Mares Family, Wild Meadow
One thing that has thrown me for a loop is cold weather here in Texas. One day it’s 80 degrees and sunny, the next day is 50 degrees and chilly. Much like this day, where a random cold front came through and we thought we might get rain! Luckily for us the rain held off, but the cold remained. That didn’t stop us from getting perfectly moody, fall rustic photos! Love, love this location and love the diversity. The Mares family had overflowing love for each other and their new addition (who was probably the coldest he has ever been in his whole life!). Enjoy my faves from this session!
Condiff Family, Galveston Beach
One of my family traditions since moving to Texas in April was to explore all of the beaches in Galveston. The moment I laid eyes on this beach, I knew I had to do a session here. It was so cute, unique and classic beach town! When Kelsey told me she wanted her family pictures at Galveston island, I knew this spot was going to be the winner. I am SO GLAD we went here! I love the building structure, boardwalk, beachy areas and of course, the ocean. It makes for a great variety of images and is drop dead gorgeous during golden hour. I would highly recommend getting your pictures taken here if you are considering it! And, it’s beautiful year round! To find some insanely adorable and affordable little girl outfits on Amazon, click HERE
Affordable & Adorable
Family pictures. The thought of getting them done is instantly stress-inducing, isn’t it? Just trying to find outfits that will coordinate with each other, look good individually, and look good in all family relationship combinations is enough to make one go a little crazy. You might be the kind of mom that can throw together amazing looks from whatever is already in your family’s closets. Maybe one day I will be that kind of mom, but today I am not that kind of mom. I’m an Amazon Prime mom through and through.
Finding my outfit was the first thing I needed to get out of the way. I knew I wanted it to be a flowy dress with lots of movement and make me feel confident! Once I found THE dress, I could go off that and plan the rest of my family’s outfits.
My criteria was that I wanted a different look from past years pictures, I wanted a cool/warm color palette, and I didn’t want to be too match-y. Which made it a little harder, but overall I was very happy with how our outfits coordinated with each other.
Here are some tips that I kept in the back of my mind while finding outfits:
Add texture. Whether it’s lace, fur, leather, ruffles, corduroy, etc. texture always adds subtle interest without needing to introduce a pattern.
A general guideline is to mix warm and cool colors. This adds lots of depth and variety. Also adding in a few neutral outfits is easy because they already match everyone and your palette!
Dresses are always a good idea! They add softness, flow, and movement. Not to mention, little girls looove to twirl and spin when they are wearing dresses and it makes for fun images.
Choose an outfit with a pattern you love and pull colors from there. Mix with solids for more impact.
So, being the Amazon Prime mom that I am, I decided to look on there instead of usual go-to spots and found lots of affordable and soooo adorable outfits. Here is a look at what I chose!
PC: Kathryn Ann Photographie
Ivory Lace Dress
Rust Pinafore Toddler Dress 
Sage Baby Lace Romper
DIY Eyelashes 
Eyelashes: I’ve done my own lashes for years now! I love the fluffy, full, voluminous look and especially love the drama they add for pictures. These are my favorite! https://amzn.to/32Hd8P1
Other details not found on Amazon:
Ruffle Seafoam Maxi Dress (currently out of stock but I will update): https://www.vicicollection.com/
Men’s Italian Leather Belt (use code MBFRIENDS for 10% off) : http://missionbelt.com
Bows (I use a bow subscription so I already have many bows to choose from! Such a lifesaver): http://chicpipsqueak.refr.cc/malaet
While I was on the hunt for picture-worthy outfits for my girls, I found SO many options. I kept thinking to myself that I needed to save all the ones I found for later pictures. Soon my list got super full and I realized I probably needed to share these good finds with my clients. My girls range from seven years to one, so I have a good mix of outfits in that age range. I was looking for mostly fall-type clothing, but I found lots that can be used year round! Lots of these can be used for layering pieces as well. I hope you enjoy my finds! Click on the image to find the link!
Pssssst…..a little extra.
Outfits for Mom
My outfit was the hardest part! I was very picky and wanted lots of flow. My original Amazon pick was trumped by the dress I found on vicicollection.com because it came back into stock just in time, but Amazon had some treasures that I had to share!
And there it is! I hope this was useful for you (especially those with little girls!). I will be adding to this post AND posting another blog post with little boy outfits soon. I’ve got to do a lot of research for that one! ;) I’d love to hear if you use any of these in your family photos! Drop a comment or tag me if you do! xoxo
Phung Family, Conroe
I cannot get over the lighting we had for this session. It was the perfect moment when the setting sun hit the trees so perfectly and gave us ultra dreamy, sun soaked images. It was the icing on the cake for this adorable family session to celebrate their little boy turning two years old….
Cooper Family, Aspen Grove
While I was visiting Utah this summer I got the chance to visit one of my favorite places up Provo canyon and photograph lots of families there! It made my heart soooo happy to be back in the mountains and around ASPENS! They don’t exist where I’m at in Texas. We found a perfect pocket of light and had the best time. It’s so obvious how much this family adores each other in every single picture. And the check out the personality of those little ones!
Call Family, Conroe
Golden hour, mystical forest light, and a kind-hearted, beautiful little family makes for pretty gorgeous images. Since moving to Texas, this has been my number one requested spot. It’s easy to see why and I love it just as much. The carefully lined trees that perfectly filter light makes it beautiful almost anytime of the day. There are trails that make it easily accessible, or you can go off trail and adventure like we did to catch some serious golden glow and risk losing shoes. Which totally happened. But it was worth it, we decided. I love Madolyn and Austin’s love for each other and for their sweet baby girl Adelaide. I’ve said it before but some of my favorite sessions are the first session with a new child. The love abounds everywhere and those little babies are soooo fun to photograph. As always, I have a million favorites. So enjoy…xoxo
Edenfield Maternity, Lifestyle
When Christene told me she wanted a maternity session in her home I became super giddy! In home sessions are always a favorite. It allows for raw, real, and genuine moments in your own home and create beautiful memories in the place you spend the most time!
Tips for rocking a lifestyle session:
Pay attention to your outfits and how they will match against your home. Neutrals are usually a safe bet, however, if your home is pretty neutral, it would be fun to bring color in your outfit selections.
Use rooms with the best lighting. These areas are usually bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, nurseries. The quality of light can affect the look of your photos drastically. For this session, we had lots of natural light available but it was overcast outside. I moved my subjects close the windows and faced them towards the light.
Don’t use artificial lighting. I always turn overhead lights off so the varying color temperatures don’t mix with the clean natural light. Also it adds so much more dimension to you!
Like I said before, we took these in the morning on an overcast day so it gave us darker, moodier lighting - which I prefer! Experiment taking photos indoor in various lighting situations. Now enjoy this sweet, intimate maternity session!
Choi Family, The Woodlands
My goodness, I have had so many compliments from this session! Jenny’s classy, clean style paired perfectly with our forest location soaked in yummy golden light! I adore shooting families with a baby. It’s so fun to see new parents interact with their little magical creation. We made sure to get pictures of just the parents too — which is so important! It was the hardest thing to narrow down my favorites, but here are my very, very top!
Pearson Family, Downtown Springville
This classic, clean, and fresh session is one of my favorites. I thought that their outfits were so reflective of their personalities and were so perfect against the white brick building!
Summer Minis, Hobble Creek Canyon
This was my first time holding summer mini sessions and I loved it! Jolley’s ranch was the perfect location for dreamy light and rustic backdrops and all of my sweet families were so perfect.
Blossom Sessions
I have a feeling that mini blossom sessions will become a yearly tradition…
Remund Family, Downtown Springville
Springville is always a great location for pictures because it has great architecture downtown. My favorites are old buildings that are still kicking around. This building is probably my favorite! I love the white wash, rustic brick walls and unique windows. I like to call it my outdoor studio because you can get a neutral yet interesting backdrop. Speaking of favorites, this family is one of mine! I've known these two since high school and nothing beats watching their family grow year after year. Not to mention my oldest has a little crush on their oldest.... *millions of adorable wedding fantasies* and there isn't anything cuter than that! Ally always nails the styling of her family and I loved how beautiful the colors of their outfits popped against the white brick!
Gliattli Family, Holt Farm
I had never shot at Holt farm until this session and was pleasantly surprised! It's small, but has a large variety of buildings and areas for shooting. It was a great rustic location that had just the perfect amount of freshly fallen leaves. The Gliattli family was so much fun and had so much personality! I loved watching them interact with each other and see how fun their relationships are. We had great timing for this session because at the tail end of it, the farm became flooded with what seemed like a hundred local high school dance couples coming to get pictures done! It was an adventure for sure. Take a look at my very favorites!
Erickson Family, Hobble Creek Canyon
This family was a dream! Their children were so playful and the quiet setting sun behind them was a perfect picturesque addition. It felt like we were just capturing play time during the fall at the farm. I love Jolley's ranch this time of year - it's just magical. Here are some favorites!
Blossom Mini Sessions
It's that time again! Fall mini sessions were such a hit and I'm so excited for spring mini sessions. I know that many of you were interested in blossom minis this year, so here it is! *IMPORTANT NOTE: These should right around peak blossom time, but dates many need to change if needed to accommodate any earlier or later bloom times, and/or inclement weather. Any info will be sent out regarding any date adjustments.
These sessions are perfect for families, children, couples, individuals, mom and me, dad and me, best friends, roommates, you and your dog...you name it! (Extended families are not included, however.) If you want to book a time slot, you must contact me here or send me an email at malaetalleyphoto@gmail.com letting me know which time and date you want, and then as soon as the deposit is paid ($50) the spot is reserved for you! The remainder of the session balance will be due the day of your session. I am accepting mailed check or cash, Venmo or Paypal (3% fee) for these mini sessions! I will send out all information about your session as the date approaches.
The session price $150 + tax (160.13) includes 30 mins of shooting time and an online gallery of at least 40 edited images. You will get all the best images! The location will be in Utah county at an orchard in Provo. Here are the available time slots and will be updated as they are booked. Can't wait for spring and to get some gorgeous images with you!
*Updated dates and times
Friday, April 13th
5:00 // BOOKED
5:35 // BOOKED
6:10 // BOOKED
6:45 // BOOKED
7:20 // BOOKED
Saturday, April 14th
5:00 // BOOKED
5:35 // BOOKED
6:10 // BOOKED
6:45 // BOOKED
Friday, April 20th
5:00 // BOOKED
5:35 // BOOKED
6:10 // BOOKED
6:45 // BOOKED
7:20
Saturday, April 21st
5:00 // BOOKED
5:35 // BOOKED
6:10 // BOOKED
6:45 // BOOKED
7:20 // BOOKED
Draper Family, Little Sahara
Shooting here still feels like I'm on another planet sometimes. It's incredibly majestic and so far spread! It seems impossible to discover all of it. I try to go to different spots every time I shoot here so I can see more of it. This time was awesome and we found some super rad trees. Also, can we talk about how picture perfect the Draper family is? I wanted to post literally every image from this session. I loved the pops of orange to contrast with the neutral sand and green trees. One of the perks of shooting here is it is so carefree. It's less about pose-y images and more about let's-go-adventuring images. I think we got a good mix of both -- check them out!
Foote Family, Aspen Grove
I always look forward to working with this beautiful family. Their outfits are always to die for and the bond they have with one another is AMAZING to photograph. It is always such a treat to be with them. We decided on the beautiful location of Aspen Grove and it did not disappoint. The light was perfect, the colors were rich, and the 360 degrees of fall mountain scenery was breathtaking. Enjoy my favorites (believe me--it was TOUGH to narrow it down!!)
Parkin Family, Saltair
Anyone who is lucky enough to know this family knows how awesome they are. When all the details came together for this shoot, I knew it was going to be just as awesome. Their outfits were the perfect mix of urban and classic and I thought they looked AMAZING against the pretty overcast sky and neutral backdrop. It was windy and we thought for a long time it was going to rain on us, but we made it out without a drop! (Just a stolen purse, but we can talk about that later...). Josh really liked the idea of having a foreground in some pictures and so I brainstormed and used a clear plastic cup so shoot through for some shots. I thought it turned out pretty cool! I went overboard on my favorites, so here are a couple million....
Fall Mini Sessions, Aspen Grove
So excited to share these! Fall mini sessions were a huge hit this year. I had a great time meeting new clients, catching up with old friends, and longtime clients! The weather was crisp and the colors were bold. I'll be holding these again next year and can't wait! Enjoy these highlights xox
Williams Family, Squaw Peak
I love this family! We caught the peak of the fall colors this season and it was gorgeous! We shot at one of my favorite locations and I loved how the session turned out. Their two little girls were insanely adorable, as always, and everyone's outfits went perfectly with the scenery. Enjoy my favorites!
Smith Family, Hobble Creek Canyon
The best kind of sessions is when I get to work with family! These beautiful little girl made me an aunt for the first time. We did Angela's maternity pictures last year in the fall and I think it's fitting that a year later we are doing them again! We chose Jolley's Ranch because of it's rustic vibes, pretty scenery and yummy lighting. I loved how their outfits came together and loved trying to get little Lilia to give me some camera love! Here are some of my faves, enjoy. xoxo
Carter Family, Little Sahara
Little Sahara has always been magical to me. Once you get there, it's like you are in a completely different world. The rolling hills of sand and the sun glimmering through the trees and cotton candy pink sunsets...breathtaking. I am so glad I got to help create these pretty images for the Carter family (I should do a blog post of their session last year, too! One of my favorites).
Allred Family, Loch Lomond Pond
Hello blogging world! I am back, amidst the craziest season of them all! I'm so excited to blog this session. It was a session filled with happy people, yummy sunshine, and relaxing scenery...perfection! This family is a favorite of mine. We had a blast and indulged in all of the poses that the older kids wanted to do - a definite must, in my opinion! Scroll for some gorgeous images + fun :)
Emma Newborn, Lifestyle
It's the best to watch my clients grow into different life stages. My favorite is watching couples have babies because it always changes them! A new feeling of love is formed between them. A found love for their child they didn't know was possible. The way they marvel at the little human they created. There is nothing like it. I loved this lifestyle session of sweet baby Emma. She was born into the country lifestyle and her nursery was the cutest farm theme. Her mama put much thought into every single detail! Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!
