Family Session | Mountain View, CA

So, it had been two years since I had the pleasure of photographing this family but when we met up at Shoreline Park a few weeks ago it was as though we hadn't missed a beat!

The session started with a rousing game of hide & seek between the kids and Dad...

She was our seeker

Mom and Dad finally got a shot of just the two of them, which hasn't happened since their wedding! *gasp*

My aim is to always make everyone feel at ease in front of the camera.  This little guy who is normally very camera shy and always puts on the 'cheese' smile is the perfect example of what a difference feeling comfortable can make.  There's no 'cheese' here!

This session was a gift for Mom and the thing she wanted most was to replace a similar shot we did at our last session two years ago of her and the kids - see below.

Time for pizza! yay!!

Wardrobe Wednesday

Absolutely loving this week's looks from Crew Cuts at J.Crew.  With Spring just around the corner this look evokes the fun Summer will bring and the coordination is superb.  Multiple patterns but nothing to overwhelming because the anchor is echoed in Baby's onesie and the polka dots, well are just awesome! :)  With everything in a very similar color scheme you are able to do a bit more with accessories and patterns.

These looks and so many more are available at J.Crew right now, go check them out!  What are you waiting for?

Enjoy!

xo m

Wardrobe Wednesday

Valentine's Day might be over but these looks are still sizzlin'!  

We enjoyed a relaxing weekend with friends up in Tahoe, where it was unseasonably warm but we still enjoyed some time on the slopes.  How did you spend your love day?  Seeing the new 50 Shades of Grey or with a romantic dinner?  Share your favorite Valentine's Day story below!

For these looks and so many more visit Target & Macy's.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Loving the booth theme here.  Stay cozy with the rain storms coming through, much needed :)

Enjoy xx

mary

Wardrobe Wednesday

This week's Wardrobe Wednesday comes from the Boden Spring 2015 collection, they just make some really darn cute stuff!  Also, I went with a snowy theme in honor of not-so-super snow storm Juno on the East Coast and for those of you Californian's heading up to Tahoe or another snowy getaway for the upcoming school holiday.  The graphics are just too cute to pass up and this week they are doing a different deal everyday so you should check it out, today is was 20% off of all tops!

Enjoy!

xo mary

Wardrobe Wednesday

With the Valentine's Day just around the corner I thought it fitting to do a couple's Wardrobe Wednesday!

Whether it's an engagement shoot or just a great gift of professional portraiture this look screams sweet & sensual.  Two adjectives that go hand and hand with the day of love.  The looks works great even just for date night, coming in under $50 for the whole look!  Thanks ModCloth :) 

Men's look from J.Crew.

Enjoy!

xo mary

Wardrobe Wednesday

This is a great shabby chic look that doubles as both fashionable and cozy in case the wind starts blowing.  If the wind isn't crazy you pull off that cowl neck sweater and incorporate it as a prop in your shoot.  This would be a great look for a mod Senior Session.

These looks and more can be picked up at the Gap & Old Navy.  Where are your favorite booties from?

Enjoy

xo mary

Wardrobe Wednesday in the New Year

Here's to 2015 being the year where Wardrobe Wednesday stays consistent!  This is my promise to you all to hold myself accountable for making sure this blog post makes it up, ahem, that's right I said EVERY week! We've all got our resolutions, right? What is yours?

Although the Blog has been pretty silent through the Holidays that is changing now, get ready everybody!

Back to the important things here, who loves the pink pops in this weeks What to Wear - you know I do!  It's great how the pink is really used as an accent color and to help things pop in this more blue dominated family look.  Place a live family in these duds at Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto and you've got a home run shoot for sure.

Enjoy

xo mary

Wardrobe Wednesday

This grey, yellow & denim combo is a wonderful mix of bright & comfortable!  Squeeze this look in before the chill of Fall takes over :)

Check out these looks and more at Old Navy, Gap & Piperlime.

Call or e-mail Mary @ Mary Bea Photography today to book your holiday family photo session before it's too late!

Wardrobe Wednesday

Looking towards Fall in this week's Wardrobe Wednesday...or California weather anytime of year, ha.  The key here is layers, while it serves the great purpose of keeping you warm it also adds dimensionality to your photos as well as changing up your looks by incorporating the layers for some  of the photos and leaving them by the way-side in others.  These looks and so many more can be found this week at The Gap...psst 30% right now too!

The Fall schedule is filling up fast for family sessions so be sure to book yours before it's too late!

Wardrobe Wednesday

Here at Mary Bea Photography we've been receiving a lot of inquiries lately from ladies looking for head shots!  Making this week's Wardrobe Wednesday choice an easy one.  We are focusing on you lovely ladies.  

This look is the perfect mix vintage chic, animal print and best of all fun!  I love the play on animal print here, making it green - using sunglasses as an accessory can also be really fun and playful.  Also, that necklace is only $38 and the dress only $16, I may need to go shopping!

For these looks at so many more visit Bloomingdales (necklace), Ann Taylor (shoes), Oasap (leopard dress) and ASOS (sunglasses).

If you're looking for an updated head shot call or e-mail Mary Bea today!

Wardrobe Wednesday

So, last week I was lucky enough to get to spend tons of time with my youngest niece & nephew!  In addition to splashing around in the water and spending an entire day at the zoo, we did what girls do best, we went shopping :)

To say that my niece (the youngest and only girl in a family with three older bro's) is a true girly girl is an understatement!  We walked into the Crew Cuts outlet and she was off.  The complaints of being tired and hot went out the window, in came her sweet little voice saying, 'Is this mine Mary?', 'Can I have this?'.  A born shopper apparently...

Together we picked out the adorable blue t-shirt dress pictured above (comfy and yet oh-so sophisticated) - with that great statement necklace built in I am thinking it might be the perfect dress for her to wear to our Rehearsal Dinner in the Fall!  For the record she wore the dress straight out of the dressing room!

My nephew had his eye on something too...do you think you can spot which item it was?  Leave your answer in the comments below!

Wardrobe Wednesday

This week's Wardrobe Wednesday is about a splash of color!  It's a great mix of pattern & punch.  Keep the majority in a monochrome palette and let your little one stand out.

Summer is a wonderful time to do your family photos while everyone is home before school revs up again in the Fall.  If you are interested in doing a family photo session, look no further!  

Contact Mary Bea Photography today.

You can find these great looks and so many more at Old Navy & Gap right now.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Wardrobe Wednesday

How chic is this look?  It would work great for a senior session!

Pair white jeans with shades of tan/pink top it off with a jean shirt and some sweet accessories, you will be the star of any photo session!

Get these looks & more from Levi, Madewell and Neiman Marcus.

Do you know a sweet senior looking for a shoot?  Contact us here.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Happy Wardrobe Wednesady everybody!  This week we are totally blues & greens.  Two things that I love about this look are 1) boat shoes!  Obviously, I just think they are great casual but put together look.  2)  The dress for Mom, the royal blue would be flattering on nearly every skin tone and the style is forgiving and form fitting all at once!

Thanks to I Adore Your Style for this weeks outfit inspiration.

You can find these looks and more at Old Navy and Shop Ruche.

Don't forgot to visit my site before Father's Day on 6/15 to receive a FREE desktop photo frame with ever package purchase!

Wardrobe Wednesday

Do you have a pro photo session coming up?  Be it head shots or family what have you.  This look is deliciously Spring.  Maybe you don't have a photo session in the near future but are just looking for a fresh new Spring look!  As many of you know, pink is my #1, it doesn't even matter the shade I JUST LOVE it!!  So this look to me, is perfectly feminine & Spring.  The shoes add such a great accent splash of color to tie it all together.  

Are you yourself a pink hater or a pink lover?  Would this look work for you, why or why not?

Head over to ShopRouche to get this look & so much more.  If you are looking for beautiful Spring photos jump over to my site, NOW! Just kidding...kinda :)

Father & Son | Mountain View, CA

I had so much fun running around with this Father & Son pair last week at Shoreline Park.  Such a fun memory to have with Father's Day now just around the corner!

What is your favorite Father's Day memory?  Let me know by commenting below!

Have you picked out that perfect gift for the special Dad in your life?  It's not too late to give him the timeless gift of capturing your little one's smiles!  Call or e-mail me for more info.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Loving these Spring looks for family.  Casual yet coordinated, which is my favorite kind of style!  I can't say it enough but patterns are NOT your enemy when it comes to photos, that is unless they are everywhere!  Mixing some solids in with a few patterns within a coordinating color scheme really brings a look to life!  These looks at more an be found at Old Navy & Shop Rouche.  Thanks to I Adore Your Style for this latest style inspiration!

Have you booked your Spring family portrait yet?  These beautiful blooms will be gone before you know it!

Two Great Causes

Raffle ticket, anyone?

This past weekend I had the true honor & pleasure of photographing and attending two wonderful events.  The first was The Main Event, Samaritan House's annual gala benefit.  This was my second year volunteering with Samaritan House, an amazing organization that supports San Mateo County, and photographing The Main Event.  Each year it gets better and better and it was a beautiful night of great people giving to a wonderful cause.  To top it off it was their 40th Anniversary!

Dessert Dash Table

Founder John Kelley & Staff Member.

U.S. Rep Jackie Speier bestowing honors upon Samaritan House & Board President

Following this great event, was yet another great event down in Los Gatos where I had the privilege of photographing an event with Khen Rinpoche, Founder of the Siddartha School.  He travels the world teaching and sharing his wisdom with the world.  He gave a talk on attachment, shared his humor with us and guided a beautiful meditation.  Here are some shots from this once in a lifetime event.

                

               

Wardrobe Wednesday

I have a little boy shoot coming up this weekend, so I thought this was the perfect subject for this week's Wardrobe Wednesday!

How to dress your young boy for a photo session?  Hats are always a fun edition to a shoot.  Guaranteed they will not be on their heads the WHOLE time but they do work as a fun prop, whether they are being thrown in the air or used for hide & seek!  The color scheme for this outfit is also just so fun & bright for the amazing summer like weather we are having right now!

Thanks to I Adore Your Style for the inspiration & all parts of this adorable outfit can be found at Old Navy.