[MATERNITY]: Esther + Rob = Glowing

What is it about mothers-to-be that just makes them glow from the inside? OK, granted this couple is a pretty darn handsome couple to begin with, but sprinkle on them the joy of expectant parenthood and there's pure magic.


They nearly didn't do a maternity shoot, but I'm so glad they didn't just settle on casual pics. As these images demonstrate, this is a magical time in a couple's life, when they are awaiting the arrival of a little one and it's still just the two of them. It's still special when a couple does a maternity shoot of a second or third child, but with it also comes experience. The anticipated arrival of a first child is filled with greater wonder... and admittedly less chaos. :) Although in this case, the couple has a lovely dog that was very eager to participate.


For this post I've chosen images that are intimate. The minute I went to their home I knew I wanted to take moody shots in front of their large picture window. They are a fun couple so I also took some more playful shots, but for this post I want to just showcase the pure magic. Hope you enjoy them.

MATERNITY: California Sunset

I love shooting at the beach with the setting sun, but lately this hasn't been as easy to accomplish because of the rains we have been having. We had to reschedule twice but finally the Gods smiled on us and we were able to catch some rays for this gorgeous maternity shoot.

This maternity shoot was a baby shower gift certificate, which also includes a newborn shoot and announcement cards. It's a great gift to give and to receive because you are giving the gift of memories. In the case of this lovely couple, they only intend on having one child so capturing the magic of expectant motherhood was even more important.

We took it easy, but still managed capture their spirit and sense of fun, and because we did this beach shoot on a weekday, it felt like the beach was all ours.

Look at them glow!

Maternity: Cross Cultural Connection

Having a cross cultural relationship is not always as easy as one might think. You each come to the relationship with different cultural points of reference, sometimes a different sense of humor and different traditions which can cause misunderstandings and tension.

However, I recently met a couple for their maternity shoot and they made crossing the cultural divide look easy. Their obvious connection and over twelve years of partnership showed a real unspoken understanding between the couple. This came through in their photographs.

I particularly love the sunset photo because they told me they met while working at Club Med when they were still students. I imagine that they shared several sunset walks while they were still courting and twelve years later the magic is still there.



This couple took advantage of the great Maternity + Newborn Package I am offering with announcement cards, which makes them not only charming but smart parents to be.

WEBSITE: New Design and Functionality

HURRAY! THOMPSON and SPRING Photography's new website is up. It features a streamlined design, a tweaked logo/identity, but most importantly the the new website has two important new elements:

1) It has a Shopping Cart which allows you to pick and choose the photos you want, the dimensions, etc. It even allows you to pick from our great print packages which provides substantial savings. With the shopping cart you can pay via credit card using paypal, or send the order for payment to be sent offline. It isn't the most sophisticate online shopping cart you will find, but at least it's a shopping cart... meaning no more faxing or mailing of order forms.


2) It's completely HTML, which may be seen as both a good or not so good thing. The not so good, is that it doesn't have the fancy flash element that allowed you to have a slide show experience. With HTML you have to click on each image to view it, there's no pause/play button. On the positive side, an HTML site makes it more internet friendly. Easier to load and easier to search. So, if you are looking for a Los Angeles photographer, or a Los Angeles Maternity Photographer, or a Los Angeles Family Photographer, or are looking to purchase a photo session as a gift certificate for a friend's baby shower you are more likely to find THOMPSON and SPRING Photography.

In addition, the new design also features custom background colors. Not an important feature in my book, but it does make the site more vibrant.

Oh, and you may also have noticed that to keep the identity consistent this blog has a new header. I'd love to know what you think, so leave us your comments.

Maternity: Expecting Twins

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love taking pictures of an expectant mother. Being pregnant is not always a comfortable experience, but if you are carrying twins the chances are you are even more uncomfortable. I love the photo above, I think it is one of my all time favorite pregnancy shots because while beautiful it also captures the reality of an expectant mother simply needing to take a rest.

The photos below embrace the bump, the intimate joy of a mother-to-be and the glowing beauty of anticipation. Enjoy!

PERFECTLY ROUNDED

I think all pregnant women are beautiful. They have an inner radiance and strength; that said not all pregnancy bumps are made equal... I can vouch for that from my own experience, sometimes my son would be at an angle an create this funny slanted belly. However, that was not the case for one of my recent maternity shoots. Her bump was perfectly rounded and while the mama-to-be was only 6 days away from her due date when I shot her, she moved around with ease and was playful even though she felt the occasional contraction.

Women's bodies are truly incredible and I think these photos really celebrate the miracle of motherhood. Check out some of my favorites.

I have been so inspired by the maternity + newborn special that I have been running that I have decided to permanently have a maternity + newborn package.

With such a beautifully rounded belly I couldn't help getting a bit more arty and abstract.

EXPECTING FUN

I love walking away from a session and feeling like I reconnected with old friends. That is just the feeling I had at a recent maternity session. The couple were so fun and ready to play around in front of the camera. There was a real energy shared between them and also an unmistakable tenderness.

I feel lucky to have met them to document this time in their lives and can't wait to meet their little one and capture precious and everyday moments over years to come.

The picture with the reflection in the puddle is one of my all time favorites. It also looks great in a faded sepia, but she loves color so I thought I'd show it to you that way. These are just some of my favorites.

EXPECTING A SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER BABY?

As summer approaches I remember that just a couple of years ago, I was pregnant at this time and getting myself ready for my son's arrival. So, in celebration of my son's Fall birth, THOMPSON and SPRING photography is offering a maternity special for mothers expecting this Fall.

Book your maternity photo session now with THOMPSON and SPRING Photography and receive a FREE newborn session and 20 wallet sized newborn photos (same pose), perfect for announcement cards. A $300 value.

Hopefully this special will help you remember the good parts of being pregnant during the summer.

Maternity Session must be booked for June, July or August 2009. Newborn session should be booked within 1 month of your child's arrival to really capture that newborn look. Offer valid until June 30, 2009. To book, click here.

BUN IN THE OVEN

I love meeting expectant first time parents. Everything about the experience is new and the reality of becoming a parent hasn't quite set in. I recently met a lovely couple for their maternity shoot and this was definitely the case for them. Fortunately, while they are still young, they have been together for many years and so have a solid foundation on which to build their lives as a newly expanded family.

Check out this expectant couple. You now that whether they have a boy or a girl, they will be wonderful parents. They were also incredibly cooperative (unlike the weather) and were able to reschedule the location at the last minute because of the strong winds we've been having.

Thanks for a lovely afternoon!

SUGAR AND SPICE

They say little girls can be mean, but the little girls that I recently met for a shoot were all sugar and spice and all things nice. They were intelligent, engaged, funny, yet demure. Their parents are patiently awaiting the arrival of number three, and unlike me, have the patience to wait to find out if they are having a boy or a girl.

Here are some of my favorite shots of this lovely family, that welcomed me into their home, into their hearts and ...into their kitchen. Thank you for a great morning!

A candid tender moment

A MOTHER'S GLOW

There is something magical about an expectant mother, which is one of the reasons I love shooting maternity photos. Whether it's the hormones or the confidence that comes with embracing the full power of motherhood, expectant mothers are simply radiant. Never was this so true as for the beautiful mother-to-be I recently shot. She had a fun, easy-going personality and was willing to try anything. I love that! She was even willing to climb a tree if that made for a good shot... I on the other hand preferred keeping her feet on the ground. While a great photo is wonderful, I healthy mother and child are even more so.

Check out the gorgeous shots.

BABY ON THE WAVES

The beach is such an idyllic setting when you can get it to yourself. While there were others on the beach, the early morning hour made the beach far less crowded than usual, and provided a serenity that complemented this beautiful mother-to-be's personality. Her little boy and hubby also came along for the ride and made the most of a day at the beach.

They were such a nice family and you could really tell that they were in their element by the water. Later I discovered that the husband hails from the beautiful islands of Hawaii; no wonder they were like fish in the water when they were by the ocean.

Here's a quick peek at their session.

MAMA MIA

Inauguration Day was a memorable day, not only did Obama officially take the oath to become President of the United States, but I had the honor of photographing a beautiful mother-to-be. She is expecting a "honeymoon baby" and if the little boy in her womb looks anything like her, he will be gorgeous.

The session was so relaxed and fun. Here are a few of my favorite shots.