Sweetest of Gifts | Orange County, CA Newborn Photographer

The last days of a pregnancy can be such a crazy, anxiety filled couple of days.  When there is a due date floating around, but no clear "date" in sight, you feel so out of control; yet, there is this peace.  It's kind of a calm before the storm.

This precious, little guy kept everyone on their toes by hanging in there and staying put well past his actual due date!  It seems to fit his personality- he was a mellow, go with the flow kind of baby.  So sweet and so perfect- a little Christmas dream baby!

He wasn't much interested in sleeping, but he was such a prince while he was awake, that it wasn't a problem in the least.

 See what I mean by mellow?  We had to laugh at the "whatever" expression on his face!

Thank you, S&G for letting me be a part of your baby boy #2's early days!

A Look Back | Mission Viejo Family Photographer

I'm swiping off the dust from my poor blog and swinging in to wish everyone a very happy New Year!  I've been pretty quiet on the photography front, mainly because I worked on saying "no" this year and putting more focus on my own little family!

2013 was an amazing year filled with countless blessings- more than I can count!  The families who entrusted their family, newborn, maternity and child portraits to me this past year were such a special part of my 2013!  Thank you to all of you- cannot wait to see you all again in 2014!

Watch for more blog posts coming on many of these families… but in the meantime, I present to you the few, the proud, the families of 2013!

Wishing you many blessings in 2014!

Everyday Moments | May

Happy Everyday Moments day!  Once again, I'm so happy to be a part of this blog circle of beautiful, talented moms each sharing their beautiful moments.  Please be sure to continue on to Christine Maus' Everyday Moment from here!

We've spent lots of time outside recently, as the weather has been just beautiful!

Bring on the summer time!  Thanks for looking,  and now keep on circling!  Christine is up next!

Everyday Moments | February 2013

It's February 15th and that, my friends, means it's time for another installment of Everyday Moments, the fun blog circle I'm participating in with nine other fabulous female photographers.  Please head on over to the very talented Megan Elizabeth Portraits to view the next moments for this month!

My moment is a simple one this month.  After getting my little big girl to school, the next stop is home to put my tiny one down for her morning nap.  That leaves me with my middle child, my sweet boy.  After some snuggle time and a round (or two) of playing trucks/ dinosaurs/ trains, I usually tell him, "It's iPad time!"  Why iPad time?  Well friends, its because the iPad gives me *just* enough time to take a shower each morning.  Simple pleasures.  For him and for me!  I'll be accepting nominations for mom of the year effective immediately.

But really, I saw him laying there playing his game and I was in love with everything about the moment.  The light, the warmth and his pudgy, adorable little feet.

So there you have it!  Can you believe February is half way over already?!

Now go- don't delay!- check out Megan's post for our monthly moments blog circle!  Enjoy!

Baby on the Way | San Juan Capistrano, South Orange County Maternity Photographer

Two of my favorite things are pregnant bellies and this area of San Juan Capistrano.  So you can imagine my joy when I get to combine both.  I met up with this beautiful couple last weekend for some maternity portraits- we had to get them on the schedule quick, because their sweet baby girl will be here very soon!

This mama is so beautiful and so sweet.  Her little girl is going to be so blessed by her parents!

These guys are unquestionably in love... I love love!!

The day was cloudy, almost drizzly, but we weren't about to let that get us down!

Thank you, A & C, for meeting up with me!  Cannot wait to meet that baby girl!

Spring Mini Sessions | The Flower Shoppe!

I am so very excited to announce my little Spring project- Spring Mini Sessions!  These adorable, stylized sessions will take place in beautiful flower fields in San Juan Capistrano with a sweet, simple Flower Market styled theme!  The image below is only a *tiny* glimpse into what you can expect... can't give away all my surprises quite yet, but I assure you, it will be adorable!

Minis will take place on Saturday, March 9th with limited spaces available.  Cost is $175 (with a non-refundable $75 deposit to hold your spot) and will include:


* 25-minute stylized mini session for up to three (3) children

* Five (5) high resolution digital files from your gallery (up to ten images to choose from)

* One (1) 18x12 mounted storyboard collage

* One (1) 5x7 gift print of each digital file you choose for your disk

* 10% off of additional prints and digital files

Session spots are on a first come, first served basis.  Additional slots may open if the demand should arise.  Please note that these mini sessions are for children only (babies must be able to sit up unassisted)- no family sessions will be done on this date.  If you're looking to book a family session in the flower fields, please contact me to book soon, as they do eventually get mowed down in late spring!

Email me at alisonkayphoto@gmail.com for times and availability!

Visiting | Disneyland Park Family Photography, Orange County, California

So... I'm a little behind!  That's ok, though.  If your experience during this cold/ flu season has been anything like ours, surely you empathize with the lack of time I've had to sit and blog.  It's looking like we're FINALLY all well (except for that lingering cough- you know what I'm talking about if you've had it!) and I'm in the midst of some real FUN with the business and the brand!  Stay tuned for exciting {pretty} changes coming soon!

Enough of that.  Onto my first session of 2013!  I was thrilled when Ally contacted me about shooting her family's visit to Disneyland!  She is a fellow photographer, owner of the beautiful Squishy Prints Photography, whom I've "met" through my favorite photography forum, ClickinMoms, as well as through Instagram (via @clickinmoms, of course!).  They were planning an amazing trip down to Southern California to make the theme park rounds and I am so honored that they chose me to run around Disney with them!

Firstly, her boys are *adorable*!  They're cute.  They're sweet.  They made me laugh a lot!  Lock up your daughters, everyone- these boys are charmers!

This guy is your typical little bro.  He's cute and cheeky; what he lacks for in size, he makes up in liquid brown eyes and mischievous smiles.  He clearly drives his big brother nuts, but in that "we couldn't live without each other" kind of way.  I'm pretty sure he and my son would be the best of friends!

 And then there is the big bro.  A little quiet to begin with, but once I cracked the Star Wars shell, we were fast friends!  He even sweet talked me into a piggy back ride through Adventure Land.  He has a smile so sweet, and his eyes light at the sight of his favorite Disney characters!

We had such a fun day- how could we not?!  The family is connected and laid back- any photographers dream!- and we were at the Happiest Place on Earth, after all.

A fun little "eye spy" game for you... do you see me?

Typical boys.  I just love it!

Thank you so much, E family, for blessing me with your family for the day!  I cannot wait for your next visit to So Cal!  

Holiday Sessions- It's Time! | Orange County, California Family Portrait Photography

Phew!  It feels like it has been forever since I worked on the blog, sent newsletters and generally did much photography work at all... mainly because my full time job as a mommy of three has been so very busy!  I've been enjoying my time off very much and loving every minute (well, mostly every minute) with my sweet three.

While it's only the end of July, it is time to start thinking about holiday portrait season!  I decided this year to manage my time a little better than last year to avoid burn out and be able to enjoy the season with my family.  For those reasons, I will only be taking holiday portraits in mini-session format this year.  There are three dates available for mini-sessions in three different locations; hopefully this will help to make it accessible for everyone!

Each location will have a unique "stylized" theme, which I am super excited about!  Sessions will last 30-minutes and may include up to 5 people.  Your mini session will include:

* 30 minutes of shooting

* 8-10 edited images in your gallery

* 5 hi-resolution digital images on disk with print release

* an 8x10 mounted photo calendar

* ...and a really cute surprise gift!

Mini sessions will be held:

Saturday, October 6th at the San Juan Capistrano Train Station

9:00am

9:45am

10:30am

11:15am

Sunday, October 21st at a park near the Orange Circle

3:00pm- BOOKED

3:45pm

4:30pm- BOOKED

5:00pm

Saturday, November 3rd at the Malaga Cove Library (South Bay)

9:00am- BOOKED

9:45am

10:30am- BOOKED

11:15am- BOOKED

Mini-sessions are $275 for the whole package.  Times and dates are first come, first served and will only be reserved with receipt of $100 deposit.

Our Littlest Love | Mission Viejo Newborn Photographer, Mission Viejo, California

I peeked at my blog the other day and my stomach dropped when I saw that the last post was from March!  March?!  Where have I been?  Oh, right... I had a baby.  I'd been waiting to post her images until I sent the birth announcements, which, embarrassingly enough, took me two months to get around to sending!

Our littlest love arrived right on her due date, April 1st, at 2:25 in the afternoon.  It was an easy and speedy delivery and she was a dream from the start.  Introducing our beautiful Kennedy Eloise!

Isn't she perfect?!  She looks exactly like her big sister did as a newborn, but has expressions just like her big brother... it always amazes me how siblings can look so much alike, but keep their own unique characteristics.  So cool!

Her big sister loves her so much... I always wanted a sister, for reasons like this:

Her big brother loves her, too, but doesn't love sitting still to have his picture taken.  He'd rather run away.

Can't blame the guy.

So there you have it!  This is what I've been doing with my maternity leave, and I won't lie- I am loving every minute of spending quiet (and usually not so quiet) time with my babies!

Senior Supermodel! | San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California Senior Portrait Photography

I seriously love doing senior portrait photography- LOVE.IT! The subjects cooperate with me, I get their humor, and it reminds me of the time I spent working in youth ministry for the church for many years of my life. This session was especially fun, as I've known this gorgeous young woman for quite some time- she was a part of the youth group I worked with! It makes me feel pretty old to be doing her senior portraits, but it was such an honor.

Kaleigh is not only stunning, but smart, athletic, funny and overall just a wonderful young woman with such a sweet soul! I'm so excited for what college holds for her, and I know she is going to move mountains in her lifetime! Look out world- Kaleigh is going places!

We ran around one of my favorite places in the world, San Juan Capistrano, to find lots of great backdrops for her senior portraits... too much fun! The hazy, golden goodness of the sun was almost too much... I had so much trouble narrowing down the images to show her and her family...


Beautiful setting, adorable outfits and lovely girl... could it get any better?!


I mean, really... straight from a magazine, right?!


Thank you SO much, Kaleigh, for trusting me with these special memories! So proud of who you are and where you're going!