Right now I’m in a slow season for work. So, it’s the perfect time for me to talk about self care during the BUSY seasons!
My busy season is September through December. It’s when everyone needs family photos to send out a card for the holidays. I work every weekend with back to back mini-sessions. There’s lots of travel involved as I go from LA to Orange County and back.
I know it’s easy to focus on the kids for annual portraits. But, it’s also so important to get in the photos!
When I started my business in 2007, I spent hours pouring over online articles. I wanted to know how it all worked. How do you book a session, how long should it take, how do you decide which photos to edit, what software do you use to edit them? SO. MANY QUESTIONS.
// recent family photography session at Seal Beach
Happy’s been popping up a lot lately. Maybe #100happydays is to blame. Or maybe Happy is permanently burned into our temporal lobes. Either way, we’re rolling into summer with a grin on our face. Ready to take on the world!
Edited: March 15 is full. I have several spots open now on my new date March 30 in the afternoon.
Spring Mini-Sessions! Here’s the details…
March 15, 4:00, 4:20, 4:40, 5:00, 5:20, 5:40
Seal Beach Location
**If these times fill up quickly, I will add a new date.
$100 for a 20 minute session. The first three to sign up will get $200 off the mini-session CD. (Email for details.)
**I will have this couch at the sessions, but if you’d prefer just the greenery, you don’t have to use it.
To book a session, either email info@kristineldridge.com or call 562-980-6480
Doing photo shoots at the beach in southern California isn’t always the easiest thing in the world. State beaches require permits and the ones that aren’t state beaches tend to have lines (literally) for the prime spots. Seal Beach is right on the border of Orange County and Los Angeles. It’s somewhat of a hidden gem for photo sessions. What I love most about it is the wood pier, which is seen here and here.
Yes, you might see another photographer here and there, but for the most part it’s not a crowded beach. If I’m not shooting at the pier, I like to head south on the beach to the little jetty. It’s neighborhood parking (instead of the lot) so it’s even quieter.
Here’s a recent photo session from a day with perfect lighting (morning overcast, but not too gray!)
When you come from a family of models, how can you not be beautiful?
Maybe boys don’t like to be called beautiful, but while he’s still too young to protest, we will deem it so. 🙂
Really, photographing babies this cute cannot be called work!
And by now Jase’s mom will be in tears, so I’ll leave you with two more stunning black and whites…
Can’t wait to show you guys the rest!
-Kristin
I can’t believe tomorrow is Friday!! I knew this week would fly by and it has. It’s been a blur of shopping, building, painting and photo-editing. In fact, my hands are covered with green paint and I just got done shopping for moss today…how’s that for a teaser!
OK, enough about what I’ve been up to. Here are the details for the Ladera Ranch Spring Sessions…March 28 (Saturday) from 8:30 to 10:30am I’ll be in a secluded field absolutely covered with lush greenery and pops of orange wild flowers.
I feel like I absolutely scored by finding this location!! I can’t wait to see the images we come up with. The photo sessions will be 20 minutes long and will include an online gallery of 10+ images to choose from as well as (2) 5×7 prints. Additional prints/cards/etc. can be purchased a la carte.
The cost is $110 and if you are a socal resident (you don’t have to live in Ladera Ranch to participate) email me at info@kristineldridge.com to reserve your spot. Of course I’ll be bringing some gorgeous antique furniture out to the field. My wonderful Ladera host, Arlene, is emailing this info to all her friends, so I have a feeling the spots will go fast! This is such an awesome way to get Easter pictures of your kiddos that will out-do everything you’ve done before!!
-Kristin
Last week I got to meet up with Jennifer…the mastermind behind Tiny Oranges blog. It’s a blog dedicated to Orange County moms and their little ones. I can’t remember exactly how I found Jennifer’s blog. It’s one of those rabbit trail things…you know you sit down to look up movie times and the next thing you know you’ve found the latest and greatest new site!
I emailed Jennifer, we hit it off and ended up meeting for coffee. Or tea in Jennifer’s case. 🙂 Starbucks was kind enough to coordinate their cup cozies with my whole theme for the day.
As a mom and entrepeneur I wanted to ask Jennifer how she started her blog, how she comes up with WHAT to blog about and basically how she got to be so dang talented! Turns out she was inspired by The Wedding Chicks…a blog I also frequent! She thought there should be something equally as cool for moms. Specifically moms in Orange County. And even though starting a blog was unfamiliar territory, she wrapped her experience in the dot com industry, her years as an event coordinator and of course her experience as a new mom into Tiny Oranges.
The blog has great tips, giveaways and fun things to do in Orange County. I love how easy it is to navigate and she has something new just about every day! Next week, I’ll be doing a spot on her blog about practical things you can do to improve your pictures.
Because Jennifer has her finger on the pulse of all that is new and cool for moms, I wanted her to share with us what she couldn’t live without and what’s she’s dying to have! Soooo, her must have is this shopping cart cover and she can’t wait to get her hands on a new UPPA Vista Baby Stroller. Go check it out…it looks awesome! And make sure you frequent her blog for tons more eye candy!
She was kind enough to pose for a photo, so you can put a face to all the fun stuff that’s coming out of Tiny Oranges. Oh and if you’re in the know about a cool new place for kids or the product that all your friends are buying, send her an email. She loves to include contributions from local moms!
Last but not least! I promised to share info about the Spring Mini-Sessions that are coming up at Rascals to Rebels. Here’s the 411. The Huntington Beach Store is now taking sign ups for March 13 and 14 from noon to 2pm. The store is hosting complimentary 15 minute mini-sessions and prints can be purchased a la carte. You need to go by the store to sign up, so go quick…last time it filled up in 2 days!
-Kristin
All this warm weather has me excited about an upcoming trip to Oahu! I’ll be staying on the North Shore March 18-23. There really isn’t a more beautiful place to do beach photos, so if you happen to be lucky enough to be reading this from your home in Oahu or if you know someone who’d be interested shoot me an email. info@kristineldridge.com
I’ll be spending many hours watching Brent surf, so I thought it might be fun to break it up with a photo session! There will be special pricing, so email me for details.
Also, for all of you who asked about the photo tips I mentioned, those will be showing up next week on a friends blog. You’ll get to meet her tomorrow!
-Kristin