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 These portraits will fill the Heil home for decades and not look outdated.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!
Before & After || Orange County Newborn and Maternity Photography
As an Orange County Newborn and Maternity Photography, there are few things more fun in photography than seeing a good before and after. A lot goes into the finished product of an image. Besides a professional camera, understanding of exposure, shutter speed and ISO is vital to crisp images. Just snapping the button is not enough.
Beyond that, you need to know an editing software. Lightroom and Photoshop are the leaders in the editing world but knowledge of both will really set you apart. Being able to finish the images by adding contrast, increase exposure and add those beautiful final touches to each image.
Below I have added three fun before and after images for a Orange County Maternity session, an Orange County Newborn session and an Orange County Baby Milestone session. I’ll add some details for each image on how I created the magic for each one.
You can see in this adorable image of an expecting mama and her daughter, I prefer images brighter so I first took this image into Lightroom. I increased exposure quite a bit, added contrast and toned down the yellows from the greens (I prefer minty greens rather than neon). After that I brought the image into Photoshop and hand edited skin tones and shadows to brighten the areas I wanted to highlight. Magic isn’t it?!
For indoor sessions like the Orange County Baby Milestone session above, I brightened by whites, specifically the white background. If you keep it darker it looks grey so adding exposure is vital to bright whites. I also toned down the shadows and adjusted baby’s skin tone. Baby’s skin is often red, especially on their hands, feet and little bums.
Lastly, for this Orange County Newborn session. We did this session in my clients home which always means a lot of editing on my end to make the session cohesive to my brand and style. Not only did I crop the image to avoid the bedspread, I always tilted the image more keeping baby’s head above her feet. I then took the image into Photoshop and hand adjusted her sweet skin tones, again removing reds and adding a smoothing layer. Finally for newborns, I usually have to edit out flaky skin so I did that lightly over her hands and feet.
Orange County Newborn and Maternity 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
Tips for Maternity Posing || Orange County Maternity Photography
Growing a tiny human inside of you is one of the most beautiful things in the entire world.
Isn’t it? Right?????
Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t feel like the most beautiful thing in the world while we’re pregnant. We feel tired and achy and grumpy. At least I know I did!
So when it comes time for maternity photos here in Orange County, I have some tried and true tips to making you feel better during our session and loving your photos just that much more.
Hair and Makeup! I know this is a splurge, (unless you’re booking with me because it’s already included in your session fee with me!) but it’s SO worth it. Not only will you love your photos that much more but you’ll feel put together and beautiful for the first time in months. I really can’t stress this one enough. Hair and makeup artists make it super easy these days and will even come to your home. I have a list of my favorite local Orange County artists if you need a referral.
Wardrobe - Again this isn’t something you need to worry about if you’re booking with me because I have an array for your to choose from but if you’re not, your wardrobe can make or break your session. If you want to go big, choose a floor length neutral dress. PinkBlush has some adorable options as well as Common Thread (formally Xpecting Boutique in Costa Mesa. If you’d rather stay casual, choose a chunky off the should sweater or sweater dress. I find showing a little skin up top (a classy amount, just shoulders or back) pairs well with a long gown or chunky sweater.
Now for my Maternity Posing Tips… I’ve explained it all in detail on this video if you’re a visual learner too.
Feet - When posed to the side - whatever leg is closest to the camera, keep that knee popped. When looking at the camera straight on, cross your ankles over each other.
Shoulder - When posed to the side - Stand up nice and tall and pull that shoulder closest to the camera back and away. That will inevitably push your chest out a bit. I always suggest pushing your chest out a tiny bit, your booty out a tiny bit and your belly out a tiny bit. This will really accentuate the curves nicely. When looking at the camera straight on - Just stand up nice and tall!
Neck - Maternity photos are all about connecting with your growing baby so I’ll often ask you to look down at your tummy. Doing that gives even the skinniest supermodel a triple chin so instead, look down and out past your belly 3-4 feet in front of you. This gives the illusion that you’re looking at your tummy without the triple chin. Make sure to push your chin out a tiny bit when looking straight on at the camera too!
Hands - Try to keep your fingers closed and at a slight angle down while your holding your belly. Fingers splayed out over your tummy aren’t the most flattering. Your hands will go in a variety of places during our session. Both hands on top of your belly, both hands on bottom, one hand on top and one on bottom, etc For husbands I often ask them to hold your belly as well, just make sure they don’t hold too low on your belly. Keep them around the belly button should be (mine always disappeared so just bottom 1/3 of your tummy!)
Lastly - YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!! I know it’s hard to believe that but I promise you in 10 years you’ll look back on these moments with a smile on your face. This is such a unique time in your life and it will be over before you know it. Give yourself some grace and love that baby body!
XO - L
Orange County Maternity 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
Top 5 Favorite Baby Toys Ages 0-12 Months || Orange County Baby Photography
I’ve had people tell me that I know a lot about baby’s and kids because…
A. I have THREE of my own with an 8 year age gap total so I’ve been around the block for a while
and
B. I am an Orange County Baby Photographer
While I still have a ton to learn, believe me, you never really know it all.
However, I do have my systems in place that seem to have worked for my own kiddos. We’ll see when they’re teenagers and throwing everything against me but that’s another story. At least for babies, I think I have it down. So I decided to start writing a series of blog posts to cover my favorite baby things. Today we’ll talk toys. Next week maybe feedings, then schedule etc,
Here is a quick list of my TOP 5 BABY TOYS for ages 0-12 months ( All available on Amazon of course, like I have time to shop in person! Ha!)
Discovery Ball - This is perfect for babies who are able to sit unassisted through crawlers. While they’re sitting the ball can be stationary and still spin and sing songs. While they’re crawling you can take it off the base and it rolls on the ground which is super fun for new crawlers to chase. I especially love that it doesn’t make sound unless you move it. So if baby wants it to sing, she has to do the work. I’m not a fan of constant singing toys, not only are they annoying but they don’t teach anything to baby.
Zany Zoo - I’ve had this since my oldest’s (who’s almost 9) first Christmas. Its done through all my babies and played with A LOT each time. AND it still looks brand new! Like seriously, new! This is a great one for sitters and crawlers and even walking. Not great for those learning to pull up, as its not heavy enough and can fall backwards on them but it happens and no harm is done, just scares baby a little. My older boys love to move the pieces around for her and it’s generally entertaining for all.
Watermelon Teether - I don’t know that a teether is considered a toy but in our house this is a must. Again its gone through each kid and its a crowd favorite for every single one. You can throw in the fridge when they’re in serious pain but most of them time its just an easy toy to grab and go. Easy for them to carry around and the chew on throughout the day!
Wooden Food - This set was purchased to go with the shopping cart also my Melissa and Doug we already have. Yes this is for older kids, not ideal for 0-12 months but the food is perfect! She loves to play with the banana and the fish and the chicken wing. She bangs the wooden pieces together and practices putting them in the crates and taking them out. As she gets older I know she’ll love the shopping cart too but not quite yet.
Carseat Mobile - Unfortunately being the 3rd baby, we spend a lot of time in the car going too and from school and practice and blah blah blah! That means she’s great in the car (as long as Raffi is playing) and we have good car toys. This one is a fav! We have taken it in restaurants and grocery shopping. Lots of options to play with and chew on and its cute so win-win!
There you have it, Top 5 Favorite Baby Toys for Ages 0-12 Months. What are your favorite baby toys?
xoxox- 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!
Lauren Motherhood Session || Orange County Motherhood and Baby Photography
I’ve had the pleasure of being Lauren’s Orange County Motherhood and Baby Photography for almost two years. I first met Lauren at my Santa sessions with Caysen in 2017. I started following her on Instagram and their adorable little family always brought a smile to my face. Now she has another sweet little man in her life and these boys are her world. You can see in all of her posts how much she truly loves the chaos of being a mama. Her smile is always ear to ear and you can just feel her love for her little boys!
So when I was looking for models for these motherhood sessions, I knew she would be the perfect fit. You know why… Happy people are the prettiest! This is truly a happy family I love to watch them interact. They are just so cute!
Orange County Motherhood and 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!
XO- Laurel
Everest Newborn || Orange County Newborn Photography
Almost two years ago, I was lucky enough to photograph a sweet little boy named Maverick. Absolutely the sweetest and tiniest little love, he was a dream. We even took his newborn session to Little Corona Beach in Newport Beach and did a few photos on his daddy’s surf board. Little Maverick was named after the surf break so it only seemed fitting. Seriously the cutest ever!
Fast forward to now, I am lucky enough to photograph his adorable little sister too! Sweet little Everest as in the mountain was just as perfect as her big brother. Here are a few of my favorites!
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
spring wardrobe recs || orange county maternity and newborn photographer
Spring has officially sprung here in SoCal! The hills around San Clemente and South Orange County took like something straight out of New Zealand. Gorgeous rolling hills covered with delicate yellow flowers. This is absolute favorite time of year here in Orange County.
With all those vibrant greens and yellow tones means our wardrobe suggestions need to be even more neutral so we don’t overpower the image with multiple hues of color.
If you’ve been following me for very long, then you know my go-to is neutral so this isn’t much of surprise but we need to be even more conscious of it now. Here are my tops picks for a spring session with me and links to shop the looks. Happy Shopping!
Xo- Laurel
Links to shop… (Shop soon as these sell out pretty quickly!)
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