Intimate Studio Maternity Session for First Baby | Newport Beach

There is something so special about having moms in our studio, especially when they are pregnant with their first baby! The joy, the anticipation and the changes with their ever-growing body as they embark on this journey to motherhood.

Trust me, I know how special pregnancy is, and it’s not something I take lightly. We went through years of trying to grow our family, and it’s a true honor to capture these memories every single time.

Newport Beach Studio Maternity Session

I also know what it’s like to be pregnant and endlessly searching for dresses, only to wait for them to arrive and not like the way they fit. It’s why we have a studio wardrobe full of dresses for moms maternity to postpartum in XS-3x. 

Moms often choose multiple wardrobe changes for studio maternity sessions, which is a great bonus that you don’t get when choosing an outdoor location. 

We get together before the session during the wardrobe appointment so that you can feel confident in knowing what dresses you will be wearing during your session. This is also helpful because once we have your wardrobe picked out, we choose what dad and the kids are wearing as well. One less thing for you to stress about, check. 

hair and Makeup

Leading up to the birth of your first baby, there are endless amounts of to-do lists, things to prepare for the baby and the last thing you have time to do is schedule hair and makeup for your session. 

It’s why moms love our hair and makeup services included in their sessions. Our artist will come to your home, pamper you and have you feeling beautiful and confident for your studio maternity session. 

This mom-to-be loved her hair and makeup and cried happy tears with how beautiful she felt. It’s what we want for every mom who walks into our studio.

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Orange County, CA. Our studio is located in Newport Beach and we serve clients from the surrounding areas including Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Studio Maternity Session in Newport Beach

Charlotte and Matt are some of the sweetest people and are so excited to welcome their son. We celebrated their pregnancy with a studio maternity session in Newport Beach in my studio. It was simple, yet so beautiful, and I left just feeling so thankful that I got to document this season for them.

I’ll never forget those final weeks leading up to meeting my daughter for the first time. The years spent praying and longing for that moment would soon be here. My husband and I would soon not just be husband and wife but also mom and dad. Life was about to change and we could not wait. I’m so thankful we documented it and they aren’t just memories that live in my head. We have those photos, and one day I’ll be able to share them with my daughter.

Why a Studio Maternity Session?

AND now, Charlotte and Matt will be able to do the same. I love that they opted for a studio maternity session. Mama wanted to be able to wear a few different dresses, including a more intimate look, so the studio was the perfect setting. It also allows for a cohesive feel throughout their baby boy’s first year photos.

With each dress Mama put on, she glowed and was beaming with joy in each photo. All of those feelings you can feel when you look at her, and as the years pass and she looks, she’ll remember too.

I cannot wait to share this sweet boys newborn photos and document his first year!

Ambre Williams Photography is a Newport Beach maternity and newborn photographer. Our studio is located in Newport Beach and we serve clients from the surrounding areas including Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Crystal Cove Beach Maternity Session

I still remember those days leading up to the arrival of our first baby. There’s so much anticipation. Years of praying and wondering what she would look like, whose personality she would have, and what it would be like to hold her. I cherish that season so much and the maternity photos we took to remember it by. It’s a big reason why I love photographing maternity sessions for clients and am so excited to share this Crystal Cove beach maternity session with you.

Natalie and Efrain are awaiting the arrival of their first baby boy and so excited to become parents. They live close by and found me when searching for a Newport Beach photographer. It’s been so much fun getting to know them and cannot wait to see them with their sweet boy in a few weeks! We’ll be documenting his first year and watching him grow together!

Celebrate Your Pregnancy

As much as Natalie and Efrain can’t wait to hold their sweet boy, taking the time to celebrate their pregnancy and these final days as just the two of them was really important to them. In fact, it’s something I encourage all of my clients to consider when they are on the fence about doing a maternity session. Sometimes it can feel easier to push this session off, but trust me, you’ll never regret taking the time to soak in this season and celebrate where you are right now.

Natalie had her hair and makeup done and then chose a beautiful dress from the client wardrobe. She looked absolute stunning and I loved the tones of her dress on the beach! We had the most beautiful night and time together at Crystal Cove beach. After their session, they chose some favorites to add to an album we’ll create documenting their sons first year.

I can't believe the next time I will be seeing these two will be in just a few weeks meeting their new arrival!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Orange County, CA. Our studio is located in Newport Beach and we serve clients from the surrounding areas including Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Maternity Photoshoot in Newport Beach Studio

I recently wrote a blog post on why maternity sessions are so special and why you should do one. For a lot of my clients, deciding on a location for their maternity session can be hard. Being in Orange County, we have beautiful the most beautiful parks and beaches for outdoor sessions. But for some, my Newport Beach studio is a better option for their family’s maternity photoshoot.

Why do Your Maternity Session in the Studio?

Consistency

In the studio, we’re able to control lighting and schedule your sessions at times that allow for consistency both throughout your session and from session to session. This can be particularly appealing when creating an album or designing artwork from multiple sessions.

Fewer Distractions

While outdoors provides more space for your little one(s) to roam around and explore, it can sometimes be overwhelming. In the studio, there are fewer distractions and they can take a break if they need to. Then, after a quick break, we can pop them back in photos when they're ready. Meanwhile, you can trust they are safe and enjoy your photos!

Weather

Rain or shine, we can do your maternity photoshoot in the studio. You also don’t have to worry about the temperature, which can be really important during certain seasons and the further along you are in your pregnancy. It’s often easier for Dad and little ones as well!

Maternity sessions are also time-sensitive, so rescheduling is not always an option. Even if you are planning for an outdoor maternity session, I’d consider being open to a studio maternity session in the event of weather conflicts.

Convenient

Studio sessions are honestly just convenient. It’s easy to get to, you don’t have to worry about parking or crowds, and it’s also comfortable. Once you arrive at the studio, there’s plenty of room to relax, the wardrobe room will be available for you to make final selections and change, and then once you’re ready we get started with your session. Everything is in one place and when you’re pregnant, that’s always a bonus!

It’s safe to say that I love maternity sessions in the studio! There is a simplicity about them that allows the focus to be on you and your family, creating timeless portraits for you to enjoy for years to come.

I’m so excited for this sweet family and loved having them in the studio. This was the first of several sessions together. Baby girl will join their family in December and then we’ll be documenting her first year!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Orange County, CA. Our studio is located in Newport Beach and we serve clients from the surrounding areas including Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Why Maternity Sessions are So Special and Why You Should Do One

I hear from friends, family and clients all the time that they wish they had taken maternity photos. You don’t realize it in the moment, but pregnancy goes by SO fast, and sadly, maternity photos are time-sensitive and not something you can “just do later.” I want nothing more as a maternity photographer in Orange County than to be able to make sure you are able to preserve the memories from this special time.

Whether this is your first baby, second, or your last, you are going to want to remember this time in your life. Each baby is so special, each entering into your family with his/her own story. That’s worth celebrating.

With your first, you don’t know what to expect. Everything is exciting and the days of it just being you and your partner are coming to a close. But, with that comes the most exciting adventure. Celebrate the love you share and all that comes with anticipating the arrival of your firstborn!

If it’s not your first, you know. You know just how fast it all goes and how much you don’t want to forget what it was like. Take this time to celebrate your family dynamic as it is, and create memories with your older children. Their whole world is about to change, so having this special time with Mom and Dad before their baby brother or sister arrives is so special.

It may seem like maternity photos are more for you right now and not necessary, but years from now, they will be such a priceless gift for your son and/or daughter. I promise you’ll never regret taking them.

Kennedy Family Maternity Session

These three could not be more excited for their baby girl to join them! We met up for an outdoor maternity session in Irvine. It was a beautiful night with a golden hour sunset that did not disappoint!

Big brother, Greyson, is SO sweet and truly just the happiest little boy. He was all smiles, making my job pretty easy! I cannot wait to see him with his sister soon for her newborn session. We’ll be documenting her first year, adding to her first-year album after each session. I’ve been designing more and more albums lately and I love it!

Hair and makeup were provided for Mom and wardrobe for the family borrowed from the client closet.

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Orange County, CA. Our studio is located in Newport Beach and we serve clients from the surrounding areas including Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Studio Maternity Session for Baby #3

I am not sure who is more excited to welcome baby #3 (a girl!) into the family! She is already SO loved and is going to have the best big brother and big sister. Their excitement was really fun to photograph, and I am so glad Mom and Dad chose to do a studio maternity session!

Although life is busy and this is baby #3, Mom and Dad are being so intentional with documenting this season for everyone. Mom is actually coming back for an intimate maternity session in the studio, and then we’ll be photographing their baby girl’s newborn session and documenting her first year.

Before the session, Mom had her hair and makeup done and then picked out a beautiful off-the-shoulder dress. She looked absolutely stunning. One thing that struck me throughout their session was her smile. She genuinely looks SO happy and totally in her element as a Mama!

As much as this studio maternity session is about documenting baby #3, it’s about celebrating who they are as a family of four. I was sure to take photos of Mom with each of the kids and Dad with each of the kids so they could have their own special moment before their baby sister arrives.

This is just the beginning of being able to document this growing family’s story, and I could not be more honored to be their photographer. We have already started an album to document baby’s first year and will be creating a gallery wall in their Newport Beach home. Be sure to follow along!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Orange County, CA. Our studio is located in Newport Beach and we serve clients from the surrounding areas including Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Beach Maternity Session at Crystal Cove | Orange County, CA

Lately, I’ve spent most of my time photographing newborns and milestone sessions in my studio in Newport Beach. And while the studio is my happy place, I love the beach just as much! I met up with Bree and Aaron (and their furbaby, Bernie!) for their maternity session at Crystal Cove. It was a beautiful day at the beach and I had the best time getting to know these two.

I knew this was going to be a really special maternity session. Bree and Aaron are ecstatic for their rainbow baby and were beaming the entire session. They know just how precious this little life is and truly are soaking up every moment before his arrival. As both a photographer and mom that has experienced loss, it’s such an honor to be able to document their maternity session.

Bree wanted to do their maternity session at Crystal Cove because she grew up here. Her grandparents lived there for many years and it’s a place that feels like home to her. Having this added sentimental element to their maternity session, along with knowing their journey to get here was really special.

In just a few short weeks they will get to hold their precious boy and I can’t lie, I’m already counting down the days until I get to see these two again and meet him! Lucky for me, I get to document his first year and I could not be more excited!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Family Maternity Session in Lake Forest, CA | Orange County Maternity Photographer

Eveline and Helvin are so excited to welcome the birth of their fourth baby in just a few weeks. Mom really wanted a family maternity session in a beautiful wooded tree location in Lake Forest to document this special time. We could not have asked for a better evening together. I had the best time getting to know this sweet family!

The kids were so sweet together and adore their mama. They also enjoyed being able to explore, which is a big reason I love going to this location in Lake Forest. It’s rarely crowded, safe for the kids, and of course, absolutely beautiful for pictures.

Mom is wearing a client favorite from the AWP client wardrobe. We put the rest of the family in a mix of soft pinks and blues and I love how it all came together. What you wear can really impact the overall look of your photos, but I never want it to be a source of stress.

In general, I do recommend soft, neutral colors. Not only do these colors work best with my style of photography, but they are just timeless. It also helps if you’re booking a first year collective or do multiple sessions over the years. Your photos will be cohesive throughout and that’s important when building a gallery wall or album.

But don’t let any of this overwhelm you. I am here to help, every step of the way!

I’ve had so much fun getting to know these five and cannot wait to meet their newest baby soon!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Why I have an Annual Motherhood Celebration | Newport Beach Motherhood Photographer

This year’s annual motherhood celebration event was nothing short of amazing. Not only did we have several mamas and their babies, but a few grandmothers joined us too. It was a beautiful reminder that motherhood goes well beyond these early years and even as adults, it’s important to have photos with our mamas…and our children with their grandparents!

I choose to host the motherhood celebration event each spring at my studio in Newport Beach. So often mama's are the ones behind the camera snapping photos of the kids with dad. This is the time to celebrate moms and all they do with portraits of them and the kids right before Mother's Day.

Spring also means access to the most beautiful flowers. I really wanted to keep things simple, but add a feminine touch and this garland along the rattan chair was perfect. It photographed beautifully and was just the pop of color we needed!

For the motherhood celebration, we keep the sessions quick and fun. 10 minutes of the best snuggles, lots of giggles, and photos to cherish for a lifetime.

The best part is knowing that my clients have had just as much fun and love their photos as much as I do! Words from a Mom about the experience: "These definitely top the list of my top favorite photos of my little girl. How Ambre captured these photos in 10 minutes amazes me!" -Alexis

To each mama, grandma, and kiddo that attended our event this year, thank you! It’s truly such an honor to be able to document your most precious memories and milestones. I’m already counting down the days until next year’s event- hope to see you there!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Outdoor Sunset Maternity Session in Orange County with the Ortiz Family

I had the honor of photographing this sweet family’s outdoor sunset maternity session in Orange County. We could not have asked for better weather or a more perfect evening. It’s been a while since I have photographed a maternity session at Serrano Creek Park and this night reminded me why I love it so much!

The trees made for a stunning backdrop and the boys, Jackson and Lincoln, loved running around and enjoying the nature all around us. While they explored, it gave Mom and Dad a chance to enjoy some portraits alone. Every so often the boys would come to join and it was the perfect balance of having them interested in photos and giving them breaks. The oldest, Jackson, even shared his opinion on what spots he thought would be good for the photos. So cute!

Photoshoots can be hard on little ones, but I have found that if we let them explore and be kids, they are much more likely to cooperate and be excited to join in on family photos. Each of the boys loved kissing and hugging Mom’s belly and it was so sweet. These two already share such a fun bond, and I know they are going to have the best time when they add their newest baby brother to the mix!

Jaime's lace dress is from our Client Wardrobe and she looked absolutely gorgeous in it. Her smile and overwhelming joy for this little baby were not only exciting to photograph but an honor to witness. I know just how sacred this season is and will never take being a motherhood photographer for granted.

I'm so excited to meet their baby in a few weeks! And since they are a Baby's First Year Collective Member, I'll be able to document his milestones this next year.

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Maternity Session at Corona del Mar | Newport Beach Newborn and Family Photographer

One thing I love most about being a Newport Beach Newborn and Family Photographer is the different families I get to meet. My last maternity session was with first-time parents and this sweet family I get to share with you today is about to welcome their new addition to the family! To celebrate, we did a maternity session at Corona del Mar beach.

I have come to absolutely adore this family. Danielle and Shane have the sweetest girls and I loved seeing the bond they all share. Baby boy doesn't know it yet, but he’s entering into the most loving family and going to have the best big sisters.

Another exciting thing about this session was it was their first maternity session. Danielle chose one of my favorite dresses from the client wardrobe and looked absolutely beautiful. She commented on several occasions how relaxed, easy and fun I made it for them. That truly is my goal. I want this to be a time you can just be in the moment and create the most beautiful memories with your family!

And oh how I wish I could have just bottled up the excitement and joy radiating from their two girls. They laughed and played the whole time and we couldn't keep them out of the water. I know their baby brother is going to fit right in, and I am already counting down the days until I get to see them all again!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Maternity Photoshoot in Irvine at the Jeffrey Open Space Trail

The anticipation of your first baby is so surreal. It’s something you can’t truly understand until you are in it. The emotions are often overwhelming in the best way, mixed with some nerves and a lot of excitement. This could not be more true for Jamie and Tong. We had the best time during their maternity photoshoot in Irvine at the Jeffrey Open Space Trail.

I loved being able to witness first-hand (and photograph!) this milestone for them! As we walked around the park, people on walks and bikes would comment on how beautiful and glowing Jamie was. Her dress was beautiful against the backdrop and looks like it was made just for her. We could not have asked for a more beautiful, golden sunset or evening for their maternity session.

I am so excited for these two to become parents and welcome their son. Meanwhile, I am eagerly anticipating his arrival so I can photograph his newborn session! It will be the first of many sessions over this next year, as he is officially part of the AWP collective membership!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

Huntington Beach Maternity Photoshoot | Szajda Family

This is the sweetest family! I've had the pleasure of capturing their maternity, newborn, and family photos over the last few years. I am excited to share their Huntington Beach maternity photoshoot with you and soon, their baby girl!

Next to snuggling all the babies, I think the best thing about being a Huntington Beach photographer is getting to capture the love and laughter between a family. These four (soon to be five!) LOVE to laugh. Their joy is contagious and I absolutely loved spending my evening with them!

After taking some family photos, the boys had fun playing in the sand while I took a few photos of Mom and Dad together. There is one photo of the two of them that stops me every time I look at it. This is a photo their daughter will cherish one day - she will be able to see how much love there was as they anticipated her arrival!

I hope you enjoy this maternity session on the beach as much as I did! Oh, and be sure to scroll to see Aiden in his leather jacket. It may be my favorite photo op request yet!

Ambre Williams Photography is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Orange County.

From client wardrobe to the delivery and installation of your printed keepsakes, our job isn’t complete until your memories are in your hands. Because we strive to take care of every little detail for you, we only take a limited number of sessions per month.

An Easy Cleaning Routine For Busy Moms

With a toddler at home and running a business, this mama needs to use her time wisely. So finding a routine that works for me and trying to stay consistent, helps me stay sane.

Daily Routine

1. Making our bed

2. Grabbing a load of laundry and throwing that in the washer even before grabbing a cup of coffee.

   Emily Ley, author of A Simplified Life had shared this hack and it makes tackling the laundry much easier. I used to have piles of laundry in the room and wonder how in the heck was I ever going to get it all done. So I would much rather throw a load in and pop it in the dryer at some point during the day and fold it if I get to it. But if I’m being totally honest, I don’t really care if they are wrinkly as long as they are clean. My husband might say otherwise, though. 

3. Dishes

   Now, at the end of the day is when I try to get all the dishes and my cleaning routine done. I would much rather get to this all at the end of the night, than being stuck in the kitchen instead of playing with my daughter. So after dinner, bath and bedtime routine, I will start on the dishes. Putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, running it if necessary and hand washing the others.

4. Wipe Down Counters
   Then, I will wipe down all the counters and use the handheld vacuum to suck up all the crumbs that have gathered by her highchair. Wait, isn’t that what our dog is for?

5. Toy pick up
   Putting the toys back to where they belong. If we brought anything downstairs throughout the day it gets put in a basket by the stairs and brought up at the end of the night to put stuff back where it belongs. We have 4 flights of stairs, so this saves me time going back and forth all day.

   I know this evening routine might sound inconvenient and take a lot of time, but it actually doesn't and probably takes us about 15, 20 minutes to get it done before we start our Netflix show. I would much rather wake up in the morning with a fresh clean start to the day than already have a pile of dishes in the sink and toys everywhere. Obviously some nights I don’t get everything done and I’m fine with that. I give myself grace and realize I can’t always do it all. But for the most part, I try and stay consistent so i’ll have a clean start to my day.

   Weekly Routine

   1. Vacuum & Mop
      I try to get this done once or twice a week. I’ll vacuum and mop the entire house. This usually gets done on Friday or Wednesday and Fridays. By doing this it seems much more doable.

   2.  Dust and wipe down bathroom counters, toilets & mirrors.

      
      Because we have 2 animals in the house we have a ton of fur. Like, it’s a never ending battle with fur…. and I’m losing.

      Monthly Routine

      We have a house keeper that comes out and does more of a deep clean like the baseboards, curtains, stove and bathroom showers. This was something that I really put off for a while and was hesitant because I felt like I didn’t need help. But while I was pregnant, I couldn’t do it all - so ever since then it’s been a lifesaver.

      Since having a toddler running around and my business, I just don’t have the time to do it all. So finding someone you trust and is open to using either your products or using “clean products” (which is what I really wanted) was so great and I’m so much more happier!

      
      So that’s my manageable cleaning routine!  I hope these tips were helpful for you and I would love to hear from you and any cleaning hacks you might have. Share in the comments below!

I’m Ambre. I’m a wife, mama and photographer. My days are filled with joy while capturing memories and chasing around my daughter. Join me as I share snippets of client sessions, behind the scenes and what inspires me. Let’s make moments stand still together!

Motherhood

Newborn

A Simple Guide To Photographing
Your Kids

How Sign Language Helped My Daughter Communicate

Sign Language

Did you know that babies are able to understand a lot more than they can actually say at first? This is because they develop receptive language before they learn expressive language. Research shows that babies who learn basic sign language develop pathways for communication sooner than they would have otherwise. Sign language may also help your baby feel less frustrated and throw less tantrums because they are able to express their emotions and needs.

When my daughter was just a few months old, I joined The New Mom School. It’s where I really learned a lot more about sign language as a tool to communicate with your children. And I am so glad I did because my daughter was able to communicate very early on.

The Basics

First, decide if you will be using “baby sign” or American Sign Language. Baby sign was made easier for babies to sign. Like milk for example, it’s different than the ASL sign for milk.

There are several books that are great for kids to see how to do the sign also. This one was great and what signs we chose to use for our daughter and the signs that we taught her.

Consistency

Make sure you are consistently speaking the basics to them. For example, every time I fed my daughter more food, I would say “more” and sign it also. It seemed weird in the beginning but it actually just becomes a habit after a while.

Some babies may understand sign at a very early age but won’t be able to control hand movement until around 8 months or so.

Don’t Force It

On occasion, I would physically show how to do the sign with her hands, but for the most part I would just do the signing. If I noticed her trying to sign, I would help her and say “good job!” and repeat the word she was trying to sign.

At 9 months is when I noticed her signing all done and then not long after that, she started signing more. Now let me tell you, after months and months of signing and not sure if it was clicking, I was so impressed that she actually understood…It was a proud moment!!

So I’m here to encourage you and say keep up the work, even though it will take months, I promise it will be so worth it. When they can actually communicate with you before they can speak, it’s amazing!

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I’m Ambre. I’m a wife, mama and photographer. My days are filled with joy while capturing memories and chasing around my daughter. Join me as I share snippets of client sessions, behind the scenes and what inspires me. Let’s make moments stand still together!

Motherhood

Newborn

A Simple Guide To Photographing
Your Kids

How To Print Your Photos Without It Taking Forever

As a mother myself, I know all too well how quickly time flies by. It is why I cherish having a printed keepsake of photographs that are frozen in time. Albums are not only for you to enjoy, but for your children to enjoy for generations! It is why the heart of my business is that photos are meant to be printed and that mama’s should be in them, too!

Over the years I’ve tried so many different ways to organize our photos and I’m sharing what’s worked for me so far. First things first, you have to decide what you want to do with your photos. Do you want to hang them on the walls so you can see them everyday? Do you want them in books so your children can flip through them? Or do you just want to throw them in a shoebox to have for years to come?

Albums

So albums will be more work for sure, which is why most people don’t want to do them because they are too time-consuming.  If you don’t have all your photos selected before you start the design process, I’m just going to warn you that it will be a lot of time but it’s going to be so worth it in the end. Now that I have a system that works, I can create an album in half the time.

Ok, so here’s the time Saver, are you ready? That is why I set a reminder on my phone every week to go through and select my favorites. You can do this on the iphone by clicking the heart icon on the bottom left hand corner of the photo. This puts all your favorite images in a separate “favorites” folder that I can then upload this folder when it comes to designing my album. It cuts down time more than half because I’m not searching through thousands of photos trying to decide which ones I want printed.

There are so many different album companies to choose from with a wide variety of styles and quality that can be overwhelming. To help narrow down for you, are you going to have 200+ pages of your photos from the entire year? Then an album that is more like a large 12x12 book with thinner pages would be the best option for price point and quality in my opinion. Are you looking for an album that is a family keepsake from a special vacation? Then I would recommend a more luxury flat-lay album with fewer spreads and thick durable paper of your most favorite photos. 

Recommendations:

Artifact Uprising - for a quality hardcover album that you will cherish for years

Blurb - for a 200+ page photo book

Chat Books - small paper books that work great for phone photos, too

Print

I have always loved design, it’s no wonder why I was an interior designer before becoming a photographer. Our homes have always been filled with photos & heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. It is why almost every square foot of our home has artwork, photos, meaningful memories throughout our house. Our daughter every morning, walks down the hall and points to all the photos of family members she recognizes and family members she’s never met. Photos have that, a way of connecting us to moments that would have otherwise been forgotten.

Now, if we’re talking about printing professional photos, going with a high quality professional printer is ideal. You can usually order prints directly through your photographer, which is what I offer my clients. When you hire a professional photographer they color correct photos, so that when they are printed with a high quality printer,  it should almost be exactly how it was meant to be. If you go to Walmart for example and have something printed, the colors will definitely not match and not how the photographer intended for it to be.  

There are so many different options of artwork to choose from. With frame styles, gallery walls, canvases, metal prints and so much more. Here at my studio, with every session booked,I offer my clients a design consultation to help them find the best artwork for their home and style.

Recommendations:

Ordering directly from your photographer

Artifact Uprising - a great option for quality photos and better alternative than Walmart or Costco

I hope these tips have been helpful and will have you create meaningful memories in your home to cherish for generations.

Enjoy Similar Posts

I’m Ambre. I’m a wife, mama and photographer. My days are filled with joy while capturing memories and chasing around my daughter. Join me as I share snippets of client sessions, behind the scenes and what inspires me. Let’s make moments stand still together!

Motherhood

Newborn

A Simple Guide To Photographing
Your Kids

The Best Ways To Organize Your Kitchen

Since we are all at home and most of us are in the kitchen much more than normal (at least I am) I thought I would share a few tips that have helped make it easy to use my kitchen. Before you go buying new stuff to organize, go through your house and look for things that you can use. Old baskets, Tupperware containers and other random things can be repurposed.

Place items within reach

This might make you think, well duh, but when we first got married, I just put things all over the place. It wasn’t until after a few of our moves that I quickly realized I needed a system. Now, everything has a place. For example, our cups near the kitchen sink and refrigerator for easy access when we’re thirsty. Cooking utensils, spices, baking supplies are right next to the stove so when I’m cooking they are all right there. The dishes are also near the stove, so when I’m ready to serve what I just cooked it’s conveniently right there. The knives and cutting board are near the trash can so when I’m chopping, I can just dump everything right into the trash. 

Use your space wisely

Use things that add height so you can actually see what’s it’s in your cabinet. This is especially good if you’re limited on cabinet space! I love a lazy susan for this same reason so that you can spin it and see everything. Cookie sheets, chargers or placemats slide right into this and save space or you could use a standing file holder, too.

Put kids stuff where they can reach it

The kiddos always love to help and by putting their dishes within their reach, they can easily access what they need and are able to do it on their own. This helps you out and gives them something to do, win-win. If you want to really be organized, put their plates in one basket and cups in another. You can even print out a picture and tape it to the basket so they know exactly where it goes.

Non essentials up-top

I like to store trays, cookie sheets, back-up paper goods, and vases high on a shelf in less accessible places. Tip: stash a collapsible step stool in between the fridge for those hard to reach objects. 

Go through all of your drawers

If you’re like me you probably have duplicates of stuff or some kitchen accessory you have never used. Chances are if you haven’t used it in 6 months, you won’t need it! 

Command hooks

These are one of my favorite tricks for anywhere in the house. I put these on the inside of the cabinet to hang my oven mitt so it’s easy to grab. You can hang the lids to the cooking pans from these also. There are so many things that be done with these!

And that’s it! Those are some of my best kitchen organization tips that have helped me and I hope will help you, too!

Enjoy Similar Posts

I’m Ambre. I’m a wife, mama and photographer. My days are filled with joy while capturing memories and chasing around my daughter. Join me as I share snippets of client sessions, behind the scenes and what inspires me. Let’s make moments stand still together!

Motherhood

Newborn

A Simple Guide To Photographing
Your Kids

4 Tips To Get Your Baby To Sleep

First, I want to start off by saying - you will sleep again. I know you are here because you are wondering how can I get my baby to sleep? You are probably reading this, squinty eyed as your little one is restless in their crib and you just need a quick second of that bright light to wake up (besides caffeine of course) but you will sleep again... it just takes time. And second, I am by no means a professional. This is just one mom sharing her opinion to another mom. Always talk with your pediatrician, they are the professionals. Ok so now we got that squared away, let’s get started!

This girl right here, not a morning person. I’d rather stay up late watching Netflix marathons than have to wake up early. No, thank you. And when you’re pregnant you hear everyone say, “enjoy your sleep now. That’s never going to happen again.” I sort of panicked thinking how on earth am I going to function on no sleep. That’s when I came across Taking Cara Babies (Btw, I am in no way paid or an affiliate to say this) and fell in love. I am very much a Type A kind of person. I like to have a plan and stick with the plan. I go with the flow of course (because you have to with a baby, c’mon!) but I like to be prepared. Here I was, 8 months pregnant with swollen ankles kicked up on the couch, scrolling through her instagram soaking it all in. After reading all her amazing reviews, I gave in and purchased her newborn class. And let me tell you, worth its weight and gold. I now tell every mama-to-be about her. Seriously, like we didn’t have a clue what the heck we were doing. She helped us learn how to soothe our baby, read hunger and sleepy cues, how to swaddle but most importantly, meet my baby where she was developmentally.

How To Get Your Baby To Sleep

1. Pay Attention to Wake Windows: The amount of time a baby can be awake before they are overtired

2. Feed Every 2-3.5 hours (depending on the age and recommendations by your doctor)

3. Create a routine and stay consistent

4. Pause - babies are noisy sleepers and can sometimes cry in their sleep. Wait a few seconds or minutes before running to them right away.

Product Recommendations

Below are some of the products we used that I LOVE and really helped us get our daughter long stretches of sleep, which meant mama and dada could get some sleep too.

Ollie Swaddle & Love to Dream Swaddle (before she could roll over)

Nested Bean (weighted on the chest to resemble touch)

White Noise Machine: Marpac Dohm , The Baby Shusher

I hope you find these tips helpful as you are on the journey to sleeping again.

Enjoy Similar Posts

I’m Ambre. I’m a wife, mama and photographer. My days are filled with joy while capturing memories and chasing around my daughter. Join me as I share snippets of client sessions, behind the scenes and what inspires me. Let’s make moments stand still together!

Motherhood

Newborn

A Simple Guide To Photographing
Your Kids

5 Things Every Mom Wants For Mother's Day

Now, let me start off by saying most Mom’s would appreciate this (I know, I would) but I’m sure they would also appreciate a little gift, too. After all they do - they deserve to be taken care of and feel appreciated. It’s one of those holidays when it rolls around, that dad’s have no clue what to get us. So either we send them a link to exactly what we want or we drop not-so subtle hints. Well today you’re in luck with this blog post, just send them this link. Boom - you’re done!

Nap

Ever since the day you bring your children home from the hospital, you will never sleep the same. Even if they sleep through the night, you become a light sleeper. And it’s always something…whether they are teething, hungry, over tired, going through a leap, sick, you name it - sleep goes buh-bye.

I’ve heard from so many people to nap when my daughter naps. And that’s sounds amazing, but realistically can’t happen. With work, loads of laundry, dishes in the sink…who has time to nap? Except on this holiday. Dad’s take the kids out of the house and let mom nap for as long as she wants! Because let’s be honest, if the whole family is downstairs, you’re going to just be wondering what kind of disaster you are going to wake up to.

Bath

“Taking a bath is overrated.” -said no mom ever

This sentence is especially true to those moms whose kids can’t be trusted on their own for more than 5 minutes.

Let mom have a peaceful and relaxing bath (or shower) Fill up the the tub for her with some bubbles, a candle and some music to set the spa-like experience.

Cooked Meal & Clean Dishes

When we first got married, I wasn’t much of a cook. Mac n cheese? You got it! Box of pasta and a jar of sauce? Dinner is served. But ever since this quarantine started, I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone to cook…from recipe books. gasp. And the truth is? I’ve actually grown to love it. Every week I’ve made it a goal to try a new recipe and I’ve found some great ones that have quickly become our family favorites.

The one thing that I’m not the biggest fan of though is the clean up. It takes so long to prepare the meal and it’s gone before you know it. After we share about our day and pick up our empty plates - the pile of dirty dishes are sitting there, just looking at them can be exhausting. Help mom out by cooking lunch or dinner AND cleaning up all the dishes (don’t save some for her to-do the following day!)

Laundry

With a full schedule, trekking the kids around, cooking and cleaning, laundry can quickly become one of the biggest monsters. One piece of advice I’ve heard that I try to do everyday, is throw a load of laundry in the wash in the morning. At some point during the day, pop it in the dryer and fold it later. (I’m totally fine with wrinkles, hey at least they’re clean!)

Why not do some loads of laundry for her? (this will probably be her favorite.) The piles of clothes seem to be a constant ever-growing battle and she will love you for it!

Clean House

A house full of kids, toys and animals can easily feel overwhelming. No matter how hard you try, once you get one room cleaned, the kids have already destroyed the other one they were just in.

Kids & Dads: pick up around the house for her! Put the toys where they belong, make your beds, clean the kitchen. Anything that can help her out, is one less thing for her to-do later.

And that’s it! Pick a few of these to do for her and she will LOVE you for it. Trust me!! Feel free to send this link to dads, to one of your girlfriends, anyone who would love these ideas to give to their family.

Enjoy Similar Posts

I’m Ambre. I’m a wife, mama and photographer. My days are filled with joy while capturing memories and chasing around my daughter. Join me as I share snippets of client sessions, behind the scenes and what inspires me. Let’s make moments stand still together!

Motherhood

Newborn

A Simple Guide To Photographing
Your Kids

4 Tips for Capturing Photos During Quarantine

These are the days. The days no one had expected us to be living in. The days before Covid-19 and quarantine were part of our daily discussions. The days with our kids we didn’t know we needed. But here we are. We’re all trying to do our part and take care of our families while keeping others safe.

While this is not the greatest of times, we are living in the days that will be in history books. The stories of how the world stayed apart but came together to help one another. The sadness as families mourned the loss of their loved ones. The family time spent with the whole family over dinners without late night meetings or soccer games keeping us from home. The laughter and tears throughout the days of staying at home. But our children are going to remember how they felt and it is our job to make them feel safe. Will they remember what it’s like to be living during this time? Will they remember the pizza and movie nights? Will they remember mom getting down on the floor and playing with them without her to-do list keeping her preoccupied? Will they remember dance parties in the kitchen? Whatever memories we are making with our kids, we can help them remember through the photos we take with the one thing we often have right in our pockets, our phones.

Kids Just Being Kids

So often we overthink photographs. And it’s easy to fall into creating a perfectly posed photo with an instagram worthy backdrop and a caption that took way too long to come up with. It’s because we are in a social media “perfect life” kind of world. But we can take beautiful and meaningful photos of our kids just being kids. My daughter is almost one and a half years old now and I as I look back through old photos and video footage of her, it’s hard to imagine her being that small. It’s strange how our minds can do that to us. I had always told myself I will never forget these moments, which is why it’s so important to document it all. The kids are home with us right now. Capture them doing homeschooling, running around outside with their siblings, building forts in the living room and playing with their toys.

Take the photos from different angles, holding your phone above them for a birds eye view. Get down to their level and photograph what they are doing. There are so many ways to capturing this time that will tell a story you want to remember.

Photograph or Video A Day in The Life

Photographs have the power to freeze a moment in time so you can remember it forever. It can literally bring back your senses just by glancing at the photo. You remember the way you felt, the cold breeze blowing through your air, the fragrance of the trees while you bent down to feed the ducks with your little one. Take a day to capture the everyday mundane and turn it into a slideshow. Or just print the photos out and put them in a shoebox to share with your kids some day. Is there a song you sing when they wake up? Do they help you make breakfast? Are they learning to put their clothes on by themselves? What’s their favorite thing to do right now. Capture it all. No matter how trivial it may seem, these small moments add up to the biggest moments.

The Details

As an interior designer, wedding photographer and now motherhood photographer I have always appreciated the details. No moment goes unnoticed. I want to remember those chubby little fingers grasping mine as we walk together. I want to remember the way her toes are curled up when she’s playing in the sand. What is a favorite feature of your child? What’s something you do together?

You can capture the same subject but from different angles and get two totally different photographs.

The Family

I’m sure by now you are all going a little stir crazy and having cabin fever. But soon the time will come for life to get back to its old rhythms. The kids will go back to school. Dad will be leaving for work after breakfast. The homework, the dance recitals, the baseball games…when will there be another moment where we are all home like we are experiencing right now?

Capture dad working from the kitchen table, the messy rooms and the kids playing with the animals (who are the most excited for family to be home.) But most important mama, YOU get in the photo. Don’t wait until your makeup is on. Don’t wait until you lose a couple pounds. Don’t wait until you’re not in your pjs or yoga pants. Grab those kids and take a selfie with them. Heck, grab the whole family and take a selfie.

I hope my tips and my iphone photos I’ve shared will inspire you to start capturing your life today, no matter how messy it is.

If you want to learn the basics to capturing better photos, lighting techniques and the prompts I use for capturing REAL smiles - go ahead and grab a copy of my Simple Guide to Photographing Your Kids, so you can start getting beautiful photos today.

Enjoy Similar Posts

I’m Ambre. I’m a wife, mama and photographer. My days are filled with joy while capturing memories and chasing around my daughter. Join me as I share snippets of client sessions, behind the scenes and what inspires me. Let’s make moments stand still together!

Motherhood

Newborn

A Simple Guide To Photographing
Your Kids