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)

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)