I love photographing families at Baker Beach in San Francisco. The setting is both gorgeous and varied! For these sessions I always advise clients to be ready for any weather, it can be gorgeous and sunny or dramatic and foggy or simply overcast. All of these conditions lead to terrific photos! When shooting at Baker Beach I always start my shoots using some of the natural elements that are there. We then head to the beach for some great shots, both posed and candid. Its fun to catch the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Be prepared to get you feet wet by the end of the photosession.
Newborn Baby Photography in San Carlos [San Francisco Bay Area]
I love newborn sessions! It is always fun to see families as they are getting used to and learning about their newest family member. I know that having a newborn can be stressful so my aim is to create a photography session that is relaxed and follows your newborn’s rhythm. No need for you to leave your house, I bring my studio to YOUR home. All I need is a 10×12 ft space where I can set up. Generally a living room with a sofa pushed pack and a coffee table removed works great! I shoot with both a white and a black backdrop. I think that these classic backdrops help to create clean, classic newborn photos that you will enjoy for years (and maybe even generations!) to come.
This family had just welcomed their new baby boy home. Enjoy a few from their session!
I am fully vaccinated and am happy to mask up in your home! Call me at 650 631 8284 if you would like more information or would like to schedule a session. Thank you for looking at this post!
Spring Family Photography in Menlo Park [San Fransisco Bay Area]
I am delighted to share a few shots from a recent family photo session at Sharon Park in Menlo Park. This family was a ton of fun and very willing to climb the wild trees at this park. Enjoy!
I would love to photography your family! Call me at 650 631 8284 to schedule your session!
San Carlos Baby and Family Photography in Studio [Bay Area Family Photography]
This session took place in my San Carlos Studio. I love photographing babies using a white backdrop for a clean, crisp, contemporary look. We started the session with a few family shots to get this adorable baby and her older sister used to a new space. Then we moved on to sibling shots and individual shots. I am sharing just a few from this session.
I would love to photograph your family. Call or email me to schedule your session! Serving the San Fransisco Bay Area.
Get Active! Event Photography for San Carlos Education Foundation [Bay Area Event Photography]
I’ve been a supporter of the San Carlos Educational Foundation (SCEF) since I started my photography business 15 years ago. Sadly, California public schools are underfunded, especially compared to the rest of the country. We rely on support from parents and other donors to supplement and enrich the resources available to our community schools. Every year I photograph students and teachers in classrooms to create dynamic images that show how the contributions to the SCEF are having an impact in our schools. This week SCEF led an awareness event called “Stand Up for Schools” in which students, parents, teachers and other community members gathered to get the message out that our already underfunded schools are facing further cutbacks.
I grabbed my camera bags and multiple lenses to go to Burton Park in San Carlos where enthusiastic parents and kids were working hard on creating signs. I then headed to a spot along El Camino where a large crowd had gathered. They received lots of positive responses from cars driving by honking and waving to show support for our schools.
I had to do some fast camera lens swapping to alternate between capturing wide angle shots of the news interviews and zoomed shots of the group from across the street. Here are a few photos that I captured, some of which were published by the San Mateo Daily Journal:
Making posters in advance of the event.
ABC News provided live coverage on their newscast. The kids were very excited for the opportunity to not only be on TV but also to see how the news video and interviews are created.
It was great to be able to support our public schools and provide the local newspaper with some images for publication. For more information about the San Carlos Educational Foundation go to scefkids.org. I am happy to have the opportunity to volunteer my photography services to this terrific foundation.
I love photographing events, whether it is a Bat Mitzvah, birthday party, gala dinner or professional/corporate event. If you have any upcoming events that you would like captured call me at 650 631 8284.
Fall Color in Bay Area Family Photography at Elizabeth Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
Who says the we don’t get fall color here in the Bay Area California?! You just have to find it. I love finding pockets of wonderful fall color and then incorporating them into my photography sessions. I met this family of 5 in Palo Alto at Elizabeth Gamble Gardens for a late afternoon session. We wanted to nail some family photos and also get some great shots of the three kids together and as well as individuals. I like to encourage kids to be themselves so we get images where their personalities really shine!
I would love to photograph your family. If you would like more information or would like to schedule a session call me at 650 631 8284.
Your Photography Session: What to Wear [Bay Area Family Photography]
You have scheduled your family photoshoot and now the question is: What to wear? I get asked this question frequently. Before I answer this question I like to learn more about your family and your goals from the session and tailor the answer to suit your goals and session location. If you’ve decided that you would like portraits that capture your family in authentic ways and that present your “best”, here is the general guidance I provide:
Do’s
- Solid colors. Solid colors let you and your family be the focus without visual distraction and clutter.
- Color theme. Choose a theme to coordinate your color. For example you might choose “earth tones”, pastels, or blues and greens. Your group doesn’t need to be wearing the same color but the clothes should all look good when spread out together on a bed!
- Textures. Textures can add subtle depth and accent in a portrait. I adore textures!
- Climate Check. Make sure your family or group looks like they are all in the same climate. I remember taking my own family photo one year when my daughter wore shorts and flip flops while my niece wore a jeans, Uggs and a sweater. While I do appreciate their individual styles, I was shooting for a more homogeneous look for this family portrait.
- Gotta love it. If you or your kids don’t feel good in your clothes it will show in your pictures.
Don’t
- Patterns/logos. Too many patterns can compete, overwhelm and distract
- Solid white and neon. Avoid solid white and neon. Your eye is naturally drawn to the lightest part of a photo so if only one person wearing a white shirt that person REALLY stands out. Same hold for neon.
- Anything too trendy. If you are on the cutting edge of fashion then it might not be that long before you look back at your photo and think “what was I thinking!” When in doubt, go a for a classic timeless look.
- Wrinkles. Check your clothes for wrinkles. These are difficult to correct in photoshop.
Not a Rule Follower? Throw caution to the wind and break all the rules. If that suits you and your family – then I say GO FOR IT! If you all have different styles or love lots of wild patterns or have your own unique vision, I’m all in! My goal is to deliver images that captures your family in a way that you will love for years to come.
Combinations that Worked:
This family pictured above always has terrific outfit choices for their photography sessions. Their clothing colors are coordinated but not forced. Notice how terrific that texture in the sweaters look in their portrait. Also, that scarf is the perfect accessory to bring the color theme together and harmonize the group. This photograph was taken at a family session in San Francisco at Baker Beach.
This family chose to wear lovely light cream tones for the photography session. Mom’s peach sweater relates to the peach accents on the girls’ lovely dresses. And check out the boots on the girls. Not only are they brimming with personality but their grey color ties to their dad’s grey sweater. What a lovely family! This photograph was taken during their session at Twin Pines Park in Belmont.
When this wonderful family met me at Elizabeth Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto for their family photography session I was delighted to see that they had thought outside the box with their color choice. I loved the mustard yellow theme color they had selected and knew it would look good through my camera. Notice that the boy’s striped sweater is the perfect bridge to dad’s grey sweater. Let’s not overlook the way the girl’s stripped sleeves work with both her brother’s stripes and dad’s grey sweater. And how about those sparkle boots!!! This young girls was simply beaming with pride in those boots and it put her in the mood to be photographed. It’s wonderful to photograph kids who adore what they are wearing. It really does show!
When in doubt go with Blue! When I photograph large families, blue is generally the color that is easiest for people to find and coordinate. Plus blue looks reliably great in all settings! Who doesn’t love blue? An added bonus for your family photography session is that if you are already planning on wearing blue jeans then your colors will naturalize harmonize with your jeans. I photographed this family at Twin Pines Park in Belmont.
Break the Rules! I normally advise against mixing lots of blacks with white but in this family session it really works. The mom’s shirt is cream rather than a stark bright white. The lovely cream color and texture of the classic building at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco really allows this family and their outfits to pop. When choosing outfits do think about the location of your setting and how your outfits will work with it.
Interested in scheduling a session or getting more information? Call me at 650 631 8284. I would love to design a session with you and create images you will adore!
Bay Area Engagement Session! Congrats to this couple!
We scheduled the engagement session for this couple on the same day that they got their marriage license from the city clerk’s office in Oakland. We had a blast documenting their getting a license (and even had a few good laughs along the way!). After they received their license we headed over to Lake Merritt for engagement photos. Along the way I saw a few pockets of gorgeous flattering light so we grabbed some wonderful dramatic shots. We arrived at the Lake at high noon – the toughest time of day for a photographer. I knew I was going to have to work to find the best places for the most flattering light. I did find gorgeous light and my couple had fun practicing their posing and finding their best angles. Not only are engagement sessions fun for a couple but they are an opportunity for teh couple to get used to posing together in advance of their wedding.
I used my Canon Camera with several lenses. For the indoor shots there was enough light for me to go without flash (using my 24-70 2.8 lens), although I did have one packed in my bag, just in case it was needed. Outdoors I mostly used my flattering 70-200 2.8 lens. It is a portrait dream!
I would love to photograph your engagement session. For more information or to book a session, call me at 650 631 8284.
Lisa Noble Photography serves the San Francisco Bay Area specializing in Newborn, Baby, Child and Family photography.
Newborn Photography Session with Adorable 2 Month Old Baby [by Professional Photographer Lisa Noble]
I had a wonderful session with this little cutie! He was a eating when I arrived. By the time I set up my studio in the living room of his home, he had finished his meal and was burped and ready to go! I started the session shooting him against the white backdrop using my studio lights. He adored the flashes of light and was mesmerized! He needed a few feeding and burping breaks because he was slightly fussy with tummy issues. But with a little patience he worked through his issues and was an adorable model.
I always allow extra time for my newborn shoots knowing that newborns will often need lots of feeding, burping and diaper change breaks. Patience is the key. Wonderful photos can’t be rushed.
When we had gotten plenty of poses of him all by himself and terrific family shots I swapped to the black backdrop. With newborns, I like to shoot using both the white and the black backgrounds. I adore the crisp clean look that the white background provides. I love the drama that the black backdrop offers.
I love working with babies and new parents. If you are looking for a professional photographer to capture this special time for your family, please call me at 650 631 8284 to schedule a session. I would love to photography your family!
Family Photography in the California Hills [by professional photographer in San Carlos, Bay Area]
Just before Christmas I had the opportunity to photograph this lovely family. They really wanted their session to include the golden California hills and grasses. I suggested that we shoot at Edgewood County Park in San Carlos. We met just before sunset to create some sun-kissed images for them. I feel so fortunate to be a photographer here in the San Francisco Bay Area where the weather is wonderful for outdoor on-location photography sessions year-round. Enjoy!
If you are looking for a Bay Area professional photographer call me at 650 631 8284 to schedule your session! I would love to be your photographer!
Lisa Noble is an award-winning photographer based in San Carlos, California serving the entire Bay Area from San Francisco to San Jose including Hillsborough, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Portola, Woodside, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Berkeley and Oakland.
Lisa shoots both in-studio and on-location to create images that show the unique personality and connections in your family. Her style is clean, fresh and contemporary. She is known for her direct composition and mastery of light.