This review is way beyond past overdue. And normally I'd be too busy (lazy) to post a review about…read morean overdue experience, but I must share how wonderful Moae Photography is.
Moae Photography took my son O's 1st Birthday photos last year. I wish I remembered his name (Moae's husband)....but it's a husband/wife team of really friendly, talented photographers. To be honest, I don't even recall how I found them in the first place. I blame momnesia. They both met us at Katie Wheeler Library in Irvine on a ridiculously hot day last September. O did not walk back then, so we had to hold that little sucker the entire shoot. And I'll be the first one to admit - my firstborn was/is not the calmest, gentlest, easiet baby. I think he cried 80% of the shoot. Mr. Moae was behind the camera that day. Moae was there to help out. Despite an uncooperative baby and weather, Mr. Moae was so x 100 friendly, patient, kind, and Moae tried anything and everything to make O smile (more like stop crying). They brought all the props necessary and albeit the library is tiny but they knew all the right places to go to for the best photos. Mr. Moae came to O's birthday party a few weeks after this outdoor shoot and he did an amzaing job there, too. I think he stayed longer than he was contracted to and I remember him being professional and friendly the entire time.
Now this is where the real review begins....
Since O's first birthday, I had a second baby. Don't get me wrong. Mr. Moae was really good. Our outdoor and party photos came out great. But recently, Moae herself took my second son G's 100 day photos. And I'm just being honest since this is an honest review, but I think she's better than her hubs. (Gawd, I hope I don't cause World War III in their household but being honest never hurt, right?) They are both unbelievably patient and friendly. But I think her photos are even better. So I truly think they (she) deserves a review now.
We didn't plan on doing 100 day photos for G. But with G completing our family - our bare walls deserved a photo or two of us. I didn't hesitate about which photographer I should contact. With a tight budget (a new house, another baby...we were getting robbed every month), I knew Moae Photography's prices were reasonable, if not the best bang for our buck.
I didn't know it was going to be Moae herself this time around until we showed up for the session. (And my choice to book them was soley based on her husband's work last year, so I'm not lying...he's really great too! **my guilty conscience..) Moae offered a complimentary outdoor shoot along with the studio session. Can I just say - their studio is just too cute! And the package was only for 40 photos but we recently received the file of all of the phtoos and she took waaay more! And the package was really for G, but it ended up being a family photo session, and I'm sure taking photos of four is much more difficult than taking photos of just one 3 month old. This day was stinkin' hot, too! And did I mention, my firstborn O, is not the most cooperative child? As if he needed to prove he's the same boy from last year's photo session, this day, he was just as uncooperative. Not crying this time around but running off, not wanting to sit for pictures, wanting to get into and touch anything and everything in sight. But somehow, Moae was able to capture the most amazing shots. Watching my rambunctious toddler made me tired. I kept wanting to call it a day, but she kept coming up with a different location, different poses, different shots. I coudln't believe how patient and professional she was. Her photos of O make him look like was an angel that day. God is fair, because my second son G, truly was an angel that day. Moae took the cutest photos of G and I couldn't be more grateful.
I would highly recommend Moae to anyone out there looking to do a baby/family photo shoot. Her prices are unbeatable. Her studio is to die for. She is so gentle and friendly with the little ones. Most importantly...her work is amazing! I know there are tons of photoraphy offers/specials that pop up on livingsocial / groupon / yelp, but I didn't want to fall for those deals only to get pressured to buy prints or get jipped on limited number of photos, time, and attention. There is none of that with Moae. Without a doubt, I will be contacting her again for G's 1st birthday early next year!