Where to have a family photoshoot in LA: My 5 TOP places with the best views, playgrounds and parks:

• Adamson House Malibu with a nice view of the beach and Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Also, Malibu pier and Malibu Farm Pier cafe.

2. Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art (LACMA). It’s so interesting not just inside, but also outside. Come here in the morning before it’s open to the public to explore, have fun and capture great family moments.

3. Tongva Park in Santa Monica with a nice colorful playground and trees all around.

4. Pacific Palisades Village, playground on Alma Real Dr and the best Yogurt Shoppe around.

5. Brentwood Country Mart.

See you soon,

Happy Vibes Only

“I don’t trust words. I trust pictures.”

— Gilles Peress

Color palette ideas for photoshoots:

The tones below always look great for family photoshoots, especially when the whole family wears coordinated outfits. These tones also work well for an engagement or newborn session…Honestly, these colors will work for any occasion!

Here you can see a very good example of how we can get inspiration from nature.

So, choose colors for your wardrobe based on what nature offers. If you plan a photoshoot on the beach or in the mountains, these colors will complement you for sure. You can choose a lighter or darker version of the color, depending on the location you choose.

If your photoshoot takes place in the woods or in a park with a lot of trees and flowers, check out these colors:

For engagement photoshoots, couples or families who are in love with boho style, should try these colors:

See you soon,

Happy Vibes Only

“The best things in life are the people we love, the places we’ve been, and the memories we’ve made along the way. ”

— Quotes and Sayings

How to dress for a photoshoot:

Whether it’s a family, newborn, engagement or a conceptual photoshoot, the first thing to consider is the location. It’s interesting how locations can inspire us to create stories. What story would you like to create? Will it be the story of a date at a French cafe for an engagement photoshoot, or the story of a perfect Sunday at Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art (LACMA) for a family of four? Perhaps you want to tell your family story with a mini session in your backyard, or a newborn session on the beach. 

 As soon as my client tells me what kind of photoshoot they would like to have, I come up with different ideas for various locations and I create a mood board. In addition to the mood board, we also discuss a color palette. Prior to the photoshoot, I always ask the client to send me the mother’s, father’s and children’s wardrobe so that I can suggest which color palette would look better for the photos.   

Always remember to wear something comfortable. Solid colors are preferable. Layers, texture and accessories, like hats and scarfs can create a special mood for the photo session.

Here you can see actual mood boards which I sent to my clients when we started preparing for our photoshoots:

Of course, each photoshoot has its own scenario especially when toddlers are involved.  But having mood boards helps me to communicate with my clients better and ensures that we are on the same page. The mood boards also help parents learn some poses and give them ideas about what to do during a photoshoot.

Still, with children, it’s best to be flexible and allow for a lot of games, runs and hugs, because kids love to be active. So, I just let the children do what they want, while I observe and enjoy and I always have my camera ready, so that I can capture happy moments as they occur naturally!

See you soon,

Happy Vibes Only

“...because every picture tells a story...”

— Quotes and Sayings