Sunday, October 23rd

It’s not too late to reserve your spot. We are only offering one day of sessions this year and have both morning sessions in Oakland and evening sessions in Martinez available.

To view location information, available times, and register for the morning sessions, click here:
To view location information, available times, and register for the evening sessions, click here:

To book a full session, please email meg@megsextonphotography.com

As an extra fun bonus, I’ll be giving away 1 FREE mini session to a lucky family. To win, simply share a link to this post on your Facebook wall or twitter feed (Be sure to link back to Meg Sexton Photography to qualify!), and come back to tell me where you posted. A winner will be randomly selected from the comments this Friday, Sept 23rd. Only one comment per person is eligible to win and the winner must be local and available Oct. 23rd to receive their prize. Good luck!

I was so excited to get a call from Melissa about her maternity photos. Not only did she sound truly sweet and charming, she started off by asking me if it would be ok to include her chickens in her photo shoot. I wouldn’t be lying if I told you that there was some fist pumping going on in the background. Chickens! Maternity photos! To me, that equals a recipe for some amazing photos. Now, imagine my surprise and delight when I showed up to find out that not only were there chickens, but Melissa and her husband had goats. And sheep! And more than a few vintage cars! I was a photographer in heaven. And all I could think of during my time with them was how lucky their little boy is going to be. Imagine growing up with that many animals! And how cool are you when you’re a 13 year old boy and your dad picks you up from school in his classic Cadillac?

Thank you Melissa for such a wonderful session. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you! And I can’t wait to meet you little guy!

Hello gorgeous!  Melissa, you make a STUNNING pregnant woman.

See!  Chickens! 

To book a maternity session with meg, please email meg@megsextonphotography.com

Stephanie, I had a blast wondering the hills with you and your little ones. I can’t wait to see you again later this year!

Adorable little Wente getting her model on.

One of my favorite images from Brody session. The last of the day and on a chair belonging to Stephanie’s Great Aunt. I love everything about it.

Thank you Stephanie and Brad for letting me capture little Brody. I had a ball.

To book a newborn session with Meg, please email meg@megsextonphotography.com.

Johnny, at 17 months, was an absolute riot.  This kid is obsessed with trains.  Obsessed.  If I had known in advance that this kid could be first in line at the Thomas the Train convention, I may have steered them towards a different location. But as luck would have it, we could hear the trains passing us from our Benicia destination. Every 10 minutes or so we’d stop shooting and let Johnny point and yell and just generally be excited at the passing train cars. I loved it!

I had so much fun with you guys. And I just know our boys would have a budding Bromance.

To book a family session with Meg, please email meg@megsextonphotography.com

Kori and Brian met at a party in college and from the details I’ve heard, they knew almost immediately that they were meant for each other.  And really, I’m not sure I’ve met a couple more perfect for each other.  From the jokes they told to the stories one would start and the other would finish, they just had a way about them.  They were game for anything and everything I asked them to do, and never complained when I stuck them waist deep in wet grass.  (I love it when clients trust me!)  We dodged rain, dark clouds and freezing wind, but I am so excited about what we got.  And Kori, you are simply stunning.  You make a gorgeous pregnant lady!
Thank you Kori and Brien for being game for anything and everything. I had a blast in our makeshift flower patch.

To book a maternity session with Meg, please contact meg@megsextonphotography.com

A little cliché?  Perhaps.  But when it comes to portrait photography, clothing plays a huge role in the success of the finished product.

Before we get going – let’s be clear what you’re clothing does NOT need to be:

1. Brand New
   I’m down with your favorite ripped jeans, retro band T’s, and worn converse shoes – as long as you know how to rock them in your own fabulous style.
2. Fancy-Schmancy and Uber-Expensive
   Unless it’s your thing (If it’s really your thing, then by all means baby, bring on the bling).   If you’re not normally a dress-up kind of person, don’t feel like you have to be one for your session.
3. Matching
   No need to focus on matching everything from the color of your fuchsia headbands to the stripes in your socks.  In fact, I beg of you, please, please don’t.  If you’re heart is set on everyone in white button downs and khaki pants, I’m probably not your girl.
4. Stressful
   No need to worry about each and every item, or fret about the suitability of each accessory.  This is supposed to be fun.   If you’re unsure – call me, and together, we’ll make sure you look fabulous.  I promise.

I want you to be happy, thrilled, over the moon about your images, and I know that this is much more likely if we take the time and work together to help you choose clothing that fits these few simple rules:

Feels Good.
During your shoot you could be sitting in a pile on the grass having a tickle battle, rolling down a hill with your fiancé, throwing your kiddos in the air or climbing a tree. Wear clothing that lets you do all that (and more) comfortably.

As for the kids? Well…uncomfortable kids have a tendency to look…uncomfortable, and are often cranky to boot. Happy kids make for happy pictures.

Bottom Line: Don’t choose outfits that make any of you feel constrained, stiff, itchy, scratchy, like you’re dressed up for Halloween, or that leave you with a nagging worry that a button might pop if you bend the wrong way. Trust me.

Looks Good.
This can be tricky, looking good is totally subjective – right? If you’re not a Carrie Bradshaw fashionista in real life, you might want to pull in some extra help from a straight-talking friend or your trusty photographer (that would be me) who knows about such things and has plans in place to help.

Sometimes last year’s of-the-moment dress has already become hopelessly untrendy. Sometimes the current fashions just don’t look or feel like you. Sometimes outfits that look good in the mirror might not be ideally suited for photography. If you’re really looking for extra help, I can put you in touch with some incredible folks who make people look good for a living.

Bottom Line: If you don’t feel fabulous-fierce-take-on-the-world gorgeous in your outfit, you’re not going to love, love, love the end result – and I’m all about you love, love, loving the end result.

Makes Sense.
Here’s where we pull it all together. It’s not just enough that everyone look good and feel good – you’ve gotta look and feel good together AND the outfits should fit with your location and the desired mood for your portraits.

Glup. That seems like a lot, doesn’t it? (quick – revisit #4 in the top list, and remember, don’t stress).

Before you even begin figuring out your wardrobe, we’ll have an in depth consultation to narrow down what you really want for your pictures, choose the perfect location and make sure you have an understanding about how that all comes together in the finished photograph.   I’m with you every step of the way.

Bottom Line: It’s easier than it seems.Think twice about having Emma in a lace prom dress if you can’t get Tommy out of his spider man cape and favorite Star Wars pajama top. If we’re going to be running around in a park, you’ll likely not decide to wear your starched Sunday best. Hate the way stripes and plaids look together but Dad has his favorite stripped polo ready to go? Best steer mom away from her beloved family tartan. Easy-Peasy. [unless Mom is really attached to that tartan, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it).

~~~

If you’re still not certain, and you can’t decide between the yellow wrap dress with your red heels or your dark skinny jeans and purple  belted shirt – I’ve got good news.  You don’t have to decide.   Bring lots of options.  Heck – throw your whole wardrobe into the back of the car.  When we get to the session we’ll wing it all with fabulous results.  Trust me.

Now take a deep breath.  Close your eyes.  Imagine how blow-everyone-away-fabulous-ready-for-America’s-Next-Top-Model  you’re all going to look in those pictures….

Can you see it yet?  I totally can.  OMG, you look INCREDIBLE!

I can’t wait for your session.

(used with permission from the amazing Phoenix photographer Jeanette LeBlanc)

Sheila contacted me a few months ago to set up a shoot when she was back in California for the Thanksgiving holiday.  (Can you tell I’m behind on my blogging!?)  She has a close family and they all wanted to take pictures.  It was a blast.  And, thanks to Sheila, I now have a lovely new location in Palo Alto.

Thank you all for braving the cold with me!

Isn’t she just a ham?  I’m CONVINCED this one is going places.  With a personality as big as hers, she’s bound to succeed!

Speaking of tardy sessions, I think Katie’s session was almost a month ago…

I had so much fun shooting this session. Seriously, it was a blast. Katie initially contacted me to shoot her family along with her brother and his family a few months ago. I just had a feeling that it would be fun. First of all, Katie is hilarious. Her sense of humor clearly shows through when she writes and I couldn’t wait to meet her. Let me just say, she didn’t disappoint! Secondly, we have very similar hair cuts. So, she gets extra points for being so cool and trendy. I just think there are some people you just click with. As an added bonus, I got to meet her family and their little boy W. He was a doll and pretty much the polar opposite of little S. I love watching the family dynamics at work.

Thank you both for dragging your families out to come and spend some time with me.  And I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get your session on the blog!

How hilarious are these pictures. S is a bulldog and she wasn’t going to take any little boys in her space! And while she may be trying to push W out of the frame, she does it with a smile. I still crack up thinking about it.  She’s nothing if not a ham!

My favorite part of the shoot, was that T brought her little girl out to Clayton to the very spot where she and her husband were married.  T’s face lit up when we got there. I love when my clients pick meaningful locations for the pictures.  I think the emotional attachment always shows through. 

Thank you T for spending the afternoon with me!

To book a session with Meg, please email meg@megsextonphotography.com