Pixel Dreams Blog | Andre Toro Photography

My kids don't behave. My kid never stays in a place for a second. My kids give fake and forced smiles when I asked them to smile. I better wait until my kids are older to book a family session. It's a lost cause, my kids are just wild. I hear these comments ALL the time and I smile. Kids are kids and that's what life with toddlers and preschoolers is all about. That unpredictability and candidness are what steal my heart. Today, I'll share some tips for a stress-free family photo session with toddlers and preschoolers. For me, that's THE best age for family photos ❤️

I've been wanting to write an update for SO long and I kept forgetting. Today is THE DAY to share my update! Why? because I feel SO healthy today... and I owe it to Dr. Chun  and to my family who supported me and made this possible. My husband was my absolute rock, my twin my co-researcher and cheerleader, and my mom my unconditional nurse. 

Styling is the most common concern moms have when they think about family photos. Life is busy already, we're running on a tight schedule, so thinking about HOW to take the time to assemble clothes can be VERY discouring to the point that you might skip the photos altogether. Fear no more, I hope today's blog lifts your spirit! When you hire a professional photographer like ATP, you get the whole deal, a white-glove experience! What does this mean? we do the work for you. We style your family. Yep, you heard it correctly ❤️. Keep reading and get excited!

I'm so happy you're here! You've booked your Autumn family photos, you're looking forward to memories surrounded by breathtaking foliage colors and golden grass yet you're in panic mode. WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR?? Fear no more, I'll help you navigate the options and even point you to my favorite shops. 

I enjoyed so much writing this TOP countdown blog in 2020, that I decided to start a tradition!  Starting in 2020, every year, I'll share my favorite Beach Family Photos! The beach owns my heart and soul. I grew up going to the beach every weekend, for me the ocean breeze, the warm sand, and the splashing waves take me back to my most cherished childhood memories! I can't wait to share my beach journey with you as the years go by. Here goes year 2 of this tradition! Hope you enjoy it 😀

Estimated Reading Time: 7 min

TLDR | 99.99% of my work shows epic destinations and Mother Nature's most iconic sunsets. Outdoors is gorgeous and where my soul and passion live! Yet, nothing beats the emotive and nostalgic feeling of having memories with your favorite people under the roof where your journey happens. Your home will enhance the authenticity of your family memories!

4 reasons to LOVE the in-home experience: 1) the weather is not a factor, rain or sunshine, we're a go! 2) you can wear your favorite outfit year-round! 3) It's the safest place for kids to be themselves, it's also a safe place for grandparents. 4) All we need is a window light, every home is THE home for family memories!

This question came up on my Instagram Q&A chat earlier this week! It's a great question that both photographers and clients ask all the time. From fellow photographers "how do you shoot on overcast days??", from clients "what happens if there is no epic sunset the day of our session? do we need to reschedule? is it a lost cause? should I be worried or sad?" Today I'll answer all your questions and explain why I ABSOLUTELY LOVE overcast sunsets for my sessions!

Congrats on your baby! the sweetest and most fulfilling journey is about to begin. Documenting your baby's first year is so special. There will never be a time in your kid's life when months change him/her so drastically. Within a year you'll go from having a little one whom you can fit in your arms, to a sitter, crawler, and maybe walker. They grow up so fast in the first 12 months! Today, I'll share with you my 3 favorite stages to photograph babies. Can you guess what my all time favorite baby stage is? 

That's such a great question. We get sunlight for many hours in a day yet Professional photographers are obsessed with a specific window of time that takes place twice a day, it's called the Golden Hour! During that time the light is precious, soft, and flattering. Today, I'll share with you my passion for the GOLDEN HOUR, the BLUE HOUR, and what would be a good plan B if you can't make the prime time work. Let's get started!

I get this question all the time and I LOVE it, setting the right expectations it's so important to enjoy the family pictures experience to its maximum! Life is all about expectations, right? Today I'll walk you through everything you need to know about outdoors family sessions with kids, the ins and outs of it! Enjoy

If you had to name the one thing most important in your life, Family would probably be at the top. Family is everything. Families come in all shapes and forms and what's constant across all families is the LOVE for each other. We give our lives for our family, we adore them with every inch of our hearts. Embracing and celebrating family is at the core of Family Photography. Today I'll share with you my top 4 reasons why Family Photography is important :)

You love summer, your family loves the beach, and you are craving memories by the water. You've see photos at the beach and you're dreaming to have your own! Love it!! Beach Sessions are epic, the experience is just unforgettable. Beach Photos Sessions are my personal favorite, I found my calling with my feet in the sand and the Mother Nature putting on a show with her sky exploding with color! Today I'll give you 3 tips that will help you navigate your options and pick THE best family photographer for your beach family photos!

Thinking about outfits for your family photos can be overwhelming, so many options. Today I'll help you solve the styling puzzle with 19 helpful tips that work regardless of the season and location. Before we get started, I wanted to give you peace of mind, I promise that 1 outfit is all you need. Changing can kill the kids' mood and it goes downhill from there. The gallery variety will come from the moments captured. If your kids are happy and engaged, magic will happen!

You are craving memories with your family and you want to be ready for session day. I hear you! Hiring a professional photographer is an investment, you want to make sure everything goes smoothly. This will help you enjoy your photo session AND have memories that melt your heart as decades go by. Here are some tips to take the anxiety off and prep you to rock your outdoor family photos. Let's get started!

Wow! this has been probably one of my favorite blogs to write. Beach Sessions are my absolute favorite, I found my true calling with my feet in the sand capturing LOVE during breathtaking sunsets. It was so lovely to walk through memory lane while picking my personal favorite family photos. It was SO hard to pick these, the blog was initially named Top 10 but I couldn't choose just 10, so I changed the name to Top 13! haha why not?. For fun, I made it a countdown, so scroll all the way down to see my Top #1! Let's get started! 

I made it a yearly tradition! if you're curious to see what photos made it to the Top 2021 beach countdown, check this blog!