Baby Moons | Why Pictures are Important

Honey, the baby’s coming! Grab the camera.
Baby moons are the new honeymoon and as photographers, we love the idea! These vacations allow us to capture maternity photos in an exquisite location while you create memories before your babys arrival.

You may be wondering why you should have an entire photo session during your baby moon? Well, we can think of too many reasons to count!

When your beautiful baby arrives you will be busy, to say the least, and the idea of dressing up and taking photos will be far from your mind. Don’t worry, having a photo session with Pacific Dream Photography is as easy as enjoying the scenery at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.

We take care of everything from scheduling, locations, posing and sometimes we even have props. All you have to do is show up at your designated time and place, dressed and ready to smile! And when it comes to attire, for maternity sessions: long dresses, and tight clothing work best.

*Photographers Tip; If you want your baby bump really show, wear a bright color that contrasts with the other people in the photo.

Your baby moon is the perfect time to step outside of your comfort zone and have some fun with activities. Even though the photo session is to ultimately have great photos in the end, this should be considered a stress free and fun activity. We’ve noticed the more you have fun at the photo session, the more amazing the photographs come out.

If you’re deciding whether or not to take a baby moon, we say go for it. Most importantly don’t forget to allow Pacific Dream Photography to assist in creating beautiful memories. Remember, capturing the sweet moments of your baby in your belly are moments you will not regret capturing.

Still need more convincing? Check out another article on Baby Moons here.

Written by Alesha C. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel)

Montage Laguna Beach || California

California has been romanticized for decades. The state itself has such a vast variety of landscapes including the gorgeous beaches, miles of dessert, looming mountain ranges, and bright cities.

People from all over come here to visit and see what it has to offer. Being a photographer in Laguna Beach, I see people doing “staycations” all the time! Even if they live in a nearby city, they still come to this small beach city to spend their time.

At Montage Laguna Beach, it is so easy to completely lose track of time and spend your day at the beach, spa, or going on a stroll through their beautiful pathways lined with stunning flowers and greenery.

There is no better place to take photos of our guests then right here on the property. We don’t have to go far to capture the essence that this resort has to offer.

Written by Savannah S. (Pacific Dream Photography at Montage Laguna Beach)

Tips for Photographers || Posing

I’ve been a wedding and engagement photographer now for over 8 years and the one question I get from many photographers is how do I pose my subjects? It’s simple, you don’t. Ok, well kind you kind of do. Let me explain.

I have a few “poses” I default to. Holding hands, getting comfortable in each others arms, looking back, walking, etc. I try not to get too hung up on the technical of posing. If your subjects are uncomfortable, it’s going show. So what’s the key to getting those natural candid/relaxed looking photos?

If you follow these 5 steps, you will be on your way to delivering comfortable natural poses and photographs for your clients.

Step 1. Exposure

Believe it or not, the first and most important step to getting couples and families comfortable in front of your camera is knowing how to operate a Dslr timely. Know it like the back of your hand. Exposures, ISO, Fstops, shutter speeds, shooting fully manual or shooting aperture priority. Know what you’re doing! Clients always feel confident when you’re confident behind a camera. You need to get to the point where it’s not a challenge to operate your camera. This gives your attention to the clients and makes them feel they are with a pro!

Step 2. Before you even shoot

Getting comfortable and acquainted with your client before you even pull the shutter. Be outgoing, genuine and interested in their lives. Ask where they are from, what brings them to wherever you’re shooting. Connect with them. I always try to connect with sports. You’d be surprised how many women love it when their husband/fiancé is involved in the shoot because to be honest, usually the wife has to drag the whole family to get their photos taken. When they see their husbands at easy (probably easier for me cause I’m a guy) it makes them think “cool, we’re all having a good time.”

If you’re not a guy, or can’t connect with the husband, try connecting with the kiddos or the wife/bride. Get personal without prying of course and let them get their minds off of the photo session for a bit. It’s always intimidating having a lens stare you down!

Step 3. Get them Comfortable

Have 3-5 poses you know down pat, but don’t let the pose rule over comfort.

For different scenes and settings I have a few different poses I default to, but my aim is getting couples comfortable in front of the camera. When couples or families are comfortable, it always provides better photos. I already know my cameras settings, so that doesn’t get in the way of anything. I’m having fun, cracking jokes, shooting and working fast! It’s a rush and I love it. I’m in the drivers seat and my client trusts me. They already feel good and know their images are turning out great. The laughs and smiles are real and genuine, not forced or unnatural.

Step 4. The experience

People will always forget what you said but will remember how you made them feel. This is probably more important than the photos themselves. I’ve never been one to get so technical I lose the subjects. Keeping the flow of the shoot is key. I hate downtime. If I have to figure out a shot, look for a location, guessing, or not sure. This always gets in the way of delivering a positive experience.

I have a few jokes on hand if I need folks to crack a smile. Most of all have fun and include the client. They love that!

Step 5. Find your groove

Posing like a lot of things is preference. Hands are something that can really bother me. If the hands look claw-like or stiff it throws the whole photo off (for me). That’s my pet peeve. For someone it might be posture or something else.

My rule of thumb (pun intended) is if the hands and fingers (and thumbs, kidding) look good, and we’re having fun we’re good to go!

Find your grove, practice, practice, practice then practice some more! The key is to avoid those awkward moments “what now” kind of feelings in a shoot!

- Written by Brent S. (Pacific Dream Photography at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel)

Why It's Important To Print Your Photos || Metals, Canvases, Prints

With Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other Social Media sites, it’s very common to see professional photos go up as new profile pictures.  A very popular question that photographers receive almost daily; “Will I get the digitals?”.  With Pacific Dream Photography, the answer is “Yes!”.  However, there are some things to consider when getting your digital copies. 

Our clients love the idea of having these special moments saved on their phones as their new background or sending these photos to loved ones. Luckily, we offer client’s an online gallery to view their photos and order gorgeous, one of a kind products from our trusted professional vendors.  Here are some ideas on what you can do with your professional photos:

1.) Metal Prints: These prints are sleek and vibrant. They are thin but durable and create a bright and beautiful presence in a room.  

2.) Canvases: Wrap around canvases offer a clean and soft look to your photos. When put on the wall, they are 1.5” from the wall, so the photos really stand out, literally!  

3.) Prints: They come in all shapes and sizes and are easy to customize to best fit the location of the photo. You can pick out special frames that best suit the room and your personality!  Another option is photo albums! When printing photo sizes such as 4x6 and 5x7 it is simple and fun to create a luxury photo album with the photos you choose. These are a favorite because they tell a story while displaying special moments in your life.

We live in a digital age, and it’s completely normal to want to have digital copies of your images on your phone and computer. But when you hold your photo or look at it every day on the wall, it becomes a whole new experience that will always be there. It also serves as a backup in case your phone breaks or computer crashes. That’s exactly why our team offers print credits with our packages to make it easy for our guests to have access to our professional vendors!

- Written by Savannah S. (Pacific Dream Photography at The Montage Laguna Beach)

Candid Photography || Being Present in the Moment

"Candid" in the photography sense, describes an informal photo, taken without the subject’s knowledge. "Candid", however can also be used more generally to describe something that is both truthful and straightforward. It’s use in photography is often understated and draws on both definitions. 

A recent portrait session at the beautiful Montage, Laguna Beach in Southern California, perfectly captured the essence of great candid photography. Candids require a keen attention to detail and the ability to always be present in the moment.  A family holding hands, a loved one running on the beach and even sand covered feet, were all brief moments captured during the family's sunset experience session. 

Originally the family was planning on a more traditional, portrait family photo session. What they didn't realize was that their photographer was actually capturing both styles of photography. She was clicking away at the family poses, but in between, she was also capturing those brief moments when the family was relaxed and simply enjoying their time together.

Ultimately the photographer was utilizing her mastery of candid photography alongside her planned portraiture. We were able to surprise the client with both beautiful and detailed moments from their family vacation at the Montage, Laguna Beach. 

- Pacific Dream Photography at the Montage, Laguna Beach

Married Again || A Beautiful Vow Renewal in Laguna Niguel

The vows pronounced during a wedding are a sacred promise and expression of love. However, over the course of many years, the weight of those initial words can often be lost in the hectic and busy days we call life.

After 10 years of marriage, and two adorable daughters, this happy couple wanted to show their continued devotion to each other by renewing their vows at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. They shared an elegant, yet simple celebration. The family dressed in breezy all-white attire with pink rose and baby’s breath hair wreaths, which were color to contrast the subtle white outfits. To us, it was the a picture-perfect palette to match the warm sunset colors present as they said “I do" for the second time. 

For events such as this, the use of props can be a fun and different way to capture the experience. This family brought a "Married Again" sign to use in their pictures, which was a great compliment to the beach setting photography session. The sunset on the evening of the vow renewal was absolutely beautiful. Our photographer was able to capture stunning family portraits and candid images with shades of orange and pink colors reflecting off the sand and water. 

Our Laguna Beach Photography Team had a wonderful time capturing this lovely vow renewal ceremony. We were honored to be a part of their celebration and give them beautiful images to add to their collection of memories.

-written by Donya (Pacific Dream Photography at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel)

Sunrise Photo Session at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

In photography, lighting and colors are everything. This is one of the main reasons why sunset photo shoots are always taken in the schedules of a beach photographer. However, what many don’t realize is that sunrise can have just the same amazing effect.

Early birds Nicholas and Allegra were able to catch this amazing morning lighting on their couple's photo shoot at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Nicholas had been planning to propose to his girlfriend of many years, and he reached out to our Laguna photographers to capture the moment and make it an extra special surprise. He let our Pacific Dream Photography photographers in California know that he was interested in proposing at sunrise, and we were more than happy to accommodate his request. After setting up a quaint breakfast picnic for the couple on a lawn overlooking the ocean, our photographer captured Nicholas proposing and Allegra’s eager delighted reaction.

Nicholas and Allegra- just seconds after he popped the question. (Laguna Beach)

The couple continued on to get some great early engagement photos in Laguna Beach, and the early morning sun was the perfect compliment. Our photographer was able to capture the orange glow of the rising sun against the cool morning colors in their images, which created a beautiful setting for all their photos. Also, since it was the beginning of the day, their photos were able to capture a great range of lighting in the 45 minutes they spent on their shoot.

Some fun sunlight effects and casual beach stroll make for great couple photos.

The result was a beautiful variety of photographs that annotated Nicholas and Allegra’s lovely moment. We were so happy to provide this couple with precious memories for their future lives together!

-written by Donya (Pacific Dream Photography at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel)