Celeste Corona

Ok so in all honesty one of the main reasons I don’t like to spend the money on professional pictures is because I’m horrible at printing them and putting them up in cute picture frames. But, when I am the master behind the lens I feel a little more sense of pride and do something with the photos, specially for the holidays. It has been a while I had taken pictures of the kids and this past thanksgiving weekend we headed to my parents (Watsonville, CA) so I thought to myself…. Christmas cards…. kids……beach!

When you have an active 4-year-old and wild child almost 2-year-old on the beach with a cold breeze…. you got to make it as fast as you can or else it will be a dreadful disaster.
Below are some tips to make it an easy and fast photoshoot.

1. Take one additional person per child if you can. I took my husband, dad, and my brother (AND OZZIE). You will need them to help with each kid to sit them down, to talk to them and make them smile, to run after them when their attention span runs out, and to help with outfit changes.
2. Take sweaters if its cold. Make sure they stay warm while you get set up, take of the sweaters right when your about to take the pictures, your helpers can help with that.
3. Take snacks, right after the first set of pictures as we were changing the kids in to their next outfit we gave them some Ritz crackers to keep them distracted and bellies full.
4. Be patient, if they grab handfuls of sand and throw it up on their hair like little Valentina, who cares just dust it off as best as you can, laugh with them about it and take advantage of the picture-perfect moment.

PROPS: ​I don’t like to spend to much on props I’m going to use only the day of the photo shoot, so I gathered up some things I already had at home….

1. Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
2. Mexican Gavan  – perfect color green that pops out from the sand 
3. Light up Christmas Dinosaur I bought from KMART last year

OUTFITS: I also used some clothes they already had and only made a onetime black Friday purchase for their second outfit.
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Gael

1. White collared button upped long sleeve
2. Folded up jeans – children’s place
3. Plaid bowtie – Children’s place on sale right now wow only $3.99
4. Dinosaur two-piece PJ’s on sale for only $5.99

Valentina

1. White bohemian style shirt (worked as a dress since it was a little over sized)
2. Unseen the Mexican ruffled calzones J V got hers from her god mother from Mexico so this Esty store is closest I found.
3. Santa Clause two-piece PJ’s I could not find them online for the life of me but Children’s Place has loads of pj sets to choose from and to coordinate.

While I am not professional and just a beginner taking photos I’m happy how this photo shoot went and super excited about their pictures and christmas cards. ​Props to my brother Eddie for helping me edit photos. Below are the best shots for this years 2017 Christmas Cards. PS wish I had something to plug in that light up dinosaur. ​

At the end of it all…..we just enjoyed the moment with a beautiful sunset.