Sonya and Brandon | Beach Maternity Session | Dana Point, CA

Sonya and Brandon’s beach Maternity Session has all the wonderful weather elements that nature has to offer. Our session began with sunny skies and a soft breeze. As I was photographing Sonya along the rocky formation at this Dana Point beach location I saw a huge mist fly over the cliffside and cover the entire shoreline in a deep fog. As a natural light photographer, this was a dramatic change in light that I was so excited for!

(Side note: A lot of my clients know that I shoot with available light and get worried when it is overcast. Did you know that overcast conditions can actually make skin tones look more even? The clouds work as a filter to the sun enabling me to photograph my subject at any angle. )

The water quickly became more active from the increasing winds. I used this to my favor by placing Sonya at an angle that gave her dress and hair a dramatic wind swept look. I love the wild affect this had on the images. Sonya looks so natural and connected with nature in these shots.

I always tell my Maternity clients to choose to wear fabrics that create a sheer look when the sun hits it. This helps to create a subtle silhouette of the beautiful curves of the baby bump while adding a soft, romantic element. For this Maternity Session, Sonya chose a bohemian style white dress by Charo Ruiz Ibiza via Revolve. She did a great job selecting a piece that had lightness and movement.

I typically suggest scheduling Maternity Sessions around 32-34 weeks along. This can depend greatly on how prominent you prefer your baby bump to be in photos.

Stay tuned for more images from Sonya and Brandon’s adorable Newport Beach Newborn Session!