At the Beach, At the Park, Family Photography, In a field, Urban Photography

Best Clothing Color Schemes for Stunning Outdoor family Portraits

Wondering what to Wear for your Outdoor Family Photos?

We’ve got you covered with clothing color schemes for each of the popular locations in Orange County.

Make sure you have right color outfits to go with the scenery at your session!

Do you want to find out what to wear for your outdoor family photos? Your outdoor family photo session is coming up and you’re going through your mental checklist: get haircuts, wax those eyebrows, pick the outfits.

In your outdoor family photos, I recommend picking two to three colors and coordinating everyone’s outfits around that color scheme. For example, navy and cream with a pop of gold.

Think of your location when it comes to color schemes for your photography wardrobe:

What to wear to a family session | Classic Neutrals

The Classic Neutrals: There is timeless elegance with neutrals and earthy tones. Think of beiges or cremes – these colors look great in open fields, such as Laguna Canyon, San Juan Open Spaces, Alta Laguna Park and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

What to Wear to a Family Photo shoot | For bold and vibrant clothing

Bold & Vibrant: This is for our fashionistas! Stand out with bright and bold colors that pop – just be careful to avoid clashing colors in group photos. This color scheme works great in an urban environment to show off your style. The best locations in Orange County for these types of sessions include The Lab, The Camp, Downtown Laguna Beach, Orange Circle, Los Rios Historic District, Newport Fun Zone and the Santa Ana Arts District.

What to Wear to an Outdoor family session | Pastel Perfection

Pastel Perfection: Use oft and dreamy pastel hues to create a whimsical atmosphere. These color schemes will look great during a sunset at the beach, San Juan Capistrano in the flower fields, Laguna Niguel Botanical Gardens, or Sherman Gardens in Corona Del Mar.

What to Wear to a family shoot | Mixing and matching patterns

Mixing Patterns: Embrace creativity with playful patterns that complement each other. You can add hints of polka dots to a tie, or a hair bow, or even socks. There’s many fun ways to harmonize styles and patterns to each of your family members. These looks are best at the beach, an urban area or in a field.

What to Wear to a Family Session | Cool Blues and Greens

Cool Blues & Greens: Cool tones create a serene and calming effect. These dreamy images can help promote a sense of calm and well-being, which will not only look great for your memories but also on the walls of your home. Great destinations for these include the beach, Newport Back Bay, Balboa Island, and the Newport Beach Pier.

What’s your favorite color scheme or style? Let us know! Follow us on Instagram at @blueskysstudio, on Facebook at facebook.com/blueskysstudio, and follow along for more photography tips and tricks by signing up for our newsletter below.

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At the Beach, At the Park, Blue Sky's Promotions, Family Photography, Senior Photography

The Five best spots to photograph around Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach has the very best spots for unique family and senior photography. Since I not only work in Laguna Beach, but also live in the downtown area, I am always keeping my eyes open for the most unique spots to photograph high school seniors and families. Here are just a few of my favorite spots in the downtown area to get amazing, unique shots of your senior or family. And if you book and shoot before the end of September, you will receive 50% off of the session fee.

Heisler Park/ Picnic Beach Area

From beautiful vistas, to unique art pieces, to garden spots and yes even a sandy beach, if you are looking for a lot of variety in your portrait session, Heisler Park is my top choice. Check out a few of my favorite recent images shot in this location.

Downtown Laguna Beach

In just a three or four block area, there are so many great backdrop choices in downtown Laguna Beach. Some of my favorite spots include the red phone booth, the alley behind the Presbyterian Church, the area around the library, the flower stand on Forest Avenue and the rose garden on Forest.

Laguna Beach Neighborhoods

Around the Laguna Beach High School area is a perfect location to shoot a senior portrait session or even a family session. There are some really cool green areas, lots of trees, two small parks and lots of hardscaping with texture and character. Even more important to me and my clients, there is a lot of parking. Here are some of my favorite spots in the neighborhoods surrounding Laguna Beach High School.

Main Beach Laguna Beach

Try to avoid main beach on the weekends, but during the week, especially in the Fall, this is an amazing backdrop for a session. You have the iconic Lifeguard tower, the fun boardwalk, the rocks at the north end of the beach and the open sandy views of the south end of the beach.

Portrait by Brianna Caster and Co of my kids

Alta Laguna Beach and Laguna Canyon Areas

For a more organic background, Laguna Beach has Alta Laguna Park and the open canyon space. This year, with the super bloom, we have been so fortunate to not only get tall grass and open fields, but lots and lots of yellow flowers. Here are just a few examples of the variety of locations in the canyon and at Alta Laguna Park.

Now is the perfect time to book your session. We are office 50% off of the session fee in September as our early bird special. To book your session or to get more information, click here.

At the Beach, At the Park, Fashion, Senior Photography

Popular Trends in High School Senior Photography

Where should I shoot my OC Senior Portraits?

Orange County is an excellent spot for amazing high school senior portraits. We have beaches, open fields, city scapes, historic architecture and gorgeous parks.

Blue Sky’s Studio strategy for any portrait photography session is to start with your personal fashion style. If you tend to dress more edgy and high fashion, I would definitely recommend choosing a city background or in the studio. If FreePeople clothing is more your vibe then a flower field, a beach at low light or an open meadow would enhance the look of your session.

Fashionista Senior Session

If you love trendy clothing, fun accessories and the latest style in shoes and boots you are probably a fashionista. For your session, we want to highlight your amazing style. That means staying away from really busy backgrounds so all of the emphasis in the image is on you and your cute outfits. Here are some of my favorite spots for this type of session.

Boho Senior Session

If you love vintage clothing, neutral colors, free flowing hair and lots of texture, then a Boho inspired session is probably your jam! Think of Free People Clothing, or shop at your favorite vintage store or even raid your Mom’s old wardrobe. I love these sessions when the colors are really monochromatic as is the background look. The perfect locations for this type of session include.

Alta Laguna Park In Laguna Beach
San Juan Open Spaces A gorgeous field in San Juan Capistrano
James Dilley Wilderness Park In Laguna Canyon
San Clemente State Beach With gorgeous white cliffs and wide open beaches (to see more beaches in San Clemente Click Here.
The Great Park in Irvine Complete with small zoo, open fields, split rail fences and flower fields.

Endless Summer Session

Shooting your high school senior portraits on the beach is great any time of the year. It is true that Southern California is a photographers paradise. There are so many sunny days every year that it doesn’t matter if you book in August or February, you are sure to get at least a few, beautiful sunny So Cal days. Here are my top five spots for an endless summer session.

Enter to win a free fully styled high school portrait session with Blue Sky’s Studio!

CLICK HERE

If you are really into bold colors and statement clothing, you can read more in the Color blog post by clicking on this link: Using Color in your shoot to create style.

At the Park, Family Photography, Orange County Photography

Cute DIY Easter Photo Ideas

Easter has come so early this year and while we’d love for you to bring your little cuties in for a professional family photo session for Easter, we realize you might just want some fun photo ideas that you can do at home.

So, we’ve gathered some fun photo ideas that you can recreate yourself.

Let’s start with the littlest ones. Babies are so fun to pose with colorful props, because let’s face it, they make everything look adorable. And as long as they’ve had a nap, they don’t usually protest. ;)

Little Bunnies

How about dressing up your little bunny and taking a photo of her sitting in the grass at your local park? This sweet,ruffly romper gives this little girl a beautiful Victorian touch for Easter.

This romper is available on Etsy.

Or if she’s younger, how about curled up on a fuzzy blankie?

Pro Tip: To make photo shoots easier with any baby or young child, make sure they’ve had their nap and have some favorite toys and silly faces at the ready. For newborns, it’s best to pose them while they’re still sound asleep.

This adorable crocheted bunny outfit is available on Etsy.

Easter Eggs and Baskets

Add some color and fun, by duplicating this adorable baby easter basket photo. All you need is a basket, plastic Easter eggs, and a bunny headband.

Pro Tip: To get baby in a good mood play with the eggs with her before you begin and have another adult handy who can entertain her with tickles or giggles while you take the pictures.

Have older kiddos? You can have even more fun with creative photo ideas! Check out some of these.

Ducklings

How about this Japanese cutie with her baby ducklings?

This picture doesn’t require a lot of props either: simply an umbrella, rain-boots and some rubber duckies.

Pro Tip: Get your child involved in the fun by having them help you arrange the duckies. You could even encourage them to come up with a story about the duckies to get them even more engaged in the game and photos.

Egg Art

Another way to get the kids in on the fun is to have them make the first letter of their name in the grass with Easter eggs! Then experiment with fun and silly poses in the grass until you get the right shots. Make the whole exercise silly and you’ll get some great candid pics like this one.

Tea Party

Host an Easter tea party with your kids and snap pictures while they play. Make some of their favorite treats and let them explore how they might have fun with their tea party.

Pro Tip: situate your play table under the open shade of a tree and experiment with different angles to get the lighting right.

Picnic in the Park

If your kids aren’t into tea parties, what about a picnic? This setting can easily be done with a cute old blanket and some yummy lunch. Pet bunny is optional, of course.

Springtime Blossoms

Take advantage of the beautiful trees blooming all around Orange County this time of year. While you’re playing in the park with the kids, take a moment to snap some photos! They don’t need to be as posed or color coordinated as this one, just have fun with it. Some of the best photos come from playing around.

Candid Confetti Egg Game Photos

Speaking of playing around, is one of your family traditions playing the confetti egg game? If not, maybe you should adopt this fun (yet messy) Easter tradition!

It makes for some great, silly and very candid photos.

Pro Tip: If you’re taking photos with your camera phone set your camera to “burst” to get multiple fast images with each click. This will help you to capture the action best. Click here to learn how to adjust your iPhone camera settings. And if you’re on an Android device, click here.

Click on the photo to get instructions on how to create and play the confetti Easter egg game.

However you celebrate Easter or springtime, we hope you have fun and capture some great candid memories. And when you’re ready for some professional family photos we’ll be here too.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions: DIY Easter Photo Shoot Ideas for Families in Orange County

What are the best DIY Easter photo shoot ideas for families?

Some easy and adorable DIY Easter photo shoot ideas include:

A backyard Easter egg hunt with pastel baskets
A picnic setup with spring flowers and bunny props
Kids dressed in bunny ears with a “carrot patch” prop station
A blanket setup in the park with Easter books and treats
Matching pastel outfits and natural smiles in the golden hour light

These ideas work great with a phone camera or a DSLR!

Where can I take Easter-themed family photos in Orange County?

Top outdoor spots for spring family photos include:

Irvine Regional Park (wildflowers & big trees)
Heisler Park in Laguna Beach (coastal backdrops + grassy areas)
Fullerton Arboretum (botanical garden vibes)
Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley
Your own backyard for easy, cozy setups

What should my kids wear for a DIY Easter photo shoot?

For a springtime Easter shoot, think light, soft colors and layers:

Pastels like lavender, mint, blush, and sky blue
Overalls, suspenders, flowy dresses, or button-up shirts
Bunny ears, bonnets, or floral headbands
Barefoot is cute for toddlers!

Keeping outfits coordinated (but not identical) works great in photos.

Do I need a professional photographer for Easter photos?

Nope! With the right location, good lighting, and a few props, you can create beautiful DIY Easter photos using your smartphone. Use natural light, portrait mode, and a tripod or self-timer to capture group shots.

What props should I use for an Easter photo shoot at home or outdoors?

Try simple, fun props like:

Wicker baskets filled with Easter eggs
Stuffed bunnies or chicks
A wooden crate “carrot patch” sign
A spring picnic blanket
Fresh flowers or floral garlands
DIY chalkboard signs with Easter messages

When is the best time to take Easter photos in Orange County?

Plan your photo shoot in March or early April, ideally during golden hour (just after sunrise or before sunset) for soft, warm lighting. Spring flowers and clear skies make this the perfect season for family portraits.

Can I do a DIY Easter mini session indoors?

Yes! Set up a cute corner in your living room or playroom using:

A light blanket as a backdrop
String lights or faux vines
Bunny ears and Easter-themed books
Natural light from a nearby window

Indoor shoots are great for young kids and allow for creative setups without worrying about the weather.

At the Park, kids modeling, Kids Photography, Orange County Photography

Orange County Family Photographer- 2 year old session

Orange County Family Photography– How to manage a two year old at a portrait session. Everyone that knows me is totally aware that I am obsessed with toddlers. I love the way they talk, I love the things that they say, I love to play games with them, they just totally crack me up. So while lots of photographers shy away from photographing toddlers because it isn’t easy, I think as long as you have a good understanding of what will go on during a toddler session, everyone will remain calm and have fun!

Toddlers usually start out a little shy of the camera– let’s face it, this is a new environment and most of the time the photographer is a stranger pointing a black box at their face while everyone is yelling at them to smile or say cheese. In my experience, this does not work. At Blue Sky’s Studio we typically prep the Mom or Dad before the session and ask if they will just let us quietly talk with their child in the beginning with no expectations, no smiling, etc. A typical reaction would be this, where the little one looks at their Mom or Dad for reassurance.

Once a toddler starts to warm up, the best way to get great expressions is to play games with them. I will often snort like a pig and tell them that is what my doggies say. They will typically laugh and say noooooo, that is what a piggy says. You get the point, they play along and they will usually give you an amazing huge smile like this.

Now is when the real fun starts, I always tell the parents not to worry at this point because things are going to get a little crazy, but these are going to be a true representation of your child’s personality. You know, something like this:

Things to remember about toddlers- You get about an hour to photograph them and then they are usually done. You can bring multiple changes of clothing, but often times they will not tolerate more than three clothing changes. I frequently have parents say to me, “I don’t think you got anything, my child wasn’t really cooperating.” I smile and say, “we will see”. Here is just a few of my favorites from a recent session. When she got a little tired out, big brother was there to give some love and affection and then she was back to her camera ready self!