{"id":20714,"date":"2026-08-24T22:37:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T22:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/photography.stephanieip.com\/journal\/?p=20714"},"modified":"2026-08-25T23:12:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T23:12:21","slug":"south-coast-botanic-garden-maternity-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photography.stephanieip.com\/journal\/south-coast-botanic-garden-maternity-photographer\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating wedding anniversary as they turn their page to parenthood \u2014 A Maternity Session at South Coast Botanic Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Planning<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Soon to be father, Henry, visited the LA Arboretum weeks before the session. It was their original location \u2014 beautiful grounds, accessible, a sensible choice for a maternity session in the summer. He walked around, took a look, and came back with a simple verdict: too hot and crowded.<\/p>

So we switched.<\/p>

South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes sits at a different elevation, on the cooler western side of the peninsula, with morning hours that let you move through the grounds before the day heats up. That\u2019s where we decided to have their Maternity session, this garden has every elements that matters to a photoshoot: the light, the temperature, the crowd level, the Butterfly Garden sections we wouldn\u2019t have found anywhere else.<\/p>

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How We Collaborated<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Henry and Adrienne are the kind of couple who prepare and collaborate, which I find lots of joy working with.<\/p>

We had a Pinterest board together. Not just a board Adrienne added a few pins, or one Henry glanced at and approved, they were collaborative and enthusiast about the kind of images they wanted. Henry went shopping for their outfits while Adrienne was working. He came back with what they\u2019d landed on. She tried them. Shared with me their findings, and we finalize on the outfits based on their likes and what works for the location and occasion.<\/p>

This kind of preparation is rarer than you\u2019d think, and it truly shows in the photographs.<\/p>

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