The best thing about being a Newport Beach family photographer is that I get to capture such gorgeous subjects. I love this sweet senior and sister portraits session at the Bourke home in Newport Beach. Read more
Summer is here and with it more sun, sand, and hopefully fun! In Orange County, we have a loooong summer season that often extends far past when the kids are back in school. But as the summer season officially kicks off we want you to look your best for your family photos, Christmas in July session, or on any given day at the beach, or Fashion Island, concerts in the park, or wherever you like to spend your summer days (and nights).
We’ve assembled some of our favorite summer hair and skin beauty tips to help you look and feel your best both in front of or away from the camera.
Let’s jump in!
No matter your age, your skin is often the first thing people notice, and ultimately the foundation for any healthy look. Get your skin looking lush and the rest of your look will fall into place.
By now, we know the importance of exfoliating those dead skin cells in order to promote a healthy complexion, but experts now say that it’s best to alternate your methods.
Switch up your exfoliation routine by using a chemical exfoliant one day and a manual scrubbers like a loofah the next time. Allure magazine has some great suggestions for both mechanical scrubbers and chemical exfoliators.
Of course we hope you get plenty of time at the beach or in the pool, but when it comes to skin, it’s time to drink up. We’ve all heard that we need to drink our 8-10 glasses of water per day, but in summer it’s especially important. With higher temperatures or more strenuous activities it’s easy to get dehydrated. But did you know that drinking water isn’t just good for your general health but for your skin as well? Of course you did, but take a look at what Dr. Tara Rao says below.
Dr. Tara Rao, interviewed for Prevention magazine says, “One of the most important things I remind my patients is that your skin really is an outward sign of your internal health. The best anti-aging trick is to be healthy (and sun protect, of course). Hydration is just one, but important, part of that.”
Speaking of healthy from the inside out…When we talk about skincare we often think of topical skin treatments like exfoliating creams, toners, cleansers, masks, etc, but there’s another way. Did you know there are actually holistic supplements you can take to improve your skin’s resiliency, youth, and boost it’s natural protection from the sun?
Studies have shown that Vitamin C and Vitamin E may help prevent and treat ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin damage.
Green tea extracts, according to a UK study, reduce inflammation and may also help protect skin against harmful sun rays.
Vitamin K is essential to helping the body heal and can also improve the appearance of stretch marks, scars, dark spots, dark circles under your eyes and more.
Vitamin D is essential to a variety of bodily functions but also for maintaining healthy skin and treating psoriasis.
Biotin is excellent for both skin and hair health.
Check out this Anti-aging daily supplement pack on Dermstore.com.
Grab a ScarfAdd some style and protection to your summer wardrobe with a hat or scarf.
Not only does it help protect your scalp and hair from sun damage, but it also helps retain scalp moisture.
We all know we should be protecting our skin with sunscreen, but it’s also important to protect your hair and scalp against damage with hair sunscreen, here are She Knows’ best recommendations.
Once or twice a week drench your hair in a luxurious hair mask. That’s right, it’s not just for faces anymore!
Elle.com recommends Kérastase Reflection Masque Chromatique, (~$53), but we’ve also tried (and love) Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask, for under $5.
Love these beauty tips? Let us know in the comments below. Or share some of your own!
Whatever your regimen, we hope you’ll choose Blue Sky’s Studio to capture your beauty on camera, for years to come.
I am so fortunate to be a family portrait photographer in Laguna Beach.
That means that I not only get to capture gorgeous images of families from Orange County, but I also get an opportunity to meet lots of amazing people that choose Laguna Beach as their vacation destination. While visiting and being amazed at stunning ocean views, canyon areas and the cute downtown, lots of families get inspired to take family portraits in Laguna Beach or in one of the many gorgeous locations in Orange County.
The Rosenthal Family comes to the Montage every year for a family holiday. They have beautiful twin daughters that are both already enrolled in University, one at LSU (…. Geaux Tigers) and one at Chapman University. Their holiday is the perfect chance for them to reconnect. Scheduling family portraits during their holiday, creates a permanent memory that they will cherish for a lifetime.
Since they have previously taken portraits that the Montage’s Treasure Island beach, we decided to change it up and head down to Table Rock beach. From both our local clients, and our out of town clients, we often hear that I have never even visited this gorgeous beach. It was our pleasure to not only introduce the to this location, but to also get to use it as a fantastic backdrop. Blue Sky’s makeup artist and hairstylist visit all these beautiful ladies in their hotel room prior to the session, so they really got the star treatment.
Enjoy a sneak peak of a few of my favorites from the session!
Photographing kids in Orange County can be fun and a little stressful. Here are some helpful hints to make sure your Orange County Family Photography session is the best it can possibly be. Here’s how to prepare kids for the best portrait session.
We understand that sometimes children can be unpredictable when it comes to photography sessions. Maybe they are nervous, anxious or just having an off day. It happens, and rest assured that we are able to handle just about any situation. However, there are things that you can do to help ensure a smooth and happy photography session for your child, so please read our suggestions below and apply them at your child’s Blue Sky’s Studio shoot.
We give them as much time as they (not you or I) need to warm up to me and my camera. It is very rare that even the most apprehensive child doesn’t become my buddy after 20-30 minutes. Eager to please, many parents urge their child(ren) on, and this rarely ever helps. Please allow us to create a bond with your child at their pace. Giive us a little space with your child so they do not feel as though they have to “perform” for you with us.
We try to bond with them by getting them to talk to us. Often times, we will reach out to “test” your child(ren) to see how they will respond. Depending on their reaction (if they reach back to hold a hand/finger), we will know how to proceed. We like to take time to get to know your child and let them get used to us before we start shooting.
That’s our job. Besides, “cheese” or “smile” is almost always a fake or forced smile. We will get your child(ren) to smile by other measures that create real smiles such as goofy faces, funny stories, talking up their interests, etc…you know, kid stuff!! We’re great at kid stuff (we’re kids at heart)!
4) We encourage any ideas or props in your session, so have fun with it and get creative!Many parents bring in 1-3 outfits and various accessories such as hats, scarves and jewelry. However, it’s important to keep in mind that changing multiple outfits on younger children usually changes their moods too. We recommend keeping it simple for the younger subjects. They grow up so fast!
Depending our your child’s age, they may not be able to stay happy and positive through an entire session. For toddlers, usually 45 minutes is the maximum amount of time that they will be able to be photographed. So, make sure you let us know the most important shots, and outfits so we get those done at the beginning of the session. That way, we make sure that if the session ends early, you still got the best shots that you will love an cherish for a lifetime.
Taking the time to prepare for your child’s photo shoot will not only make the experience enjoyable for you and your child, but will also help create an environment for amazing photographs for you to treasure forever. We are so excited to work with you!
The photos in this post are from one of our recent mother daughter beach photography sessions, in Laguna Beach. We decided, with input from her mom, to stick with two outfits and get lots of candid and interactive portraits. These will be cherished for a lifetime. 
Orange County Family photographer– We want to tell the story of your kiddos year after year! What better way than with moving portraits that combine still images with video. Here is a little sneak peak of what is to come. If you want to book your moving portrait session which combines still images with a few short video clips, call us at 949.510.3862. Have a beautiful rest of your weekend and enjoy the beautiful Lylah.