#orangecountyphotographer

Sep 27, 2019
2 min

First Birthday Photos: What Exactly Do You Want?

So recently a good friend of mine had a kiddo who was turning one. Of course she asked me if I would take photos. And of course, I said absolutely! She sent me a bunch of cute "pinspiration" pics of epically staged cake smashes. And then she told me we could take them at the birthday party. Hold up! I hate to break it to all you first time mommas out here, but those adorable cake smash photos you see all over the internet, were not, in fact, taken during the child's birthday

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Trust Me - You Don't Want Your "RAW" Images: Insight from a Southern California Photog

Suzanne McCann

Jan 30, 2019
2 min

Trust Me - You Don't Want Your "RAW" Images: Insight from a Southern California Photog

As a photographer, the subject of "RAW" images comes up fairly often. Sometimes it has come from clients fearing that there may have been some special image left out of their gallery. Also, I've had many potential clients request a discounted rate in exchange for accepting my RAW files instead of completed, edited images, making the argument that if I am doing half the work, I can charge them half the price. No matter the reason behind the question, the answer to this from mo

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Cake Smash 101: 3 Tips from a Southern California Children's Photographer

Suzanne McCann

Jan 25, 2019
1 min

Cake Smash 101: 3 Tips from a Southern California Children's Photographer

Historically, a child's first birthday has always been a big moment of celebration. For years, families have held parties where all the guests stand around, waiting and watching to see how the baby reacts to their birthday cake. Everyone is oohing and ahhing, hoping to catch a great photo to be used as blackmail upon the child's future first date or high school graduation. While it's ideal to schedule a cake-smash photo session a couple weeks after the momentous occasion in o

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Spotlight: Murrieta Valley High School VE

Suzanne McCann

Jan 22, 2019
2 min

Spotlight: Murrieta Valley High School VE

Recently, a dear friend and client of mine, Autumn, reached out to me with a question. Autumn is an awesome friend who always has your back, and an amazing mom with a wonderful family. One of my favorite side benefits of being an all-service photographer is the opportunity that it gives me to help support organizations within my own community. So when Autumn asked if I was willing to donate a session to help support a program that her daughter Natalie participates in at Murri

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A Sweet Treat: Family Photography Session in Temecula, California

Suzanne McCann

Oct 11, 2018
1 min

A Sweet Treat: Family Photography Session in Temecula, California

A couple weeks ago, I got to catch up with an old friend from high school and help her and hubby celebrate their 10th anniversary with some updated photos of her, hubby, and their two adorable boys. We had a lot of fun having an amazing laser gun battle - the whole family got involved. Whenever I do shoots in Old Town with young children, I usually recommend a stop in the Old Town Sweet Shop as a way to reward the kiddos for good behavior. On this particular trip, I was actua

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Lifting of the Gag Order: Elopement Photo Session, Seal Beach CA

Suzanne McCann

Sep 26, 2018
3 min

Lifting of the Gag Order: Elopement Photo Session, Seal Beach CA

Finally!! The social media gag order has been lifted and I am free to share these images. But first, the story behind them. This may be one of the most special sessions I have been blessed to be a part of. Don't get me wrong - all my sessions are special in some way. But this one....well, read on and you will get it. I have known Anna since I was a little girl. Growing up, she was a fellow St. Bruno Tiger and one of the best friends of my favorite baby-sitter, Kim (for more o

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Adventures in Babysitting: Family Portraits across Southern California

Suzanne McCann

Jul 9, 2018
2 min

Adventures in Babysitting: Family Portraits across Southern California

This is my friend Kim with her two beautiful daughters Sophia and Gillian, and I have had the privilege of taking family pictures for them for the past 5 holiday seasons. The funny thing is that I have actually known Kim since she was the age Sophia was when we first took photos because she was the first person my parents trusted to babysit my little sister and I after she was born (we're 7 years apart). Kim has been a huge influence in my life, both as a child and an adult.

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A Royal Senior Portrait Session: Fullerton, California

Suzanne McCann

Sep 30, 2016
2 min

A Royal Senior Portrait Session: Fullerton, California

It was a crazy busy summer and time got away from me. But the experience of taking these photos was so special that I had to share it now, even if Miss Allie is already off on her East Coast adventure at Wentworth Institute of Technology. A few weeks, before Rosie (Allie’s mom) called me, I saw these pictures done by another photographer of a softball player in her prom dress. I thought the concept was so rad and it gave me all kinds of ideas, but I knew that I needed just th

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