Some sessions stay with me longer than others, and this one is a perfect example of why I love what I do at Aika Cardin Photography Studio. I had the joy of photographing this Danville family not once, but twice — first during mom’s pregnancy, and then again seven months later, once baby Aiden had arrived and 6-year-old Annabelle had officially become a big sister. I orginally met Annabelle from Ballet Recital Photo Day for Tutu School, San Ramon, she looked so adorable in recital Tutu outfits!
A Park That Means Something
When mom reached out to plan her maternity session, she had one request: she wanted the photos taken at Sycamore Valley Park in Danville. It wasn’t a random choice — it’s the park their family visits all the time, where Annabelle has grown up playing, and where so many of their everyday family memories already live. It only made sense that this next chapter would be captured there too.
So when it came time to plan the family session a few months later, the decision was easy: same park, same family, new addition. There’s something really special about photographing a family in a place that already holds meaning for them, rather than a generic backdrop. It makes the images feel like their story, not just a photoshoot.
The Maternity Session
During the maternity session, it was just mom, dad, and Annabelle — soon to be a family of four. We spent the session capturing the anticipation of that in-between stage: the belly, the excitement, and Annabelle’s role as the big-sister-to-be. She was already talking about the baby, already practicing being gentle, already so ready for her new role.
Fast Forward Seven Months
Coming back to the same park with their baby at 7 months old — one of my favorite ages to photograph — was such a full-circle moment. Seven-month-olds are alert, curious, often sitting up on their own, and full of personality without quite being mobile enough to make the session chaotic. It’s a sweet window before crawling and chasing take over.
Annabelle, now a full-fledged big sister, was a natural in front of the camera with baby Aiden. Watching her go from “soon to be a big sister” in the maternity photos to confidently holding and playing with him at Sycamore Valley Park was exactly the kind of transformation I hope to capture in a family’s story.
Why I Recommend Booking Maternity and Family Baby Sessions Together
Sessions like this one are exactly why I encourage growing families to book their maternity and newborn/family sessions together rather than deciding on the family session later. A few reasons:
- You capture the full arc of the milestone — not just the baby’s arrival, but the anticipation beforehand and the adjustment afterward.
- Locking in both sessions early means you don’t have to think about scheduling again once the baby comes, when life (understandably) gets a lot busier.
- Consistency matters — using the same location, like this family did with Sycamore Valley Park, creates a visual thread between the two sessions that makes the “before and after” even more meaningful.
- Older siblings get their own arc too — Annabelle’s transformation from big-sister-to-be to big sister is its own story worth documenting, not just the baby’s.
If you’re expecting and thinking about photography, my honest recommendation is to plan both sessions at once. It doesn’t have to be the same location if that’s not meaningful to you — but if you have a place your family already loves, like this Danville family did, it’s worth considering.
Maternity & Family Photographer Serving the East Bay, South Bay & San Francisco Peninsula
Aika Cardin Photography is based in Walnut Creek and serves families throughout the East Bay, South Bay, and San Francisco Peninsula, including:
- Walnut Creek
- Alamo
- Danville
- San Ramon
- Dublin
- Fremont
- Palo Alto
- Stanford
- San Jose
- Menlo Park
Whether your family has a favorite local park like this Danville family did, or you’re looking for location recommendations in your area, I’d love to help you plan a maternity or family session that feels personal to you — wherever in the East Bay or South Bay you call home.
Interested in a Maternity & Family Session in Danville or the Surrounding Bay Area?
I’d love to help document your family’s own version of this story — from belly to family of four (or more!). Get in touch to plan your maternity and family sessions together, at a location that means something to you.