Celebrating Parenthood

Maternity photoshoots with first time parents are some of my favorite moments to capture for folks. It’s this season of a little bit of uncertainty and excitement and this photoshoot at Lake Merritt in Oakland is no different.

I capture maternity photos between 30-35 weeks for new moms. I find this is a nice sweet spot when you are still comfortable to move around, but your bump… it’s bumpin’! But because we wait a little later to capture maternity, it’s normally one of the last items on your list before you hunker down and just wait for the baby to come. 

That’s where the excitement comes from. It’s the last few weeks before the baby’s arrival, the last last little bit of time before life changes. These sessions are always filled with so many emotions – eagerness, nerves but most of all – a ton of love. 

Meet Mike & Marissa

Mike and Marissa were a client and friend referral. Myself and my husband are both born and raised in the Bay Area. He grew up in Pleasanton and went to San Jose State University. I grew up in Fremont then headed to California State University East Bay for college. Our roots in the bay are deep and because of that, we truly have the best community around us. 

Mike is close friends with one of Joel’s childhood friends – we’ve met a handful of times at different life celebrations, and I am so excited that I got to capture this life stage for him and his wife Marissa. 

They chose to do their maternity photoshoot at Lake Merritt in Oakland. They chose this spot because it’s where Mike proposed to Marissa a few years back. I love it when locations have such a special meaning to people. It’s so cool when you can return to the same spot, the same people, but with a few additions. 

Also, this was my first time photographing at Lake Merritt since moving to the East Bay! I love that this location is only 20 minutes from my house & makes such a great addition to my half session location list. 

Lake Merritt is so full of life and culture. When we arrived there was a group of people playing music and dancing. Then a few minutes up the lake I saw a DJ playing music next to a lady selling margaritas and tacos. Outside of the beautiful diversity that this lake offers, it also provides variety in backdrop.

Check out their gallery to see how we transition from greenery, to architecture and landing on a more woodsy feel around a city lake. 

Enjoy!

Book your maternity session now!

Hey momma, if you’re nearing 30 weeks – you’ll want to book your maternity session as soon as possible! Reach out to me here to see how we can bring your vision to life. 

Also, if I’m going to pitch my services – might as well do it right… If you’re looking for a maternity and newborn photographer – book these sessions together! I have a before and after packages for mommas who want to get photos booked so you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy without stress.