Starting on the Streets of Downtown Los Angeles

We started with the family strolling down Grand Ave. They have two grown daughters, but you can tell that they are a close family.

Walt Disney Concert Hall Family Photos

We then went to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for more portraits at the front entrance.

Up to the Garden Level

We then proceeded up the stairs to the Garden level, which features the nice contrast of the green trees with undulating reflective metal panels.

We love how the tree was blooming beautiful red flowers, casting them softly on the ground below.

Sunset Family Photos at the DWP Building

After the Concert Hall, we walked over to the DWP building, right in time for the amazing sunset and the array of blues, pinks, and purples that graced the sky.

See how the colors get progressively more saturated and beautiful? We live for moments like this, and this is where it pays to have a family photographer that knows lighting and timing for a sunset.

The water fountains of the DWP building came on that night. We have shot at this location for many years (over a decade), watching as they suspended the water fountains during times of drought. We loved watching them come back on to grace the Los Angeles skyline for amazing downtown photos.

Grand Park Family Photography

We then walked over to Grand Park to finish the family photography portrait session. The lighting of the blue hour was in perfect alignment with the ambient light from this massive and … grand … water fountain. Look at how amazing those colors are, which is a rare thing in most family photos. This is what urban and modern family photography looks like.

Downtown Family Photos – Los Angeles

This is an amazing example of how urban and modern family photos in downtown Los Angeles can look, varying from soft, natural light family photography at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to dramatic and rare sunset family photos at the DWP building (with a view of the Los Angeles skyline) to the colorful and modern family photos at Grand Park at nighttime. This also shows a portrait session with two daughters, but grown children (that listen a lot more than our toddlers!).

Check out more of our website for examples of many types of family and maternity photography, including photo sessions in downtown Los Angeles.

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Starting Maternity Photography at Victoria Beach

We started with some maternity photos in the “swash zone,” or where the water comes in and out of the beach.

Because of how beautiful the clouds already looked before the sunset even started, we busted out our remote lighting early in the pregnancy photos to get that dramatic and unique look.

Maternity Photos in Laguna Beach Tidepools

We then captured them standing in tide pools at Victoria Beach, getting the light reflection in the still water along with the green from the algae. We advise each person to be careful to not disturb the wildlife, while also pointing out the sea animals in the tide pools. We find that with an understanding and love of a natural environment comes a respect for it.

Beach Sunset Maternity Photos

And the sun started to set with a strong yellow hue…

…that was surrounded by dramatic clouds and a blue sky.

And here is where the sunset really starts to come in, where the horizon and the layers of atmosphere soften the intensity of the sun.

Here is the half-disk sunset as it finally dips below the horizon.

They brought one of the baby toys to pose with it.

Along with other props like letters and the name of their baby, Penelope.

We ended the maternity photos with a blue hour (after the sunset) photo with a backlight.

Laguna Beach Maternity Photography

This is a great example of how we handle a beautiful Orange County sunset during a Laguna Beach maternity photography portrait session. Victoria Beach is one of the best beaches for pregnancy photos and is also the most common one that they issue photography permits for. Our expecting mother wore a light green or turquoise maternity dress, which was light and airy along with comfortable (very important for our pregnant mothers). Make sure to look around our blog for more examples of maternity photos with pregnant mothers.

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Starting Family Photos in Irvine

We started their family portrait session in a wild grass field surrounded by trees. It’s a perfect natural setting for the 6 adults and 2 fur babies.

More Portraits on a Creek Bed

We moved on to a creek bed for more family photos, using it to get more variations of the family.

Just look at these yellow fall leaves in the background. Aren’t they amazing?!

We got some family portraits of just the mom and dad together, which was nice since they don’t like taking photos. The mom confided in Judy afterward that Judy made her feel very comfortable during the session, which has never happened for her before.

And here’s the whole family walking along a trail for a stroll.

And if there are fall leaves, why not take advantage of it for a fun family photo!?

Family Photos in a Tunnel

We finished the family photography session in a long tunnel, giving an urban and modern look to the family photography (while in Irvine, which is not that).

Family Photos Irvine

This is the {N} family photography portrait session in Irvine, Orange County. We chose Jeffrey Open Space Trail for the location, which is a perfect park with trees, grass fields, and even a tunnel that gives us a different look and feel from the typical Irvine family portraits (urban and modern vs. suburban and rural). Irvine is a suburban community in Orange County that has many parks and other recreational spaces, but for an urban look one has to look toward Los Angeles.

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We love seeing our families from different perspectives!

And what else is there to do when you have fall leaves? Of course let’s have some fun with them!

And here are some photos of their adorable daughter by herself. Gotta love those cute pinch-able cheeks!

This is an example of Los Angeles family photography at a small park in Pasadena. If you have had the pleasure of visiting the Arlington Garden, please make sure to donate to them to keep such a precious resource available to us and our growing families. We hope you enjoyed these Arlington Garden family photos of the {N} family!

Make sure to look around our family photography blog for more examples of Los Angeles family photos. You can find more articles here of Pasadena family photos.

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We love seeing our toddlers walk in our family photos, so what better than this rustic path through the center of the garden!

In the middle of Arlington Gardens is a beautiful spiral rock garden that is super fun for kids and adults alike to navigate. It also makes for fun and unique photos!

Family Photos, Arlington Garden

The Arlington Garden in Pasadena is a hidden gem of a location and is a local treasure. Please show your support by donating to this amazing place if you ever visit it. If you are looking for family photos (Arlington Gardens or another Pasadena family photography location), please make sure to contact Judy to schedule a session today!

Here are more examples of family photography at the Arlington Garden in Pasadena.

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Starting the Maternity Photos at a Wooden Fence

We started at a wooden fence, getting the amazing rays of sunlight coming through the trees.

Moving on to a Trail in San Dimas

We then walked over to a dirt trail nearby. One thing we think about during a maternity photography portrait session is that our pregnant mothers are sometimes hindered and can’t access locations easily. We pick spots that are easy to access from cars and aren’t strenuous for our pregnant mothers.

And just look at that glow in their faces. There is something about being pregnant that brings that out in a mother.

Maternity Photography Glendora

This is a maternity photography session in Glendora and San Dimas (right on the border between the two cities). San Dimas is our hometown and we love shooting in our local spots, offering a discount for family and maternity photography prices. Glendora is a host to many parks and trails, especially since it is right up against the San Gabriel mountains.

Judy has a very gentle hand with pregnancy photos and understands quite personally what it is like to be pregnant (and to take portraits while pregnant). This sensitivity and understanding helps her guide a pregnant mother through the maternity photography session, getting better photos and making it much more enjoyable.

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