5 Tips for Perfect Family Pics with Kids!

Thank you for all of your kind words and support on my 5 Tips for Styling Family Photos! It was perfect timing since so many of you are taking pics for Christmas cards, I can’t wait to see your photos! Family pictures can be so stressful, once you’ve found your photographer, your outfits, and your location, you never know how it’s all going to come together. Will it rain? Will my hair cooperate? Will my children smile? Will they take a nap that day? Will they wake up happy from said nap?

5 Easy Tips for Styling Your Family Photos

When I shared our family pictures from this year, I told you guys how I plan on taking pictures every year as a family until I’m cold and dead. It’s so important to me to have pictures taken and I know I will always treasure them. Planning for pictures can be daunting, you want to coordinate but not be matchy-matchy so I put together an easy how-to to get you started! Finding pieces that match the look and feel you’re looking for can be tough, but I really enjoy the entire process!

Our Family of Four

At the beginning of the year (like January or February) I scheduled our family pictures for our little one's arrival. At the time, I didn't know if we were having a he or a she, or exactly when they would arrive. Luckily for me, Lovers of Love penciled us in over a two week span. This is the fourth time they photographed us and I absolutely love working with them. They are so talented and I choke up a little bit every time I look at the beautiful memories they've helped our family capture. These pictures mean so much to me and I love all of them so much, each picture really makes my heart swell. Here's just a few, it was so hard not to share every one. Thank you again for capturing the love of our family in our home, I'll treasure these for all my life!

Me: Top from Coco and Main through Jane // Jeans

Eleanor: Top (from Target, no longer available, similar here) // Shorts // Bow

Matt: Top (TJ Maxx) // Jeans

Emma: Swaddle // Bow 

Emma:  Headband (c/o Willow Crowns) // Swaddle from So Chic Boutique thru Jane 

Emma: Headband and Bloomers are both from Jane, two years ago

Emma: Swaddle // Bow

Book

Sheets // Blanket

Family + Maternity Pics

Here are a few of our family pics we took over the weekend. My sweet sorority sister Alexa took them for us, she's so awesome and really talented. I'm so thankful to have some pics of the bump and our family before the little one arrives. I'm starting to get a little emotional that Ellie won't be my only little girl to dote on and get all of my attention. She's going to be a great big sister, but I'm really cherishing these last few weeks with just her.

Dress (Kiki La'Rue last year, nearly identical here) // Kimono (from Jane, sold by Simply Reese)

Currently...

beanie // tights

1. It’s still hot, hot, hot over here in CA, but I’ve started to dream about boots, booties, jeans, scarves, and tights. I bought this knit beanie from Target this week and I’m dying to wear it outside. I think we need a family trip to Oak Glen…Last year we barely had a fall or winter season, but it’s supposed to be extra cold and rainy this year. We shall see! That’s definitely something I miss about living in Utah- it’s so gorgeous there and I loved the scenery year round. That’s one of the biggest reasons I mostly visit in the winter time too, so I can get a bit of cold and snow to hold me over.

gem crayons (in store) // paint dabbers // purse // beanie and mitten set

2. Even though it’s barely fall and Halloween is just next week, I’m focused on the holidays. I’ve already started my shopping with a few items for stocking stuffers, have made a mental list of items needed to decorate the house, and we’re already drawing our Secret Santa’s for Matt’s side of the family this weekend. Last year, Christmas was a lot of fun and I expect it to only get better as Ellie gets older and understands the holiday more (not just the gifts/Santa stuff). I’m really looking forward to this year and seeing her face light up when she sees the tree and Christmas lights.

mama and me headbands

3. Matching headbands is totally happening soon. I ordered this sweet Olivia Lace set from Willow Crowns and I can’t wait to match with my little mini-me (or mini-daddy depending on the day- she changes so much!). With her fall/winter wardrobe I’ve kept a little bit of what I have and what I’ve bought for her in mind so we can coordinate, but even still, these headbands will do the trick! I have a feeling that Ellie will be just as excited to match as I am.

IMAGE Skincare

4. The last few months, my skin has looked a little so-so. I’ve thought about making an appointment with a dermatologist to see what’s going on and I’ve scoured the beauty aisles at Target, but I just don’t know where to start. I don’t have acne, but my skin isn’t as radiant as it used to be. It just seems blech. That’s why I’m so excited to try some new products from IMAGE Skincare. I’ve been using their products for over a year now (check out my reviews HERE and HERE) and have started to use these new products for just over a week. I told my husband after just a few days I was already convinced that I could see a difference. I’ll definitely be doing a full review in a few weeks.

5. We are taking family pics this weekend with all of Matt's side of the family and I'm so excited to work with Lovers of Love Photography again. We've talked about doing family pics for years and I'm so happy that we're finally doing it.

Happy hump day! Hope your week is going well!

Our First Family Pictures

An exact year to when we took our maternity pictures (check them out here and here), we met up with the Lovers of Love duo to do our first family pictures. I was so happy to work with Dana and Nate again. They are the cutest couple and I absolutely love working with them and their work is phenomenal. We went back and forth on where to take pictures and finally decided to do them at the same place we had our maternity session- the California Citrus State Historic Park.

We took the pictures back in April, but I've had to wait to post them until after Mother's day because of a special picture we took for Matt's mother. She made Ellie a beautiful baby blanket when she was born and I wanted to take some pictures of Ellie with it as a surprise. Now that the cat's out of the bag I can finally post the pictures!We have a ton of pictures, but here are my favorites.

My outfit: Midi Dress (on sale!) / Shoes: Old (similar here and here) / Earring: Very Jane
Matt's outfit: Shirt; RVCA (short sleeve version) / Jeans: Express / Shoes: Vans
Ellie's outfit: Carters Cardigan & Short Set / Shoes: Carters (sold out, similar here) / Headband: Harts & Flowers