Apr
22
2015
Is anyone else feeling like, Summer…are you here yet??
A good beach photo is easy to love. But, when is a good time to do a beach photo? And by time, I mean the age of your child. The first bit of advice I have is that in order to take a good photo, you have to love the beach. I know it sounds redundant, but if you don’t love spending time at the beach, you won’t love hanging out there for pictures. Your hair will get wind-blown and you might walk away with the soggy jeans.
If you do love the beach, YAY! I do too. A successful beach shoot involves a walking child. Yes, it’s possibly to take a baby to the beach and get good photos. But, if we’re talking best case scenario, it’s a child that can walk. Why? Because sitting and crawling babies are so tiny that even if you set them on a blanket, I have to zoom so far out to capture the landscape that the baby is super tiny in the photo. If I zoom in to crop appropriately, you lose the essence of where you are.
And there’s the sand. Sand that gets everywhere. Sand that’s shoveled by the handful into the mouths of babes. Crawling babies are just curious. They want to crawl right off that blanket and into the sand to taste it.
So, of course you can always book a beach session with a baby of any age, but my best advice is to wait just a little until they are walking to get the most out of your session!
Apr
15
2015
Moms! It’s your special day. And I know you’re always the one behind the camera. Take this opportunity to document this stage with a mini-session.
*If you want some photos with just the kids or you want a family photo too…that’s okay!
Here are the details:
April 26 11:00-1:00 at a park in Long Beach (pretty light filtered in through lots of greenery)
May 2 10:30-12:00 and 2:30-4:00 at my studio in Long Beach (white walls, light floors, very clean and neutral)
Sessions are $100 for the 20 minute session fee and an additional $250 for all your digital images. This is a huge discount from my normal pricing!
To sign up, you can either email me to see what’s available OR click here to pay for the session fee with a credit card and write the time you’d like in the notes.
Mother’s Day Mini-Sessions
I recently photographed a family just before they moved back to NYC. It was extra special because I was able to photograph their baby as a newborn last summer. We got the most perfect overcast lighting that makes everything bright and vibrant. It was chilly, but maybe it was the sky’s way of getting them ready to move back to the cold. Either way, it was a great morning and I’m so thankful I was able to document their time in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Baby Photographer // Good-bye for Now
Apr
08
2015
This tiny little bit is joining the ranks of girls in their home. I love photographing big sisters with their babies. They are such ‘little mommies.’ These two big sisters were the best, snuggling and cuddling little baby S.
Baby S // Long Beach Baby Photographer
Mar
25
2015
I just wrapped my very last photo session at the Rascals to Rebels Boutique. They close their doors on Friday after 15 years in the community. I’ve been working with them since 2008! It’s bittersweet because the store will continue to have an online presence with the hope of also doing special events.
So that you don’t shed too many tears, take a look at these cutie pie sisters there were there over the weekend!
Kristin Eldridge is a Los Angeles Child Photographer, servicing Long Beach, Orange County and LA.
Mar
23
2015
I don’t think ‘cute’ even covers it! Love this sweet little photo session…
Family Photographer Orange County // Timing is everything
I love when we can add things into a photo session that make it exciting! This time, it was these amazing vintage bikes. The twins had received them as a gift, so their mom so kindly lugged them out to the park so we could play around with them. I love how they bring such brilliant smiles to the children’s faces.
Of course, with a session like this we start with the family portraits and all the necessary things. Then at the very end we bring out the bikes. It’s funny how you don’t think of things like this until you’re a mom or until you’ve had it happen to you as a photographer. If you bring out the ‘fun thing’ and let them play, then say, now we’re going to sit down for some photos, you’ll be greeted with a hearty, ‘no thank you.’
Timing is everything!
I love having unique locations for my photo sessions. There are so many photographers in Southern California, that it’s nice to be set apart and have locations that not everyone is going to. Although, once I find a great location, I use it until I don’t feel inspired by it and then move along! So, what goes into finding a great location? Here’s a few tips that I’ve learned along the way.
1. Drive around. This may sound basic, but it’s important to keep your eyes open as you’re driving around the city. Sometimes I’m able to set apart a chunk of time for the sole purpose of location scouting, but other times I find spots as I’m doing my daily routine or maybe on the way to a client’s home.
2. See all the parts and the whole. There are times when I’m looking for a location with a sweeping landscape. I also use spots that are tiny little nooks of gorgeousness. I’ll often have clients tell me, “I never would have SEEN what you saw in this location.” So, determine what you’re needs are (big views or a little areas when you don’t need to move around and are mainly doing close-ups.)
3. Which leads me to my next tip- Ask your clients to trust you. It helps when you have a few years under your belt. But, you want your clients to feel comfortable at the location. So, if you’re leading them to an area they are unsure about and they don’t know you enough to trust your vision, it will come across in their expressions.
4. Go to the location at the time of day you are planning to photograph there. Lighting is key, so you want to make sure you’ll know what to expect. There are certain locations that I know I can only use the morning or afternoon. Some locations will work any time of day.
5. Be prepared for anything. One time I went to a location and they were renovating it (unexpectedly). I had to quickly come up with a plan B because I had back to back clients planning to arrive. I try to have a back-up location and client’s numbers programmed into my phone, so I can think quickly and be ready for changes.
I hope that helps! And if you’re wondering where this fabulous location is…these abandoned railroad tracks run throughout the city of Cerritos, CA. Another one of those times where I was driving around and noticed this out my window.
Orange County Family Photographer // How I Scout for Locations
You know that shy feeling you get when you meet someone for the first time? Kids get that too. When they come into my studio with their brand new baby brother or sister, they’re checking me out. Deciding if I’m likeable.
I usually start out by telling them what we’ll be doing. I tell them how we’ll be holding the baby and how important it is to hold up his head. Things like that. I’m kind of in teacher mode. (Side note: I used to be a first grade teacher!)
Once I get the shot set up, I want to surprise them. I want them to be giggly and add a little life to the photo. So, I do something like ask if they think that baby brother has a poopy diaper. That usually gets a laugh to start. Then we might go into scenarios of what would happen if he pooped on… Sometimes, they’ll offer up stories and the laughs don’t stop.
From there, I’ll try to get a soft and sweet shot, so something like kissing the baby will wrap things up. Toddlers can do something like count the babies toes or look at his hair if they are too young to kiss on command.
But, potty talk. It works every time. 🙂
Long Beach Newborn Photographer // Tips for Photographing Babies and Siblings