Sweet Baby Maya | Laguna Beach Newborn Photos

I first met Anna and Michal when Anna reached out at the very end of her pregnancy in November for a maternity session. Even though it was a last-minute request, I was so happy I could fit them in. We had an incredible maternity session in their beautiful hometown of Laguna Beach, and they loved the experience so much that they booked me as their Orange County newborn photographer the moment baby Maya arrived.

This session took place in December, just one week before Christmas, making it a truly special way to celebrate the holiday season.

Laguna Beach Newborn Photos for Older Baby

Baby Maya was a bit older at 26 days old for her session. Even at nearly four weeks, she was an absolute dream! She was calm and settled easily whenever we took breaks for snuggles or feedings. Anna and Michal brought such a relaxed, peaceful energy into the studio.

We started Maya’s Laguna Beach newborn photos with a simple white-on-white setup—a white swaddle against a simple white fabric background. This is one of my favorite ways to photograph newborns because it removes all distractions and keeps the focus entirely on the baby.

While she was wrapped, we captured some beautiful awake shots and macro details of her tiny features. We added some beautiful floral headbands, one with creams and coral pinks and another with all tiny white flowers. After that, we took some shots with just a white diaper cover to capture her adorable baby rolls and beautiful skin.

I love letting babies STRETCH! After being swaddled it’s one of their favorite things to do and I love capturing it. If they’re still sleepy, I can add a beautiful blanket and accessories to help highlight their features and tiny details.

This family was recently in my studio, too, for their baby boy Westley’s newborn session at one week old.

As she stayed settled, I slowly undid the swaddle to get those “bare baby” shots that show off every little roll and wrinkle. We then transitioned into a rich teal blue swaddle for some variety. This way mom had both a classic white and a deep jewel tone for a pop of color in the gallery..

Newborn Photos Can Happen After the First Two Weeks

Maya’s Laguna Beach newborn photos are a good example of why it is not always too late for newborn photos.Whether your baby is a few weeks or even a couple of months old, we can absolutely still capture these precious early days. While younger newborns tend to sleep more deeply, older babies are often more alert and interactive, which brings a completely different energy to the session.

Instead of focusing solely on traditional sleeping poses, sessions with older babies highlight their new expressions, eye contact, and budding personality. I will focus on capturing those sweet moments of them looking around, giving you those first real smiles, and snuggling close to you.

Mom, Dad and Maya’s First Family Portraits

We started the family portion with Anna facing baby Maya in the vintage armchair. We also captured some gorgeous cheek-to-chin shots before bringing Michal in for the full family portraits.

I love playing with different perspectives during these sessions to give parents a diverse gallery. We did everything from front-on portraits to side angles and “pull-back” shots of the two of them just loving on their girl. One of my favorites was a shot of Michal kissing Anna while she looked down at Maya, followed by an over-the-shoulder perspective that felt so intimate.

My favorite shots of Anna were of her in the vintage armchair holding Maya:

• Detail shots of Maya’s head cradled in Anna’s hands
• Anna snuggling baby’s head in the crook of her chin
• Anna holding Maya’s head to her cheek
• Anna lounging in the chair with her feet dangling over the side, gazing lovingly at her new daughter

When Maya went to her dad, we caught the cutest pucker and kissy shot! We also got Michal sitting on the futon with Maya, interacting, snuggling and him gently swinging her side to side as he smiled big. I absolutely loved his interactions with his sweet daughter.

My favorite shots were of the parents holding their baby on the white futon. They sat close together and I prompted them to interact: whispering, smiling, laughing, kissing and doting on their sweet baby. Capturing every bit of these new connections as a family of three are truly some of my favorite photos to take. I feel so honored to be able to capture them together for their first family portrait.

To wrap things up, I brought Anna back into the frame with Michal and added her hands to the shot, creating a beautiful close-up of baby Maya surrounded by her parents’ hands. It’s a perfect visual representation of the protection and love they have for her.

A Deep Blue and Sage Green Color Palette

We used a deep blue and soft green color palette for Maya’s Laguna Beach newborn photos::

• Sage Green

• Deep Blue

• White

• Cream

• Khaki

For her wardrobe, Anna chose a stunning sage green maxi dress from Baltic Born, which is a popular piece in my curated client wardrobe. The soft green tone was the perfect complement to her dark hair and the blue accents chosen for the session.

Michal looked classic and coordinated in a blue button-down shirt and khakis. His outfit choice perfectly mirrored their love for blue tones and kept the family looking cohesive and polished.

Ready to Book Your Laguna Beach Newborn Photos

Jennifer Imus Photography is a luxury, full-service newborn photography studio in Old Town Tustin, serving families throughout Orange County. Recognized as the 2025 Best Photographer of Tustin by the Tustin Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer creates a relaxed, baby-led newborn photography experience for newborn babies at all stages with professional hair and makeup, a curated wardrobe for moms, and every wrap, prop, and detail ready before you arrive.

Book Your Newborn Session