While most of my holiday mini sessions take place down in Orange County and Long Beach, I always love bringing a few dates up into Los Angeles too. In fact, this year’s LA locations offer a nice mix of classic and lesser known spots. Each session is $125 to book, with an additional $500 due when your photos are ready. So if you want to see every available date, you can view the full 2026 calendar and book your date here.
This year’s holiday mini sessions are spread across some of my favorite Orange County spots, plus a few new ones I’m excited to add to the lineup. Each session is $125 to book, with an additional $500 due when your photos are ready. If you want to see every date and reserve your spot, you can view the full 2026 holiday mini session calendar here. Below is a closer look at where these sessions are happening around Orange County.
I have a family that has been coming to me since the very beginning. And I mean the very beginning. Twin girls, fresh and tiny, just days old. That first session was full of the kind of magic that only newborns can bring, two little humans brand new to the world, curled up and perfect.
That was years ago. Last month, the same family came back. The reason? The girls got kittens.
As an Orange County newborn photographer, I’ve had the privilege of stepping into hundreds of homes in those magical, bleary-eyed first weeks after a baby arrives. And if there’s one thing I’ve noticed, it’s that the families who feel most at ease — the ones who are actually able to soak it all in — are the ones who did a little bit of preparing before baby came home.
I’m not talking about having a perfectly Pinterest-ready nursery. I’m talking about the practical, thoughtful kind of preparation that actually makes a difference in those first weeks. Here are the five things I recommend to every family I work with.
There is something about a sleeping newborn, soft light, and a clean white backdrop that never gets old. When parents first come to me, many of them have seen elaborate newborn setups online. They wonder if they need baskets overflowing with props, dozens of color combinations, or themed setups. My answer is always the same. Simple is stunning. And years from now, you’ll appreciate that you chose simple.
Every senior session tells a story, and some stories are just better than others. This one had a white sundress, a beloved dog, cowboy boots, and a college commitment that a whole family is incredibly proud of. It was one of those sessions where everything came together beautifully, and I could not wait to share it.
Some of my favorite sessions are the ones where three generations show up, someone’s toddler refuses to cooperate, and by the end everyone is laughing so hard the candids basically take themselves. Extended family sessions at the Seal Beach Pier are exactly that kind of magic, and if you’ve been searching for extended family photoshoot ideas, you’re in the right place.
There is something incredibly meaningful about photographing multiple generations together. Grandparents, parents, and children all gathered in one place creates a collection of images that becomes even more valuable over time. These extended family beach photos at Crystal Cove were a wonderful example of how special it is to capture a family’s story across generations.
One of the most common things parents tell me before their photo session is, “We want our photos to feel natural.” They don’t want stiff poses or forced smiles. Instead, they want images that capture their family as they really are, laughing together, playing with their kids, and enjoying time at the beach.
That’s exactly what candid family photography in Orange County is all about.
Dogs are part of the family, so it only makes sense to include them in your family photos. One of the first questions many clients ask is whether they can bring their dog to a session—and the answer is usually yes! The key is choosing a location that is both beautiful for photos and dog-friendly.