many different options for backgrounds, yet you will find that they are all sleek, modern, simple, and perfect for the family that loves just a bit of texture for a background. I was so excited when the L family told me that they have a heart for modern like I do….come and see how their mini session turned out!

I am a sucker for a clean, simple, modern, look. I LOVE this cactus picture from my Old Town San Diego mini session like I love no other.

Hope to see you for your own mini session in October 2016!

I loved this red barn for mini sessions. It was a new spot to me, but the red barn just was so perfect for capturing holiday card photos.

Come see some adorable families and just how cute they can be in only 30 minutes!

Don’t you just love that pop of the red barn?! Join me this coming October 2016 for your very own family’s mini sessions!