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Maternity
Julie Campbell
Any day now

When should you schedule your maternity session? When is the best time to do it? What’s a fun prop to bring to your session? Come see this gorgeous family’s maternity session.

Any day now
Family
Julie Campbell
What do you want from your photographer?

What should you look for when choosing a photographer? Look for someone who has professionalism, attention to detail, artistic flare, and will make it a good experience.

What do you want from your photographer?
Military Homecoming
Julie Campbell
Coming Home

Naval Pilot returns home after deployment to his wife and 4 kids. Taylor Swift themed shirts.

Coming Home
Studio News
Julie Campbell
Fall 2020 Mini Sessions

Here are all the details about Fall Mini Sessions, and where to go to book your own session.

Fall 2020 Mini Sessions
Family, Beach
Julie Campbell
Beach Babes

Family photos at the beach when your kids are all grown up.

Beach Babes

extended

The Whole Family

I talk to a lot of photographers. I read a lot of things photographers write, and I've noticed that extended family photo sessions are not popular. Photographers don't like them because it's a bit chaotic and stressful. When there are so many people together it isn't always easy to bring them all together. I'm not sure if it's because I come from a really big family, or that I'm a bit crazy myself, but I love the big groups. The chaos doesn't bother me. I love it when you can see an image (like the first one here) and see a bit of everyone's personalities in it. It's not perfect. It's not the traditional everyone smiling for the camera photo, but it sure does show the personalities of the family. I like how genuine it is.

If you are booking a session with a photographer for a large group my advice to you is to be flexible. There will be at least one child who isn't happy. There will be adults who are not excited about the idea and are grumpy. Let the photographer worry about it. You just do your best to relax and keep the mood light. Don't punish your threaten the children. That just causes more stress. Joking around and making everyone laugh is a much better way to go.

This family had the right attitude. They worked around the not so cooperative child and made it work. Patience and flexibility go a long way when that happens. It was a fun afternoon on the trail on a beautiful day in Southern California.

Family

If you're like me you love your family, but they can make you crazy sometimes. I live one mile away from both my parents and my in-laws, and in the other direction one mile away is my sister. My kids go to school with their cousins. We are a close family, and I love it that way. We've thought about moving away, but they are what keep us here, solidly here. The chaos of family gatherings with a dozen children, birthdays every couple of weeks, soccer games, school plays, and trick or treating together is how we live. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love photographing extended families. I feel right at home with them in all the organized chaos. This family was a treat to meet and photograph one beautiful summer day early in the morning. I was impressed they could all get ready and looking so amazing at such an early hour. 

They were all together from out of town to celebrate the 37th anniversary of their parents and some really big birthdays. Families who vacation together make memories that last a lifetime, and hiring a photographer to document their time here in California is a fabulous idea if I do say so myself, although I might be a little biased.