Dear Friends Blog readers, as I am packing for another (short, this time) trip to Italy, I wanted to leave you with a sweet set of images that will keep you company until I return in about 10 days. This romantic maternity portrait is set in Half Moon Bay, California, on a very cloudy (and drizzly at times) summer day. Protagonists the adorable Eunice and her family, that will be welcoming another child into their lives next October. I photographed Eunice and Shawn’s wedding a few years back and also just before the Holidays last year. It’s always fun to work with them. Eunice was one of my enthusiastic students at my recent workshop Through Your Eyes, the Workshop for Moms and Dads with cameras. The gloomy weather inspired me to create a desaturated and contrasty atmosphere.

This ‘kiss’ shot  is one of my favorite, Isabella had her own agenda but the trick Eunice used to have her close was to say: Familia. That’s the code word for a big group kiss! Loved it!

Change of clothes (loved this blue one!), change of filters…

I thought this was the perfect occasion to play around with my LensBaby…

Look forward to photograph Eunice’s newborn in October and also to see her progress as an amateur photographer!

Brace yourselves for a looong post! I have enjoyed this shoot so much. Not only it was my first combined engagement/maternity session (two of my favorite subjects!) but also it took place in a brand new location which always gives me a thrill! I found this ‘forest’ driving through the Presidio on my way to Golden Gate Park where I was supposed to meet Lindsay and Lukas, so we quickly drove back since GG park was way too crowded for a relaxing shoot.

Lighting was at times challenging on this location as the sun was peaking through the beautiful trees, so I had to place the patient Lindsay and Lukas on strips of shade, although sometimes you do like the backlight that the sun can create on the hair and clothes… I also brought with me my newest LenseBaby, here are my favorite shots with it!

After the quiet scene in the Presidio we reached the more crowded Baker Beach, the sun was still a bit high and the light very contrasty, so I created a softer effect using a few vintage filters, I quite like the ‘old photo’ feeling of these portraits of Lindsay, who looked like a beautiful mermaid in her white outfit.

And finally, it was such a pleasure to spend time with Lindsay and Lukas, very sweet and easy going people. I look forward to their August wedding and can’t wait to meet their first born very soon!

A few weeks ago I bought a lens I alwasy wanted to have in my camera bag.. it’s a really fun toy the LENSBABY! Lensbaby focuses manually so it’s best used when you have some time to play around with it, especially because only one part of the photo will be on focus and everything else, as you will see from these images comes out quite blurry or distorted, creating an unique artsy image! I tested it at a recent maternity shoot and with a little magic filter in the editing room the atmosphere is created!

During dinner time at a wedding, I played focusing on one single element, while everything else is washed away. Perfect when the sorrounding is not important or want to enphasize a moment in time!

The real challenge will be using LensBaby with kids… they are subjects in constant movement so focusing manually can be a real problem! But I am sure the results are worth the effort… I quite like these two shots of little Sierra…

Stay tuned for more experiments…

Featured in this post is my friend Elisabetta, who is expecting her third child. We hadn’t seen each other for 5 years, I didn’t realize it was that long since I had photographed her first son then just born. It was great to see what a wonderful family she has grown these past few years, and a beautiful home too, the ideal setting for our photo shoot.  As a Maternity Portrait Photographer I love the opportunity of  shooting in a new location so I was happy to shoot at her house. I loved the iron bedframe we used for some of the photos!

I love this Intimate moment between Elisabetta and her daughter Emma.

Although I prefer exposing the belly for maternity photos, Elisabetta opted for a less revealing look, but luckily the colors and the textures of her outfits where ideal to shape her body in a very attractive and effective way.

One more of my favorites moments, Betty her relaxing in her backyard with her son Luca.

Who says you can’t be pregnant and sexy? Many moms to be I meet are especially beautiful and radiant during their pregnancy! A couple of years ago I was photographing Nicole’s wedding and last week I had the pleasure to spend more time with her in this special moment of her life…

The colorful neighborhood of Mission was the location for our photo shoot. This funky and fun environment was ideal to create a different style of maternity portraiture. I had a great time and Nicole was so easy going despite a few curious eyes. Thank you! Can’t wait to meet Avery!

Another maternity shoot at my favorite beach in Half Moon Bay. The lighting was just perfect, the clouds filtered the sun and I didn’t have to worry about strong shadows on my subject faces. And today I felt like playing with filter adding a Vintage look to my favorite photographs from the session.

Madeleine was a bit camera shy but she is showing here her wonderful smile, and her face lit up looking at her husband and son, Blake who also gave a few smiles to the camera.

Two more weeks waiting for Noah… A few days ago at LightSky studio I had the pleasure to take Nadia’s maternity portrait. Her baby is due later this May… welcome to the world Noah!

Gail and Dennis moved to California about a year ago from Michigan. They are a very friendly young couple and they will be welcoming their first baby very soon…

We shot these photographs one early morning last week. This beach in Half Moon Bay it’s one of my favorite beaches in the Peninsula, by Miramontes Point Road, close to the Ritz Carlton Hotel.. I think it’s the only beach that has an easy access through a comfortable staircase.. the safest spot for moms to be or children.. and me as well, since I am so bad with balance I could easily see myself falling off a cliff…