Amazing 6 Year Anniversary "Candy" Gift Idea: Hayes Valley Mommy & Me Photo Session

I had to share this adorable mommy & me session. In a stroke of genius, Lauren came up with an idea to give her husband a photo book themed "candy" for their traditional 6 year anniversary gift. Together, we came up with visiting a candy store, and the best one I know of is Miette in Hayes Valley. Not only is everything delicious, but the shop is as cute as can be, and it's in one of the most colorful and vibrant neighborhoods in San Francisco. 

I have limited mini sessions coming up on 11/4 in this same neighborhood and have 1 or 2 slots left. Email me if you're interested! Here's a preview!

Happy anniversary, Matt & Lauren! 

Why I Love San Francisco's Crissy Field + Baby Bradley Turns 1!

I have a couple of special things happening here. First -- mini sessions are nearly sold out, and I'm so happy I'll be reunited with families from last year, as well as meeting new faces! Some slots are available for the incredible, colorful, family friendly Hayes Valley, but Crissy Field is sold out. If you're still interested, let me know and I will open up a new date. stephanie@marilee.co

This brings me to the other special thing -- one of my newborns turned 1 year old! Proud parents Grace Ann and Brad brought baby Bradley to play in the late afternoon sunshine, and I was bewildered to see him walking (even chasing me!) in the blink of an eye. There is such joy from behind the camera over this past year. Thanks G&B for inviting me to cover his first year! 

If you've never visited Crissy Field before, you'll see amazing views of the San Francisco Bay, but the most prominent part of your view will be the Golden Gate Bridge. Crissy Field used to be a former U.S. Army airfield until 1974. Residents now enjoy a huge stretch of grassy field right along the water. 

We met & hung out by the Warming Hut for a few reasons: 1) great parking, 2) there's a pier! 3) beautiful proximity to Golden Gate Bridge and the downtown skyline, 4) lots of grassy fields, 5) tree line to create some shade when needed, 6) there's a little beach! All this is within stumbling distance, so it was great for baby Bradley to roam around. So if you've booked a mini session with me, you'll get to see some of these scenes. 

Here are a few of my faves! Enjoy.

Benefits Of An At-Home Newborn Photography Session - Pros & Cons

It's easy to get lost in the magic of the newborn photos you're clicking through on Pinterest. That's part of a photographer's job -- to do the work in providing beautiful images that snapshot a moment in your life that will move all too fast -- removing any of the worry about what it takes to make those particular photos.

So as you consider what type of images you'll want your child to hold in their hands years from now, you'll come to a point where you'll need to decide whether you want to bring your family into a studio or have the photographer come to your home. 

As someone who loves both types of photography, I definitely believe there is a place for bringing newborns to a studio. Studio photos are always clean, resources are available at the studio for baby's wardrobe & backdrops, you don't have to clean your house, and the light is guaranteed to be amazing. Photographers at studios are super artistic when it comes to creating artwork around newborns, and I love following this type of work!

With that said, I want to hash out the benefits of bringing your photo shoot to your home. It's different than studio work, but I'm in this camp. Here are my top 5 reasons to hire a photographer to visit your home in baby's first weeks of life:

1) Feeding Baby
As a nursing mom, the first thing that comes to mind is keeping that baby's belly full. There are many ways babies get their nutrition -- breastfeeding, moms who pump and bottle, formula and bottle. And there are many different comfort levels and privacy levels of feeding baby. The PRO of being at home is that moms and dads can feed their baby as they always do. Packing plastics to-go (pump/bottle/formula/storage/ice) is hard, and being home can help parents be more at ease with what is already a tough task. No cons here.

2) Recovery for Mothers & Baby
The ideal newborn shoot takes place between 6 - 14 days or at least within baby's first month of life. Moms are warriors in any kind of birth, but there's always recovery time involved. PRO of shooting at home: The severity of surgical procedures can impact mom's range of movement and travel, so I am in the camp of believing that having the services come home is a benefit to the health of both mom & baby. As an added bonus PRO: right after the shoot, it will take approximately 2 minutes for mom & dad to get back into their jammies, resuming normal life. :) :) :)

CON: By the time you invite a photographer in, mom and dad might be having cabin fever!! I encourage parents I work with to go out for a short walk or to lunch since they look awesome.

I am the bottom-left child. Yes, it's not a newborn photo, but the photo-in-photo on top of the old ass TV is me as a newborn with my family. hahaaaa

3) More Meaningful Scenes to Keep
The biggest PRO here is showing baby in 30-something years (hey, I'm a 30-something) their very first home in their very first city. Baby is going to want to see the world you brought him/her into. For instance, I came home in a wood-paneled station wagon (maybe in a car seat, maybe not...?) and lived in a home with red carpets, popular in the 70s and 80s. My parents wore super groovy plastic rimmed glasses and had long-ish hair. AWESOME, and nothing looks the same anymore. Glad we have some memories in photos!

So let's shoot some photos in baby's nursery and in that rocking chair that mom and dad will spend every night in. Let's use the couch that baby will watch late night movies on in his/her first weeks because baby won't sleep. And let's shoot in front of some other family photos and family heirlooms that might be more meaningful than what you can find in someone else's space.

CON: Ok, you might have to vacuum the carpet. But don't worry, photographer will clean the table, shove around furniture, and hide away the pumping bras when needed. :)

4) Siblings At Ease (Parents, Too)
Newborn shoots typically take between 2-3 hours. They're fun for us photographers and we do our best to keep the family relaxed and at ease. We take breaks for baby's needs. We take breathers when the thermostat is high to keep baby warm and we're sweating. This means siblings can get a little restless, regardless of where you're shooting. If big brother and big sister are at home, PRO: they can relax in their own space with their own toys. PRO: They can get ready at the last minute because ... what kid have you ever met that wanted to put their pants on? It's especially important to be in a familiar space if siblings are still on a nap schedule. When dad is having his solo portrait with baby, mom can retreat to a private place of quiet. Definitely a PRO!

Small CON: At-home sessions can run longer than a studio experience, so if you have a short window of time to shoot with big bro or sis, your photographer will prioritize the sibling shot and family shots first.

5) Accidents Happen -- Your Wardrobe and Vanity Are At Home
Things that happen 100% of the time: spit up, pee, poop, drool, boogers, milk splatter, bottle drips. We can prepare as much as possible with towels, bibs, etc, but accidents happen. PRO: If you need a new shirt, dress, or entire outfit for anyone in the family, it's easy knowing your entire closet is a few steps away (even though we'll likely have plan A and plan B wardrobe already picked). Touch-ups of makeup are a breeze at home, too. No cons here, either. 

With that said... here are highlights from a recent session I had the pleasure of shooting at the Pagtama family's home in San Jose. Congratulations, Judy, Anthony and big bro Hudson!

Announcing 2017 Holiday Mini Session Dates - San Francisco bay area!

Tis the season for holiday photos once again! I'm offering a VERY limited number of 30 minute mini sessions in San Francisco. You'll receive your images 1-2 weeks after the shoot, perfect timing for those greeting cards and gifts you'll send to family & friends.

Enjoy the session with your partner, yourself, your BFFs, or with your family of up to 4 (additional family & pets are welcome at $25 per person). 

Sign up by emailing your preferred date/city to stephanie@marilee.co. We'll agree on a shoot time and your slot will be saved first-come first-served upon payment of invoice (Square) and signing of photography contract. Open invoices will have those time slots released in 48-hours for others on the waiting list.

The Details

• Shoot dates: October 28 [Sold Out], November 4, November 11 [Sold Out], November 18 [Sold Out]
• Quick 30 minute shoot is perfect for families with kids, couples, BFFs, or your very own portrait
• Session includes 10 full-resolution retouched photos digitally delivered to you by November 20. Choose your own 10 favorites via proofing
• Cost: $200 + tax ($217.50)
• Additional print & digital options available should you fall in love with more than the session-included images
• Accommodates up to 4, additional people/pets are $25 each
• Reserve your spot: stephanie@marilee.co

ABOUT THE LOCATIONS

Don't see a date or city that works for you below? Feel free to request another day and I may open up another block.

1. Saturday, October 28 - Tentative: Crissy Field, San Francisco
   [SOLD OUT]
   Golden Gate Bridge. Huge grassy field. See the bay!
    
2. Saturday, November 4 - Tentative: Hayes Valley, San Francisco
   Iconic urban SF neighborhood. Vibrant, bright colored backgrounds. Playground and coffee shops. Great for kids and parents.
    
3. Saturday, November 11 - Tentative: Legion of Honor, San Francisco
   [SOLD OUT]
   White and bright to showcase your bright and beautiful wardrobe. Clean lines and architecture. Great lawn.
    
4. [SOLD OUT] Saturday, November 18 - Tentative: Crissy Field, San Francisco
   Added this date for the wait list!

FINE PRINT

• Spaces are limited. Reserved sessions with open invoices will be released in 48 hrs to the waiting list.
• Can't make it? Let me know 48 hours in advance of your session date.
• Act of God, sickness, or crazy bad weather? There will be a scheduled make-up date that may or may not be at the same SF location.
• Funds are non-refundable, but can be applied to a make-up session or future booking.
• Mini sessions are stacked. Kindly arrive a few minutes early, as the session must wrap on time.


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How to Choose Your Wardrobe For a Family Photo Shoot

Have you ever heard of Awkward Family Photos? As much as I love the laughs, let's not land in volume 2.0, ok? :)  

When looking through your family's closets or shopping, keep these 5 tips in mind:

1) Choose a family of colors and textures, not a single shade or pattern
I absolutely looooove this family's style (see gallery below). We went for pink, but you'll see a variety of shades and brightness. We've got blush, coral, patterns and neutrals mixed together, showcasing unity between unique individuals. Some tops have patterns, some are solids, and some have texture. 

2) Add contrast with your background
My easy little formula -- if we have neutral backgrounds, we're adding great color to the wardrobe. If we're working with busy or very colorful backgrounds, we're going for neutral colored clothing. Contrast is the key... unless you're Zach Braff in Garden State. Then it's awesome. 

3) Don't be matchy matchy
I know it must be tempting to buy 4 matching sailor shirts for your kids -- my siblings have THAT photo! It might be cute, but it's not timeless. In a few decades from now, your kids will be happy to see their unique personalities early on in life. Gravitate toward relationships instead of duplicates. 

4) When in doubt, dress UP
It's easy to go casual, because everyone has tshirts and jeans, but when you're doing a family photo shoot, you will never regret wearing the dress or the button up shirt. Wear something that moves well in the wind and gives you confidence, because these photos are special and will last a lifetime. Wardrobe should reflect that as best as you can. Wear the nice watch. Put on the good shoes. And dazzle in the special occasion earrings.

5) Above all else, the clothes must fit the body
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. When I was young, I used to hide under sweatshirts and baggy pants (don't ask for pictures, because I burned them all). Not matter what size you are, put something on your body that feels comfortable and fits well. Try to get the right waist and length for pants. 

I had an amazing time capturing the laughter and clear abundance of love in this family in their new home. The children have grown before my own eyes, and their moms have done an incredible job raising vibrant, happy kiddos. Luckily, the extended family was in town and it was definitely a party in front of my camera. :) Here are a few of my favorite shots.