Beautiful: Inside & Out - San Diego Maternity Photographer Sneak Peak

This is one of my best friends Chrystal, who is expecting baby boy #2 any day now! I was so excited to do her maternity shoot, we actually did two! :P Hahaha. Our first attempt, Alaina spent hours doing Chrystal's hair & makeup, we fought ridiculous traffic all the way to our location, and just barely arrived the last moments of the "golden hour" for me to realize MY MEMORY CARD WAS STILL AT HOME AN HOUR AWAY. I wanted to strangle myself!!! We were in such a hurry getting her ready, leaving the kids with the boys at home, giving them directions on how & when to feed them, change them, play with them, and everything else that I totally forgot my dang memory card... So we went home and did some studio style shots, and decided to start over the next day. Alaina did her hair and makeup again the next morning (thanks Lane, we love you!) and we decided to do her shoot in broad mid-day light...which I am SO glad we ended up doing. Sunset pictures are stunning and all, but that high & bright sunshine just LIGHTS up that beautiful turquoise sea that La Jolla boasts. I've been dying to use my hand painted parasols (check out the asian one in Alaina & Kevin's shoot!) and this so happened to be the perfect opportunity to use my green one! :) Chrystal has been through a lot with this pregnancy: Placenta Previa which ended up disappearing (God is so good!), USMC stress, and the every day exhaustion of being a super mom to a 2 1/2 year old boy, with another on the way. Her husband just deployed to Afghanistan with a few hours notice a few days ago. No, I'm not kidding! At 36 weeks, she got a call that morning from her husband telling her to grab his gear out of his closet, he was being sent overseas in a few hours. Semper Gumby Marine Wives!!! Now that is a strong woman. Chrystal, you are so beautiful inside and out, and I can't think of anyone else who is deserving of TWO days of pampering and shoots all about YOU. I love you and can't wait to show you the rest of your photos. Enjoy your previews!