The Blog

Glimpses into recent San Francisco Bay Area  maternity, newborn, and family photography sessions. Tips and advice for planning your upcoming portrait session with Rebecca Pattison Photography. Reflections as a mom of two.

Category

Browse By

family of four in blues and neutrals stands in eucalyptus grove in Berkeley for Bay Area family photos

Bay Area fall family photos book faster than most families expect. By the time the leaves turn and the light gets that particular golden quality everyone loves, the best dates are already gone — claimed by families who planned ahead. If fall family photos in the Bay Area are on your list this year — […]

READ THE POST

Mom in white dress holds young toddler girl while at Filoli for Bay Area maternity photos

Outfit stress is real. Figuring out what to wear for family photos in the Bay Area is probably the most common question I get asked. I put together this guide to take the guesswork out of it completely. Bookmark it, share it with your partner, and come back to it every time you book a […]

READ THE POST

Bay Area family photographer Rebecca Pattison dances with two daughters in the Almond Blossoms

Bay Area Family photos always feel like they’re going to be more complicated than they turn out to be. You picture trying to get everyone dressed, keep the kids from melting down, and somehow look natural in front of a camera — all at the same time. I get it. I’m a mom of two […]

READ THE POST

family of five during a piedmont family photography session at dracena park

Dracena Park Family Photos in Piedmont Dracena Park is one of the best locations for family photos in Piedmont and East Bay, offering shade, open space, and a relaxed setting for natural, connection-focused images. Tucked into a quiet neighborhood, it’s easy to access with convenient parking and tends to be less crowded than other East Bay parks. […]

READ THE POST

family of four play on rodeo beach in marin county - parents snuggle and watch as two young children dance

Ask any parent with older kids which photos they love most from when their children were small. Almost no one says the posed ones. Almost everyone says something like: “The one where she’s just laughing at nothing” or “the one where they’re running and you can almost hear it” or “the one where he’s looking […]

READ THE POST

Parents holding their two month old baby during lifestyle newborn photography session in the Bay Area

The Traditional Newborn Photos Timeline If you’ve ever Googled “when to take newborn photos,” you’ll quickly see the most common answer: when baby is 1–2 weeks old. My website even says a version of this! And yes — there is a reason. In those early weeks, babies are sleepiest. It’s typically before baby acne appears […]

READ THE POST

Big brother counting baby toes. Natural light newborn photography session at home in Alameda, California

Preparing Your Toddler for a New Baby When I was pregnant with my second baby, it was surprisingly hard to find books I truly loved to help prepare my toddler for a new sibling. So many felt cheesy or just didn’t align with our family. As a newborn photographer and mom of two, I see […]

READ THE POST

family of four plays at Alameda Beach during family photography session in San Francisco Bay Area

I’m going to tell you something that most photographers don’t say about how to prepare your kids for family photos: the preparation that actually matters has almost nothing to do with your children’s behavior. It has to do with yours. They can feel your energy, and you set the tone. As an Alameda mom of […]

READ THE POST