5 reasons to hire a SAN DIEGO lifestyle wedding photographer

Congratulations on your engagement! Choosing a photographer is a very personal decision, especially when you are documenting one of the most important days of your life. Wedding planning can be a daunting task and there are a plethora of wedding photography styles. My best advice would be to choose a photographer who’s style you are drawn to, who you can build a rapport with and who compliments your vibe. You will be spending a lot of time with your photographer on your wedding day! Lifestyle wedding photography aims to capture you and yours in the most natural way.

Here are 5 reasons to hire a San Diego lifestyle wedding photographer:

1. Authenticity

You want your photos to showcase your love in the most authentic & natural way. If something is naturally unfolding, this is where the magic happens for me to capture. It can’t get any real that that! Sure, I may do some guiding and directing but for the most part, I will be pretty hands off.

2. Variety

Lifestyle wedding photography combines a variety of photography styles. There will be photojournalistic/documentary shots mixed in with some traditional/ posed portraits. This is especially true when it comes to bridal party/groomsmen compositions, family portraits, etc. With lifestyle wedding photography, you get the best of both worlds.

3. CONNECTION

A lifestyle wedding photographer’s goal is to capture you as you are with no awkward or stiff posing. In order to make this happen in the most authentic way, I strive to make sure that we establish a connection, with understanding and trust. I ensure that you are comfortable with me and in front of my lens by truly getting to know you and your story during the pre-wedding planning process.

4. STORYTELLING

The story of your wedding day will be conveyed through images, documenting the details and interactions that make your day truly unique.

5. RELAX and ENJOY YOUR WEDDING DAY

The approach to lifestyle wedding photography often creates a comfortable and relaxed environment. This allows you to enjoy your special day and be yourselves while I discreetly document beautiful moments as they unfold.

5 tips to prepare kids for a photo session with your san diego family Photographer

I recently had our family photos taken done by another talented local San Diego photographer and we had the best time! Being on the other side of the camera helps me understand that the process of family photos can be quite daunting. But there are ways to eliminate that stress! Most importantly, it makes such a difference when the kids are on board and know exactly what to expect.

Here are 5 tips to prepare your kids for your next photo session

1. Comfortable Clothing

It’s important that kids are comfortable and can move freely in their outfits. If they are unhappy about what they are wearing, it’s going to show in the photos. If they don’t normally wear hair bows, hats, etc. and refuse to keep it on, ditch the accessory. Happy kids > perfect outfits. Also, dress according to the weather. We want to make sure that the kids aren’t too hot or cold. For beach sessions, I always encourage bringing blankets to wrap babies in and/or extra clothes/ towels in case we end up in the water at the end (which is almost always!)

2. Happy tummies / bring snacks

Make sure that everyone is well-fed and tummies are full before the photo session. It will be very hard to please a “hangry” child. I recommend bringing plenty of dry, non-messy snacks and water to stay hydrated. Breaks are always welcome as needed. In fact, I rarely stop photographing during these in-between moments.

3. communication

Hype up the photo session! Talk to your kids and let them know that a friend will be taking their photos at the location that you have chosen. Give them a heads up of what we will be doing and emphasize how much fun it’s going to be. I do my best to try and connect with the kids and introduce myself to them first without my camera.

4. bribes/ treats

If you are up for it, you can promise a special treat after the session to help keep kids motivated and follow directions. Candy, ice cream, lollipops, a new toy, etc. are great examples.

5. positive vibes

Set the tone of the session by keeping things fun, light and positive. Kids will feed off of your energy. But let’s keep it real… kids will be kids and we never know what to expect. With that said, please keep your expectations low. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect, all that I ask is for you to love on your family. My goal is to capture your family exactly as you are today. Remember that time is fleeting!

What to expect from your Lifestyle Newborn Session in San Diego

So what exactly is a lifestyle newborn session, you may ask? A lifestyle newborn session is mostly unposed capturing raw, organic moments of your new bundle in the comfort of your own home. I arrive at your home with just myself and my camera, no props, backdrops, baskets, etc. My goal is to capture those very first, intimate moments at home and the natural, beautiful connection and love of your new family unit. I try to keep things as relaxed and laid back as possible. There’s no worry of making sure the baby is asleep, in fact, I’ve done entire lifestyle newborn sessions with the baby awake the entire time. And if the baby prefers, they can stay in their parent’s arms throughout the session. This is where they feel the most safe and secure anyhow.

What to wear to your San diego photo session

It is important that your wardrobe is comfortable and reflects exactly who you are. Deciding on what to wear can be quite daunting! But here are a few tips to help make the process a little easier and most importantly, make you feel and look even more amazing than you already are! Here are some tips from my experience as a San Diego family photographer.

Don’t match. Coordinate.

I highly recommend coordinating, not matching. For color inspiration, start with one focal piece (i.e. what Mom is wearing), then coordinate the rest of the family from there with 3-4 colors. I strongly advise against wearing all white or black since a lot of detail tends to get lost.

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Choose neutral clothing

If you are having trouble deciding on colors, you can never go wrong with neutrals! Think cream, grey, or tan.

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Skip the logos and/or bold lettering

Please avoid any logos, wording, character prints, etc. as they can be distracting and draw the attention away from what’s most important…you! It is best to keep wardrobe simple and clean.

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Layer and texture

Don’t be afraid to incorporate jackets, cardigans, hats, scarves, and necklaces to add more interesting visual elements and texture. Keep accessories simple and don’t over do it.

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Be Yourself!

The most important thing is to be yourself! My hope is that your photo session captures your true self, your unique style and personalities. If you already have some cute pieces in your closet, use them! If you prefer to shop for some new outfits, I love Zara, Free People, Anthropologie, Baltic Born, Joyfolie, Lulus, Target, H&M and Amazon.