Welcoming Newborn Baby Girl

This is Avery, a precious newborn who has a very loving fur-brother named Wally.

When planning the session, I asked the mom, “if I can capture a perfect image for you, what would that be?” She said, “A picture of our baby with Wally. Wally is a four-year-old toy poodle mix that we rescued 3 years ago.”

How to Prepare for a Newborn and Dog Photo Session

There are a few important things to prepare for to have a successful session with a dog. One of them is to have a toy or treat to draw their attention. Avery’s mom explained, “Wally is very friendly and obsessed with a particular brand of squeak balls. When you hold the ball up, his eyes will follow and it’s the only thing he’ll pay attention to.”

They actually forgot to bring that ball on the day of the session, but I immediately applied some skills that I learned from my experience volunteering at animal shelters to get Wally’s attention. Fortunately, they worked and Wally sat very well for photos! He was a supermodel!

As mentioned above, I highly recommend you bring one of the dog’s favorite toys or treats, or both. We can use it to draw their attention and offer a reward for good behavior.

I also recommend setting up your dog for success, especially bigger dogs, by making sure they are walked before the session. An exercised dog is a relaxed dog! My studio is located right by Jeffrey Trail, so families can arrive early before the appointment to walk their dog before we begin.

A visit to the groomer shortly before your session can also help your dog to look and feel its best!

Before the Session – Introducing Your Dog to Your New Baby

In the days before your session, you should introduce your dog to your new baby. It is critical to be prepared to do this. In the 7-10 days between when your baby is born and your newborn session, you can watch how your dog behaves around your baby in a controlled environment. It is best to gradually introduce your dog to your baby so they can have a healthy relationship. Here’s an article with some helpful tips.

I have personal experience with this when introducing my dog to my babies. For example, during my first pregnancy I walked my dog with a stroller so that he would get used to it. I was also able to train him not to pull during this time, which is important for safety.

Once our baby was born, we started by introducing our dog to the baby’s scent by letting him sniff one of the baby’s blankets. This helped curb some of the surprise and excitement.

Prior to deciding whether to include your dog in your newborn session, please consider your dog’s behavior. You should be able to trust your dog around your new baby, so spend some time observing their interaction. The dog must also be able to sit and stay in order for us to have a successful session.

During the Session 

The safety of your newborn will always be my highest priority. Therefore, I will ask you, as the parent, to always be right next to your baby and dog.

I may also photograph your dog and baby separately if I sense that the dog may be too excited. In this session, Wally was very relaxed, so I was able to photograph them together without any problem. However, if I sense any risk, such as dogs not wanting to stay calm, I will take their photos separately and composite the images.

Compositing the images means that I will use editing to combine the images of your dog and your baby into one photo. The final image is seamless, and you can’t tell it is edited at all! You can see an example here on my Instagram.

Learn More about Newborn Baby and Dog Photography

If you’re considering including your dog in your newborn session, please visit my resource page that has more information.

To learn more about booking a newborn session with me in general, please click here.

Newborn Baby Photography Image Gallery

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Welcoming Baby Boy

Meet Kainoa, just 7 days new. Wide-eyed and ready to explore the world, he was such a sweet baby to photograph!

Planning the Session – Color Scheme

You can see more photos from the newborn session below, and one thing you may notice is the color scheme. Whether you’re planning to have a wall gallery or photo album, color coordination is key as we plan your newborn session.

Prior to the session, I always ask my clients to describe the baby’s nursery, including the colors and the theme of the decor. This gives me inspiration for the styling during the newborn session. Kaino’s mom picked a teal, cream, and beige color palette, so you’ll see that theme present throughout the images.

Newborn Photos with BIG Family

I also had the opportunity to photograph this family for a third time a month later! Their BIG, beautiful family all gathered in my Irvine studio for a session. This was the largest family that I have ever photographed for a newborn session in my studio!

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes info: I couldn’t fit all of the family members in front of my studio backdrop, so instead I took the pictures in front of a white wall and added in the backdrop with Photoshop. Could you tell?

In the photos, you can see the loving family that surrounds Kainoa, now just over one month old. It was truly a pleasure to photograph them!

What to wear for the Newborn Family Photos

Again, as you can see, color coordination is one of the key successes of the photoshoot. This family decided to dress in the cream and beige color scheme, so the family photos will fit in perfectly with the images from the newborn session on a gallery wall. I send every client a preparation guide including information on what to wear. Below are some of my recommendations.

For Moms and Dads

We want all of the focus of the image to be on the connection you share with your baby, rather than the clothing. Therefore, we suggest simple, solid, and neutral-colored clothes. (Neutrals include white, cream, gray, khaki, black, etc.)

• Pick 2-3 colors and then coordinate different tones of the colors together.
• Dad should wear a solid T-shirt that compliments mom’s top.
• Avoid strong patterns such as stripes and logos – these can be distracting in the image.
• Be sure to iron clothes to avoid distracting creases and wrinkles.

For Siblings

Siblings can wear a simple tee, tank, or dress in the same color tone. For little girls, avoid distracting hair accessories – select ones that are small and a neutral color.

Most importantly, wear what makes you feel comfortable!

A Lasting Friendship

One of the best parts of being a photographer is forming a relationship with families during this very special time of their lives. I have clients whose babies I photographed years ago, and I still keep in touch with them to this day, especially through Instagram. It’s so fun to watch their precious children grow and to reminisce on when I met them in their first weeks of life.

I’m always happy to work with families like Kainoa’s to make capture your sweetest memories. It would be my pleasure to work with your family, too!

Expecting? Connect with Me!

I offer newborn, maternity, and baby milestones including first birthday sessions for families in Orange County. If you’re expecting a baby this fall, now is the time to reserve your session! Contact me to inquire here.

Image Gallery: Newborn Family Photos

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The Story Behind the Photoshoot

Kaori was expecting a baby boy, and her baby was ready to arrive at any moment during this session! This tough momma kept her composure so we could capture all of her maternal beauty, even as she was facing uncertainty.

Kaori spent a few days in the hospital as they closely monitored her in case of early delivery. She had to cancel her maternity session as scheduled due to this circumstance. They ended up discharging her a few days before her due date and we were able to squeeze her maternity session in, just in the nick of time! I, of course, was nervous knowing that her baby could arrive at any time, but really enjoyed the opportunity to capture these final days of her pregnancy.

What was even more special was including soon-to-be big sis in the session! That look on her face shows the pure joy she had about the upcoming arrival of her baby brother.

Stay Tuned to See Baby Boy

Just a few days after this maternity session, her baby boy arrived. Stay tuned for his newborn portraits! Make sure to follow me on Facebook or Instagram so you don’t miss seeing them.

Book your Maternity Session

If you’re interested in booking a maternity session with me, like this mother-daughter photoshoot, let’s connect!

When you choose me for your maternity session you have access to my studio collection of gorgeous maternity gowns! Share your vision with me, and I’ll bring it to life!

Dads and siblings are all welcome to participate in your session. It’s such an exciting time for everyone in the family to be involved!

Mother-Daughter Photoshoot Images

The post Mother-Daughter Maternity Photoshoot appeared first on Orange County Newborn Photographer | Irvine Baby Photography.

Just like any business, my photography studio was closed for several weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when I was allowed to open, the number of portrait sessions I could book was limited. As a mother of two, with my kids learning virtually, my business, unfortunately, had to take a pause.

I was so excited when I could finally resume business on a limited basis, but reopening required thoughtful planning of safety measures. My client’s and my family’s health are my top priority. I have made sure to implement a new protocol (advised by the WHO and the CDC) that I still continue with each and every session. You can read the full protocol of what safety measures to expect during your session here.

Newborn Photoshoot Safety Protocol

This is Adam, 9 days new at the time of this shoot. This sweet little smile on his face makes my heart melt, and I was so honored to photograph him! Adam’s mom was actually referred to me by a past client who happened to be her cousin. Watching families grow is truly the best!

Throughout the newborn photoshoot, I was prepared to address any of their concerns related to COVID-19 and their health. I’m sure that having a baby during the Pandemic must have brought some extra nervousness, but I wanted to make sure they experienced all of the joy of their newborn photoshoot. I wore a face mask and increased handwashing and sanitizing during the session, which I still do today despite being fully vaccinated.

Another service that I love to offer, but had to modify in an effort to limit personal contact, is meeting with the family to view their photos. This can be done via Zoom instead of at an in-person appointment now. We will also design the products, such as a wall gallery and a custom heirloom album that will be treasured for years to come.

Custom-Designed Heirloom Album

Here’s a sneak-peek of the heirloom photo album that Adam’s parents and I designed. It includes a custom photo cover, and the prints are mounted flush to a 1/16″ board. This gives it a solid feel and a high-end look. The pages are lay-flat, so the photographs aren’t distorted by the bindings or creased by the hinge. A custom-designed signature album is the best way to showcase all of your favorite images from your session!

We’re Open for Business: Book your Newborn Session

With years of experience, I am prepared to provide you with a comfortable, calm, and fun experience during your session. My studio located in Irvine, California is stocked with an array of props that we will discuss during your pre-session consultation to create the newborn photoshoot of your dreams.

If you’re expecting, I hope you will reach out to schedule your maternity and newborn session! I can’t wait to capture memories of your growing family.

The post Safety First: Newborn Photoshoot During COVID-19 appeared first on Orange County Newborn Photographer | Irvine Baby Photography.

For all of us,  2020 brought many challenges and many of us struggled with increased anxiety, but 2020 also allowed us to slow down, enjoy the simpler things in life, such as our family, and appreciate our health.  Thank you to all of my clients for keeping me in business despite the challenges of homeschooling, lockdowns, and other restrictions. I appreciate your support and help throughout this rough year.

Goodbye 2020 & hello 2021!  I am happy to turn the page from 2020 to 2021, as I am sure many of you are.  My children and I decided to have a fun and colorful New Year photoshoot with confetti this year! We all had a blast… until the cleanup time…

I am currently working on my 2021 calendar and I am truly looking forward to a brighter new year!  I hope that I am able to spend more time with my little clients and capture more memories for families in my portrait studio in Orange Counthy, as the pandemic (hopefully) comes to an end.

Wishing you and your family a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Cheers to 2021!!!

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This was perfect due to the Silverado fire in Orange County, California that started at the end of October. After that, the air quality was unhealthy for a while.

All COVID-19 safety measures were put in place. It was quite the production! Temperatures were taken before the families entered the studio, hand sanitizers and disinfection wipes were available, and props were sanitized after every session. My helper elf (fantastic husband!) and I also wore masks throughout the sessions.

I added the Illness and Cancellation policy which allowed clients to easily reschedule. The safety of my clients was my top priority. Last year we had sessions with Santa. Even without Santa due to safety measures, the pictures turned out very festive and the focus on family was perfect.

The snow machine and snowballs might have even won a popularity contest with Santa. They were a hit!

Making Memories with Holiday Mini Sessions

With so many holiday events canceled this year, these fun sessions were a blessing. Getting dressed up and going somewhere festive is something a lot of us have missed this year. The holiday memories this year will be a little different (and sanitized!) than years past, but I am glad that I could be a part of these special moments.

Thank you so much for allowing me to continue to do what I love during these unusual unprecedented times. We had to give up a lot this year and you made it possible for me to continue working and using my passion to make great memories.

I am excited to make these mini sessions an annual tradition and have another round of fun holiday minis next year! We will be announcing 2021 Holiday Mini sessions via newsletter first so please make sure to join our newsletter here!

I hope your home is surrounded by Love, Peace, and Joy this holiday season.

The post Holiday Mini Sessions 2020 “Let It Snow!” appeared first on Orange County Newborn Photographer | Irvine Baby Photography.

These mini sessions are perfect for:

• Updating your family portraits
• Getting your family heirlooms to decorate your home
• Creating your Holiday cards
• Ordering gifts for your favorite family members! 

We will have a beautifully-styled winter snowfall setup that you won’t want to miss! The snow machine will get the cutest reactions… and genuine happiness! (Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Santa will not join us this year for everyone’s safety.)

Holiday Mini Sessions | SOLD OUT

Sunday, November 8th

Sunday, November 15th

Sunday, November 22nd

• 15-minute holiday-styled session+ 5 high-res, retouched digital files
• At Cathy Murai Photography Studio in Irvine, CA (Orange County)
• Immediate family only
• (Option) Additional digital files and products will be available to purchase after the photo session. Proofs will be ready in about a week via Zoom. Your retouched digital files will be ready for download within a week after you place your order.  This means, your order can be ready in November or the beginning of December and you have plenty of time to order your Holiday cards + gifts!

The health and safety of my clients is my top priority – All COVID-19 safety measures will be in place.

Cathy Murai Photography is taking all precautions advised by the WHO and the CDC and will apply them to all of the portrait sessions.

• Disinfecting and Masks – We will be photographing indoors right next to an 8.5 ft accordion door, which will be fully opened for optimal air circulation. You must hand sanitize upon arrival and departure (The studio will supply hand sanitizer). We will clean and sanitize in between every session. We will be wearing masks throughout the portrait session. (Clients are not required to wear the masks in front of the camera)

• No Personal Contact + Social Distancing – There will be a designated entrance and exit to ensure minimal contact. I will not be hugging or shaking hands at the start or end of our session. I will do my best to direct you from a distance of 6′ or more.

• Immediate family only – Please do not bring others with you to your session to help minimize the number of people in the studio.

• Illness and Cancellation Policy – If you had contact with an individual who has a confirmed positive test result for COVID-19, or if you or your family member is sick, has a fever, or experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please contact me to reschedule your session.

Thank you for your support and cooperation!

I look forward to seeing you and your family at Holiday Mini Sessions!

The post 2020 Holiday Mini Sessions ~ Announced! appeared first on Orange County Newborn Photographer | Irvine Baby Photography.

The birthday girl, Lavente, was a dream to photograph. She was happy and joyous throughout her rainbow and clean white themed portraits. Sadly, Lavente’s grandparents were in Italy and unable to visit and celebrate with her due to the coronavirus pandemic.

I am hopeful that grandma and grandpa felt the joy of her birthday celebration when they saw these photographs and that the entire family will have happy memories of their daughter’s first birthday smash cake session when they look back at these images for years to come.

Including family in your first birthday smash cake session

As mamas, we rarely make it into the frame these days. It’s us behind the iPhone, snapping away, never actually IN the photographs.

Because of this, I always encourage my clients to pose for a few family portraits at the beginning of the sessions. Whether it’s a newborn shoot, baby milestone, or a first birthday smash cake session, like this one, I love capturing the whole family.

When your children look back at these images–these portraits that are telling the story of your family–they will want to see YOU in the photographs too.

If you feel shy in front of the camera, I can always capture more candid images, instead of posed portraits.

This is something that I’m excited about that allows me to deliver even BETTER photographs to my clients. I learned a new technique in Photoshop for retouching the glare on glasses! Pretty cool, right?

Lavente’s mom brought all of these cute props for our session! They included Levente’s favorite rainbow wooden toy and a rainbow banner to match. She said she will use these props to decorate her room, which I love! Mom even painted O.N.E. letters in pastel colors! Plus the balloon + artificial garland…yes, everything! And it all came together BEAUTIFULLY.

Delivering the portraits

Because my studio is closed until further notice due to COVID-19, I had to get a little creative with how to deliver the final portraits.

You see, giving my clients their photographs and seeing their reaction is one of my favorite parts of the entire process! Not being able to do this made me a little sad, but we have to adjust for the safety of everyone during this time.

I was able to leave the portraits out for pick-up, and was thrilled to receive a text right away that said, “Hi Cathy! Photos were received, thank you so much, they are gorgeous!”

It’s the little moments like this that allows me to feel grateful.

Celebrating your little one’s first birthday?

Celebrating your one-year old’s birthday is a fun and exciting time! Learn more about scheduling a first birthday smash cake session today.

I look forward to chatting with you and tentatively scheduling a photo session. The session date will be finalized as soon as the studio is reopened. I can’t wait to be back to work soon! Click here to get in touch.

The post First Birthday Smash Cake Session | Orange County Baby Photographer appeared first on Orange County Newborn Photographer | Irvine Baby Photography.

But before I get into that, I need to take a minute to talk about the current situation that’s going on in our world. These are scary and anxiety-ridden times for all.

Without you, my amazing clients, there would be no Cathy Murai Photography. Each time you schedule a session and allow me to photograph your family, it warms my heart and fills me with gratitude.

Photography is my art and using it to capture your family’s special moments is a privilege.

So with your safety in mind, due to COVID-19, all of the photo sessions scheduled for March have been postponed. My studio is temporarily closed.

Once all of this has passed, I look forward to opening my studio back up and having sessions with your families again soon.

Until then, I wish you all safety, good health, and peace in your days during this difficult time.

But today, let’s take a break from all of the coronavirus talk for a moment and enjoy the beautiful portraits with Valentine’s Day baby, Finn.

Preparing for a Photoshoot

Whenever you, my client, book a session with me, I will send you a pre-session questionnaire to complete prior to your portrait session.

The goals of the pre-session questionnaire are to:

• Help me get to know you and your family
• Make the session go more smoothly
• Allow me to deliver the best photos possible!

For this newborn portrait session, I was so pleased with the outcome! What made it such a success? Finn’s parents had a clear vision of what they wanted.

This made preparing for the photoshoot and delivering the portraits they wanted so much easier!

What were the goals of this newborn portrait session?

Finn’s parents wanted multiple portraits for wall galleries in three places in their home:

• Classic family portraits in their family room
• Rustic style images using props for their hall and staircase
• Images with an aqua, brown and cream color palette to go in Finn’s nursery

To prepare for the photoshoot, Finn’s mom sent me pictures of his room prior to the session so that I could coordinate colors and plan out portraits.

In addition to these portrait series, Finn’s parents expressed that they wanted to get photos of him awake and asleep.

I’ll let the photographs speak for themselves!

This last black and white photograph actually wasn’t part of the plan when we were preparing for the photoshoot. But when they arrived and I saw how big dad’s hands were, I had to get this shot for them!

Finn’s family decided to add this portrait to their wall series. Which goes to show that sometimes, making a few decisions in-the-moment leads to success, too

Are you preparing for a photoshoot? Book your session today!

Cathy Murai Photography specializes in maternity, newborn, and baby photography in the Orange County area, including Irvine, Tustin, Lake Forest, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Tustin, Foothills, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, Laguna Hills, Fountain Valley, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and Huntington Beach.

While my studio is temporarily closed, don’t hesitate to reach out! I’d love to connect so that we can schedule a session as soon as things get back to normal.

The post Preparing for a Photoshoot with your Vision in Mind – Irvine Newborn Photographer appeared first on Orange County Newborn Photographer | Irvine Baby Photography.

If you scheduled a first birthday photo session that will include family and siblings, we will take the family and sibling portraits at the beginning of your session.

After we capture those portraits, we will quickly move on to the first birthday portraits without the cake. For these, we use props like a vintage high chair, curbed chair, or themed portraits.

Finally, we let your baby dig in for the cake smash!

Cakes smash photoshoots are a fun and playful way to capture first birthday portraits. They so perfectly represent your baby’s unique personality and traits, are a blast for everyone, and always yield amazing candid photos you’ll treasure for years to come.

What is a cake smash session?

A cake smash photography (or smash cake photography) session usually takes place around your baby’s first birthday. It involves your baby, a pretty cake, and a whole lot of fun.

When you book a cake smash session, you will bring your little one to my studio where we’ll get them all set up for the session.

Basically, we give them free rein of the cake, and I photograph the event as it unfolds. It’s a wonderful way to capture exciting candids of your ever-changing and growing baby.

First birthday cake smash tips

• Schedule your cake smash photography session 4-8 weeks before your desired date
• If you want to showcase the portraits at their first birthday party or use them on invitations, schedule your session for when they are 11 months old
• Choose to have a cake smash photography session with just your baby, or include siblings and mom and dad for some added fun
• Do a practice run with your baby. By teaching them how fun (and delicious!) it is to get messy with a cake a week before the session, they’ll be more likely to dig in for the winning portraits
• Go with the flow on the big day. Some babies are more reserved and some go all out. Either way, you’ll walk away with beautiful portraits that showcase your unique babe

What to bring to your cake smash session?

A cake of course

Second only to your adorable little one, the cake is the most important element of the photo session. I recommend that your child has tasted cake and frosting prior to the session.  Here are a few things to think about when choosing a cake:

• Size: I highly recommend a 6-inch cake. It seems to be the perfect size for a great session. Avoid cupcakes or tiny pre-made cakes
• Frosting: Be sure to choose a cake that has frosting–NOT fondant. Fondant doesn’t give us those amazing cake smash portraits we’re going for
• Frosting colors: Try to avoid brown and red which can look a little less than pleasant when smeared on your little one’s face. I recommend light colors for the cake and the frosting. Pastels in particular photograph very well! Lastly, sprinkles always photograph great! Especially if you want to add some accent to your cake
• A note about white: If you choose a white cake, try to get a cream-colored frosting instead of bright white which can look over-exposed.

Candle or cake topper

I do provide some but feel free to bring along a candle, or custom cake topper. Check Etsy out for some great options! We can use your topper or candle in the first portion of the cake smash and we can remove it when things start to get messy.

Clothing

I recommend you bring two outfits for photographs and one outfit for your little one to wear home. We will use the first outfit for your first birthday portraits, then change into a different outfit to get messy during the smash!

Once you know what you plan on having your little one wear and the colors of your cake, let me know! This helps me coordinate a backdrop and set colors that tie everything together.

If you are interested, I have some diaper covers, rompers, overalls, and pettiskirts for both boys and girls to wear.

Snacks and drinks

Be sure to come prepared with a drink for your little one. They are sure to get thirsty once they start eating the cake!

I also recommend bringing your child’s favorite snacks. This can be helpful if we need to put something in the cake to entice your baby to dig in.

Balloons

These are optional but highly recommended! They really add to the magic of the session. You can bring one big balloon or a handful of regular balloons. Make sure to choose balloons that coordinate with your color scheme.

Alternatively, I can provide a balloon garland, just be sure to let me know ahead of time!

What we provide for your cake smash session

• Cake stand: various types to choose from
• Vintage high chair: perfect for first birthday portraits before the cake smash!
• Diaper covers, rompers, overalls, and pettiskirts for boys and girls
• Soap, towels, and body lotion to clean your child after the cake smash session
• Plastic bag for dirty clothes
• (optional) balloon garland

Interested in cake smash photography for your babe?

If your little one has a milestone coming soon and would like to reserve a first birthday/cake smash photo session, please contact me as early as possible to secure your preferred date.

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