Simple Sophistication

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ • Sessions by appointment only

Simple Sophistication

Newport Beach Family portrait | Back Bay

Newport Beach Family portrait – Back Bay

This may be our favorite Newport Beach family portrait. In fact, the picture with the dad throwing his little guy in the air is displayed in our studio! It’s also a perfect example of how gorgeous shooting in the Back Bay (Newport Beach) can be. The Back Bay is a sprawling nature conservatory that makes you feel miles away from the big city, even though it’s only a three minute walk from convenient parking.

There are miles of trails to walk and explore, all looped around the center bay and Newport Aquatic Center. That means we have nature, water, bridges, and boats that we can use as the perfect backdrop for your portraits. It’s best (actually, almost imperative) that you get the timing right, however. During the day, the lighting at the Back Bay can be too harsh for good pictures, but if you wait for “the magic hour” which is that hour before and leaning into sunset, then the plants and water just warm and sparkle. It’s super flattering light for everything and everyone!

When is the best time for family portraits?

Because timing is of the essence, be sure to book your session as early as possible. Another option would be to take early morning photos at the Back Bay when the lighting conditions are similar, but most people with kids prefer evening sessions. This family also chose to have their pictures done in January, so the weather was just cool enough to be comfortable, and between 4 and 5 pm was the perfect picture time. The Back Bay provides plenty of nature trails and things to discover, so little ones are captured in their natural curious state and stay distracted enough for us to take some great candid shots.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Gilmore Studios is a husband and wife wedding photography team and also photograph hundreds of maternity, newborn, children and family sessions in Orange County, CA. Contact us for more info about booking your studio or on location session in the Southern California area.

Brian and Jennifer Gilmore specialize in wedding and engagement photography in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and surrounding areas in OC and Los Angeles, CA. 

Call 949-698-3968 or email us to book your summer and fall 2017-18 engagement photography & weddings.

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    Meet the Gilmores:

    Gilmore Studios serves Orange County, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. We specialize in wedding photography, family portraits, newborn and branding photography. Our studio has been in business since 2002.

    Fun Facts:

    PLace we call home:

    Newport Beach & Queen Creek

    Number of kids:

    3 boys

    Years in business:

    Since 2002

    As seen in:

    Family photography

    Featured On the blog

    Read more
    Simple Sophistication

    We are on Instagram

    Pick something you love and make that your career. Honestly, that’s kind of what happened.

    I never imagined that setting up backdrops, planning themes, making silly noises to get a baby to smile, and celebrating first birthdays would become my job.

    But here we are. 🥹

    And after all these years, I still get excited watching a theme come together and seeing a little one’s personality shine once they step into the studio.

    Because cake smash sessions aren’t really about the cake.

    They’re about celebrating a milestone that only happens once.

    And getting to be a small part of that never gets old. 🎂

    What’s something you could talk about or do all day and never get tired of?

    5 0
    Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17898074328465018
    Pick something you love and make that your career. Honestly, that’s kind of what happened. I never imagined that setting up backdrops, planning themes, making silly noises to get a baby to smile, and celebrating first birthdays would become my job. But here we are. 🥹 And after all these years, I still get excited watching a theme come together and seeing a little one’s personality shine once they step into the studio. Because cake smash sessions aren’t really about the cake. They’re about celebrating a milestone that only happens once. And getting to be a small part of that never gets old. 🎂 What’s something you could talk about or do all day and never get tired of?

    Pelican Hill Resort + a gorgeous sunset + incredible food = an evening I didn’t want to end. 🧡 Had the best time covering this event for ABOG (Dallas, TX). The boho vibes were unmatched and decor was beyond. This is what happens when a great group of people gathers in a beautiful place.

    9 0
    Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17872516275617564
    Pelican Hill Resort + a gorgeous sunset + incredible food = an evening I didn’t want to end. 🧡 Had the best time covering this event for ABOG (Dallas, TX). The boho vibes were unmatched and decor was beyond. This is what happens when a great group of people gathers in a beautiful place.

    This is just me being sarcastic - but some might be a little true. 😂

    Top 5 Horror Movies for a Photographer

    • can you send the RAW files
    • wind. just. wind
    • wearing neon orange at sunset
    • the tide is too high
    • making videos while being a photographer

    40 3
    Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17940025950249372
    This is just me being sarcastic - but some might be a little true. 😂 Top 5 Horror Movies for a Photographer • can you send the RAW files • wind. just. wind • wearing neon orange at sunset • the tide is too high • making videos while being a photographer

    The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation:

    What themes can we do?
    Honestly — almost anything.

    But here is what I actually recommend.

    Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly.

    Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were.
    That is worth capturing.

    We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same.
    For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake.
    And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos.
    She chose an album.

    Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately.
    What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now.
    Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography

    DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.

    10 5
    Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18065998445409348
    The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation: What themes can we do? Honestly — almost anything. But here is what I actually recommend. Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly. Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were. That is worth capturing. We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same. For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake. And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos. She chose an album. Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately. What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now. Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.

    Photography started as something I loved.

    I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later.

    But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career.

    Then a business.

    Then a huge part of my life. 🤍

    I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades.

    And honestly?

    The greatest part isn’t the photos.

    It’s the people.

    The families who come back year after year.
    The babies who become seniors.
    The clients who become friends.

    That’s what keeps me showing up every day.

    Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job?

    Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

    20 5
    Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18123683860650152
    Photography started as something I loved. I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later. But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career. Then a business. Then a huge part of my life. 🤍 I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades. And honestly? The greatest part isn’t the photos. It’s the people. The families who come back year after year. The babies who become seniors. The clients who become friends. That’s what keeps me showing up every day. Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job? Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

    Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ

    Session by appointment only

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