Newborn Photography Tips || Orange County Newborn Photography
Newborn photography isn’t like any other aspect of photography. It’s in a league of its own and unless you’ve been specially trained, the average photographer shouldn’t attempt it. There are safety aspects involved with a tiny human that can be easily overlooked unless you’ve been trained. Like if you position their head incorrectly, it can obstruct their airway or that a lot of the posed images are actually photoshop’ed because they are unsafe to do on a baby alone.
What that means for you, don’t let just anyone handle your newborn baby. Ask questions about their certification and training. You may end paying more but for your child’s safety, it’s worth it. As an Orange County Newborn Photographer, I have taken countless safety classes on positioning the baby, CPR, immunizations needed to be around tiny infants and more. Today I wanted to go through a few of my most important tips for Newborn Photography.
Hand on baby at all times. That may mean mom or dad sits on the floor near the bean bag or basket to keep them secure. When a baby is posed on the beanbag, they can still wiggle off and fall on the ground. Even if your beanbag is low to the ground, that can still be terrible for their tin body.
Wraps! If you’re just starting out, keeping baby wrapped up will make baby happier and in turn make your session go smoother. Unless you have been trained on newborn soothing techniques, having your baby unwrapped often means baby is awake and unhappy to be handled or passed around from pose to pose. If you need help with wrapping techniques, there are countless videos on YouTube.
Heat, milk & baby shusher! The 3 keys to a successful session, in my opinion, are heat, lots of milk, and a baby shusher. A portable heater directed toward the baby (not too hot of course but if your hands are on the baby like they should be, you’ll feel it if its too warm). Instruct mom to feed baby a lot before you start and have a bottle ready if baby is fussy during your session. The baby shusher or any noise machine on white noise is the final touch to make baby happy, comfortable and sleepy.
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
Hi, and thank you so much for reading this blog post. I love featuring my clients images here, and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me to be your Photographer in Orange County.
If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album!
If you have booked a session with me and are drawn to this session, please feel free to send me this link, so I can see exactly what you are wanting to take away from our time together.
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into 2019, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!
XO- Laurel
A letter to my oldest on his 9th birthday || Orange County Children's Photographer
When Nixon was born, I was young. Like 24 and anxious about everything. I had no clue what I was doing, constantly worried about every little thing and I felt like the first year dragged on forever. I specifically remember thinking that it took so long before I could give him sweets. What a weird thing to think but it felt like forever.
Now on our third baby, life is so different. I don’t worry at all. I don’t Google every burp or weird sound she makes, I don’t call my mom at the slightest mood change. She will be fine. She will eventually eat all the veggies and do all the walking and running and sign language. She’s just doing it on her time, just like all babies.
I always say I wish I was a third time parent from the get-go. It’s so much more relaxing and fun. I truly enjoy every moment instead of being filled with anxiety and worry. And in turn, it’s felt like this year flew by.
When I became a mom, I finally found my reason on this planet. I was made to be a mom. I was made to raise little kids and it’s insanely easy for me. I know that’s not true for everyone, my husband included, but for me this is my WHY. So on Nixon’s NINTH birthday, there are a few things I hope he’ll someday read and treasure.
Nix,
You are loving beyond measure. Your siblings are so lucky to have to be their guiding light and protector. You don’t want or need a lot of friends and the ones you have, you love deeply and show true loyalty. You don’t follow the crowd at all at, you are a leader in your heart and one day you will use that to rule the world. You are insanely creative, you have been from the start. When you were little you would make cars out of your hands and drive them around on an invisible track. Now you draw and create any chance you get, your mind has more imagination than anyone I’ve ever seen. I’m so interested in what you’ll do for work one day - You’ll combine your leadership skills, your love of art, and your imagination to write books or movies, be an architect or something of the sort. For now you still say you want to be a fighter jet pilot though!
Your dad and I are so proud of you. Your integrity and honesty are something that will be tested throughout the next chapter in your life and I completely believe you will stay true to yourself and your values while being tested. You don’t conform to others and that will be so important as you enter junior high and high school. Stay true to you, be honest always, never back down for what you know is true or right, fight for yourself and your family. We will always fight for you, we will always be your cheerleaders and sounding board. You can always talk to us without judgement or fear. Laugh a lot. Find a passion and follow it with all your heart. Believe in yourself more than anyone else. Go outside and be active as much as possible, choose a sport and do it with all your might. Have confidence in yourself. You are incredible and loved by so many. I hope you always remember that and feel it in your heart.
Love you more, Mama
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
Hi, and thank you so much for reading this blog post. I love featuring my clients images here, and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me to be your Photographer in Orange County.
If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album!
If you have booked a session with me and are drawn to this session, please feel free to send me this link, so I can see exactly what you are wanting to take away from our time together.
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into 2019, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!
XO- Laurel
Working from home with Littles || Orange County Newborn Photography
Working from home is the absolute biggest blessing! I thank God every day that I am able to raise my babies AND do what I love, it just takes scheduling, grace, and a lot of coffee to make them both happen efficiently. Owning your own business is no piece of cake. It’s tough stuff and I’m constantly learning how to be better at every aspect. The one part I feel like I’ve finally (after 4+ years of struggling) mastered is working from home with little kids as an Orange County Newborn Photographer. Here are a few of my best tips for other work-from-home mamas…
Scheduling! Every second of your day needs to be scheduled. I know that doesn’t sound like that much fun but literally every second needs a plan or the whole day whizzes by and before you know it, it’s 5pm, everyone is hungry and you’ve accomplished nothing. I’ll write another post about our schedule with three young kids later but for now you can start by creating a Google Calendar for everything part of your life. Business, Family, Personal, Blogging, Social Media, etc. Share these calendars with your hubby and you’ll both be on the same page.
Independent Play - You can read up on all the benefits of Independent Play here. My kids have been practicing IP time since they were little. It’s important to me for a multitude of reasons besides having time to myself. Most importantly, I want them to be able to entertain themselves. Life is not always fun or entertaining so learning to play alone is instrumental in many aspects. Waiting in lines, car trips, meetings, the list goes on. We don’t watch a lot of TV or play iPads so imagination is HUGE in our house and independent play is the gateway to using your imagination.
Using your time wisely. This is true for all parts of business ownership and motherhood. You are going to be pulled in twenty different directions so you’ll need to focus. When it’s time for work, put your phone away and WORK. When it’s time to fill your kiddos love tank, put your work away and love on them. Pay attention to them. Don’t look at emails or Instagram. Using your time to it’s fullest potential is so important to making all the gears turn in succession. Think about it, your kids are needy when they don’t feel like they’ve had your full attention. Fill their love tank and then they will be able to play quietly without you so then you can focus on work. This really goes back to scheduling so scheduling your day out is the first step. In our house, we do Circle Time right after breakfast and then he has IP time while Poppy naps. Boom! Filled his tank first, then I have about an hour to work.
Outsource! For a long time, I tried to do it all. I cooked, I cleaned, I worked, I played, I worked out, I did crafts, I did laundry. Notice the key word - TRIED. Meaning I did all of those things but I didn’t do anything well and I felt constantly behind. I burnt out. Things fell behind and I started loosing focus. By outsourcing a couple things, I am able to focus more clearly on the important things. So now I hire a sitter (Bambino is SO easy for finding a sitter BTW) on Fridays for a couple hours to watch Hudson and Poppy while I get some work done. This means I don’t have to work at night so I can spend that time focusing on my husband. I work most nights after my kids are asleep so this makes Fridays special for us. I also hire a house cleaner twice a month. Those two small things make me feel like I’m doing it all.
The most important part of working from home with little kids is giving yourself grace. Somedays you’ll focus more on work and the kids will feel left out. Other days, you won’t even check your email or think about work. Give yourself the grace to start fresh again the next day and try to have patience. It takes a long time to get the hang of it.
How do you get work done with kids around?
xoxo- Laurel
Orange County Newborn Photography
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
Hi, and thank you so much for reading this blog post. I love featuring my clients images here, and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me to be your Photographer in Orange County.
If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album!
If you have booked a session with me and are drawn to this session, please feel free to send me this link, so I can see exactly what you are wanting to take away from our time together.
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into 2019, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!
XO- Laurel
Boudoir Maternity Session || Orange County Maternity Photography
There is something so unique about knowing this pregnancy and baby will be your last. Something so final. Something thats makes most of us a little sentimental and wanting to capture every single second of it. This beautiful mama is a mom of two boys and expecting her third and final baby, a girl. For her third baby she wanted to do something different with her Orange County Maternity Photography session. When she reached out to me, looking for an intimate boudoir style maternity session I was overjoyed. I have been dying to do something like this and together we created stunning images for her to treasure forever!
My wonderful hair and makeup artist Annie did her hair and makeup at my studio in San Clemente, while we had lattes and scones and relaxed to the tune of Nora Jones. The morning was relaxing and fun from the start.
While I want to respect my client’s privacy, she’s given me permission to share two of my favorite images from her session. So the rest you’ll have to visualize with me. We had 4-5 outfit changes, everything from a full tulle skirt and bralette to simple lace bra and panties.
After our session, S chose to put her favorite 20 images in a timeless heirloom album. Now she can look through these beautiful images for years to come and share them with whoever she chooses, printing these beauties is the perfect way to memorialize this moment in her life!
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
Hi, and thank you so much for reading this blog post. I love featuring my clients images here, and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me to be your Photographer in Orange County.
If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album!
If you have booked a session with me and are drawn to this session, please feel free to send me this link, so I can see exactly what you are wanting to take away from our time together.
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into 2019, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!
XO- Laurel
What to Wear Family Edition || Orange County Family Photographer
Over the years I have constantly had the most stylish clients, like dream wardrobe kind of clients! As an Orange County Family Photographer I have gone to countless educational sessions and I’ve also seen the opposite end of the spectrum with cheesy, matchy-matchy, neon colored outfits. The photos speak for themselves. The latter is NEVER good. So these monthly style boards are here to help you and your family nail down your style for your session. As always, I offer a tons of options too but if you’re purchasing your own outfits, follow the links below the style board to knock it out of the park for your upcoming family session.
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
Hi, and thank you so much for reading this blog post. I love featuring my clients images here, and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me to be your Photographer in Orange County.
If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album!
If you have booked a session with me and are drawn to this session, please feel free to send me this link, so I can see exactly what you are wanting to take away from our time together.
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into 2019, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!
XO- Laurel
5 Steps to Better DSLR Photography for Moms || Orange County Baby Photographer
As a mom and an Orange County Baby Photographer, I am the first one to understand wanting everyday photos of your babe. From their everyday actives to their first steps, these are big moments that you want to remember and it’s unlikely they’ll be in front my camera for a a few of these pivotal moments. Believe me, I would love to just live in your home and snap photos all day for you but for most people that’s unlikely. Which is why I think every mama should have a few basic tricks to making your own photos look better. Today I’ll be going through 5 Steps to Better DSLR Photography. I am also planning a fun in-person workshop to go over taking better iPhone photos as well so keep an eye out for that on my social media.
Let’s get into it…
Learn your camera. This seems like a simple thing but it’s really the most important. Our cameras are incredible and using them on Auto, isn’t using all of their potential. There are countless YouTube videos on basics of each camera and settings or I now offer Mentoring options if you’d really like to learn it all.
Lighting is HUGE! Being in a pitch black room is never going to create beautiful images, no matter how good of a camera or editor you are. You need light, your camera needs light. Pull up the blinds (not just opened but actually pulled up or open your shutters). It’s amazing how much more light you’ll get. If going outside is an option, go outside under a tree so you have solid shade.
Clean up the background. This isn’t always real life but I try to quickly clean up if I know I’m bringing out the ‘big camera’. It just allows your eye to focus on the baby rather than the clutter behind her.
Get down to their level. Sit on the floor with them, even lay on the ground. Being at their eye level makes the shot just that much more professional. Plus shooting from above them usually doesn’t allow us to see their sweet faces.
Lastly, do something with the beautiful photos you just took. Don’t let them sit on your computer and get lost in the million other files. Print them out or put them in a book like this one from Artifac Uprising or Chatbooks are super easy! Grandmas especially love a little photo in the mail too! Just do anything besides upload them to Facebook and forget about them.
If you’re interested in attending my workshop on Taking Better iPhone photos of your babe too, add your email here and I’ll let you know when it’s finalized.
xoxo- Laurel
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
Hi, and thank you so much for reading this blog post. I love featuring my clients images here, and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me to be your Photographer in Orange County.
If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album!
If you have booked a session with me and are drawn to this session, please feel free to send me this link, so I can see exactly what you are wanting to take away from our time together.
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into 2019, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!
XO- Laurel
Orange County Baby Photographer
Newborn Lennon || Orange County Newborn Photographer
Sweet, tiny, new, fresh, snuggly… All the things I think about when I first met little Lennon. She is so petite and so beautiful. I had the absolute pleasure of being her Orange County Newborn Photographer and I am so excited to share it with you. We got so many adorable images from this in-home lifestyle newborn session.
That’s the thing about my style and I believe the reason my clients choose me over the hundreds other photographers in our area. My style is very simple, very soft, inviting, timeless and pure. These portraits will fill the Heil home for decades and not look outdated. They won’t clash with your home decor or need to be moved from the main area. These are the images you’ll want to keep up forever to remind yourself of how tiny she once was.
Part of what I love about newborn sessions, especially when I’m welcomed into your home is the air of newborn life. There is a special way of life with a newborn baby and I absolutely love it! It’s unlike any other time in your life, it’s messy and full of dirty diapers, spit up blankets, and piles of new gadgets around the house for baby. It’s also a full of learning - learning about this new human, learning how to handle motherhood and sleepless nights. And mostly it’s full of love, more love than you can even imagine. This kind of love you didn’t even expect but cannot possibly imagine your life without once you’ve had it. New parents are one of the most beautiful creatures on earth and being about to capture that on film is such an honor.
To all the new parents out there, I see you. I understand you. And you are doing a fantastic job!
xoxo - Laurel
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
Hi, and thank you so much for reading this blog post. I love featuring my clients images here, and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me to be your Photographer in Orange County.
If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album!
If you have booked a session with me and are drawn to this session, please feel free to send me this link, so I can see exactly what you are wanting to take away from our time together.
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into 2019, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!
Orange County Newborn Photographer
What to Wear Baby Edition || Orange County Baby Photography
What to Wear Baby Edition || Orange County Baby Photography
Without a doubt, one of the most stressful parts of planning a photoshoot is wardrobe. Whether it’s just a baby session or the full family is involved, planning outfits is stressful. Even for me, with my own family.
That’s actually part of the reason I offer so many options for wardrobe. I know how incredibly annoying is it to try and coordinate 5 people plus making sure sizing still fits, ugh. It’s juts not fun! So when I started offering all of my Orange County Baby Photography clients wardrobe, I heard rave reviews. All my mamas love having options they don’t have to go buy but still look stylish and fresh! Every session I offer includes wardrobe for mamas and kids age 0-5.
If for any reason you’d rather bring your own wardrobe, I always offer a style guide that runs through colors that photograph best and styles. Today I am going to add a couple adorable items for baby with links to purchase them. These sell out fast so don’t waste a minute. These are all sizes 0-4 with links to purchase found below.
As always, if you need any help deciding what to wear I am hear to help! Send me a text of your options or bring them along and do outfit changes during our session.
xoxo- Laurel
Orange County Baby Photography
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
Hi, and thank you so much for reading this blog post. I love featuring my clients images here, and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me to be your Photographer in Orange County.
If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album!
If you have booked a session with me and are drawn to this session, please feel free to send me this link, so I can see exactly what you are wanting to take away from our time together.
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into 2019, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!