Ciara and Brett are having their first baby, and they had the whole thing planned: a babymoon up in Lake Tahoe, a maternity session with me out in Hope Valley, the works. And then, like life does, things shifted. Some unexpected complications meant Ciara’s doctor wanted her staying close to home and near a hospital, which meant Tahoe was off the table.

So we pivoted.

When plans change, we change with them

Here’s the thing about a maternity session: you’re on a timeline you don’t control. You can’t just push it out three weeks and hope for the best. And when something health-related comes up, the LAST thing you should be worrying about is whether your photographer is going to be weird about it or charge you for the inconvenience.

Ciara emailed me a bit panicked because she wanted to do the shoot, not lose out on her investment, and celebrate becoming a mom, but was equally stressed keeping things in good health for her baby. I first wanted to make sure she was ok and then we just talked through options.

We decided that we would change locations, be closer to a good hospital per her doctors recommendation and we made their session happen! I’d so much rather pivot and get you the photos than hold you to a plan that no longer works for your body or your peace of mind.

(And the happy ending: baby girl is here, everyone’s healthy, and I’m so excited for them!)

Golden light and California oaks: an Auburn maternity session DREAM

We ended up at Magnolia Ranch Trailhead just outside Auburn, and I’m not exaggerating when I say this place delivered!!

For the first look of the session, we drove about two minutes down the road to a spot by the river. Ciara wore a matching two-piece set, and the light coming through the California oaks was doing something ethereal — that glow took the whole pregnancy-glow thing to a level I wasn’t prepared for. Truly some of my favorite frames of the year.

Then we headed back to Magnolia for outfit two: an oversized white button-down, jeans, and that bump out. Simple, dreamy, and complimented the backdrop perfectly.

These two were the easiest, sweetest people to work with, and Ciara’s reaction when she got her gallery still lives in my head.

Planning your own Auburn maternity session? Read this first

A few real things to know if you’re thinking about this spot or this area (for maternity or otherwise):

It gets busy. We were there in April, which is peak spring mini season, and I’d say there were five to seven other photographer groups out there the same day. Now — the area is HUGE, so we were never on top of anyone and it never felt crowded in the photos. But if the idea of other people existing nearby stresses you out, this might not be your spot. Don’t worry though! I’ve got a couple more places up my sleeve.

The timing also matters if you want lush greenery in your photos. We really only get green from about March through April. After that the heat rolls in and everything dries out for the summer, as I’m sure my locals know haha. So if lush green grass is part of your vision, we need to plan for that window or pivot to another location in the Sierra.

Want to see more? You can browse more of my maternity sessions here.

The maternity sessions I offer:

I keep it flexible and this is what I’ve seen works best for most mamas:

One hour — perfect if you just want beautiful bump photos, one location, super lowkey.

Two hours — more time together and a second spot (like Ciara and Brett’s river + trailhead combo).

One hour maternity + newborn — because you’re going to want both, trust me. Those first weeks fly by and baby grows SO MUCH.

One hour maternity + baby’s first year — maternity, a one-hour newborn session, and then 20-minute minis at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. This one’s my favorite. You get the whole first year documented while baby grows — it’s crazy just how quickly your little baby turns into a tot.

And if you book a full session, you can add on a mini for your pregnancy announcement photos.

Dreaming of your own Auburn maternity session?

Whether you’re in Auburn, Sacramento, Tahoe, Reno, or somewhere nearby, I’d love to photograph this season for you. Life happens, plans change, and I’m here for all of it. Inquire and let’s document this season!