• Welcome to Melissa Stewardson Photography!

    Celebrity photographer as featured on People.com

    Awarded as one of the best newborn photographers in Orange County, by Expertise in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022!

    Melissa Stewardson Photography, located in Orange County, CA and established in 2012 specializes in custom portraits of maternity, newborns, children and families. Experiencing a photo session with me should be fun and relaxing. I know what you're thinking...did she say fun and relaxing?! Am I crazy?! I don't think so. My goal for each session is to shoot photos that look natural and highlight the personalities and vibrancy of the people in them. While, I will shoot some traditional poses, I feel some of the best photos come during candid play or general foolishness! Time flies by so fast so let me capture your family memories today! I can't wait to get to know you and show you what I see through my lens!

    {Melissa Stewardson Photography is fully insured}

4.15.15

Sanders Twins Cake Smash // Orange County, CA child photographer

Watching these little peanuts grow from tiny newborns, to playful almost one year olds has been a real privilege! I may have done a tiny happy dance when their mom told me she wanted to do a cake smash session. What is more fun then watching babies dig into their first cake…getting to see two of them do it at the same time! Before the cake came out we did have a chance to get some beautiful, playful shots of the two of them together, by themselves and even a couple with mom and dad! Thanks for a great afternoon Jim and Robyn!

2015-04-15_0029.jpg
2015-04-15_0026.jpg
2015-04-15_0022.jpg
2015-04-15_0023.jpg
2015-04-15_0025.jpg
2015-04-15_0024.jpg
2015-04-15_0028.jpg
2015-04-15_0027.jpg
2015-04-15_0030.jpg
2015-04-15_0031.jpg
2015-04-15_0032.jpg
2015-04-15_0033.jpg

Filed in:Families | Kiddos
Karen Platner - April 17, 2015 - 4:13 am

beautiful….as usual. But then again, I may be a little prejudice 🙂

4.15.15

Beautiful Alana // Brea, CA Newborn Photographer

One of my favorite parts of newborn sessions are meeting first time parents at the studio. The love and care they show for their newbie is unlike anything else I see at my job! Robyn and Danny were such a joy to work with. And can we just talk about baby Alana’s AMAZING hair!!! She was such a gorgeous newborn! Just an amazing session. Thanks Hernandez family! XO

2015-04-15_0016.jpg
2015-04-15_0012.jpg
2015-04-15_0013.jpg
2015-04-15_0014.jpg
2015-04-15_0015.jpg
2015-04-15_0017.jpg
2015-04-15_0020.jpg
2015-04-15_0018.jpg
2015-04-15_0019.jpg
2015-04-15_0021.jpg

Filed in:Newborns
Robyn Hernandez - April 15, 2015 - 10:46 pm

Thank you Melissa!! We are so in love with Alana and you’ve captured her perfectly!

Melissa Stewardson - April 16, 2015 - 2:11 am

She is such a beauty, just like her mom!

4.15.15

Andrew // Orange County, CA Newborn Photographer

It is pretty special to do a newborn session after you have met the parents during their maternity photos. I was really looking forward to meeting baby Andrew for the first time. And he didn’t disappoint! He wa THE best poser! So curly and calm throughout! And check out that tool box. Daddy wanted some pictures taken with Andrew inside since he works with tools. I think it turned out pretty cute.

2015-04-15_0001.jpg
2015-04-15_0003.jpg
2015-04-15_0002.jpg
2015-04-15_0004.jpg
2015-04-15_0006.jpg
2015-04-15_0005.jpg
2015-04-15_0009.jpg
2015-04-15_0007.jpg
2015-04-15_0008.jpg
2015-04-15_0010.jpg
2015-04-15_0011.jpg

Filed in:Newborns
4.9.15

Jayden / Brea, CA Cake Smash Photographer

Cake smashes are always guranteed to put a smile on my face. I love working with one-year olds and then add in a cake….YAHTZEE! I love how each baby is different in they way they react to the cake. Jayden was such a little model in front of the camera. Although he didn’t much care for eating the cake, he was a little ham and had smiles galore! I think we wrapped this entire session in 20 minutes…world record!

2015-04-09_0056.jpg
2015-04-09_0055.jpg
2015-04-09_0057.jpg
2015-04-09_0059.jpg
2015-04-09_0058.jpg

Filed in:Kiddos
4.9.15

Rivera Extended Family // Orange County, CA Extended Family Photographer

This session has been months in the making! I received an inquiry from Crystal just before Christmas last year about getting a gift certificate for her parents 40th wedding anniversary! Her and her siblings wanted to go in on the gift and surprise their mom and dad with it. Isn’t that sweet? Such a great gift idea. Months later we scheduled the session for March and here we are. Four familes consisting of 15 people is a lot to organize, but this family was so accomodating and fun that it made my job fairly easy. I love working with extended families and have my work flow down to a “T” these days. Thanks Rivera families for such a great sunset session!

2015-04-09_0022.jpg
2015-04-09_0014.jpg
2015-04-09_0015.jpg
2015-04-09_0016.jpg
2015-04-09_0018.jpg
2015-04-09_0017.jpg
2015-04-09_0021.jpg
2015-04-09_0019.jpg
2015-04-09_0020.jpg

Filed in:Families | Uncategorized
3.30.15

Bailey Boo turns two!/ Orange County, CA child photographer

It is always a treat when I get to photograph members of my family. And I have been lucky enough to document my niece Bailey since she was a newborn (one of my first in a make shift studio). I just adore how these pictures illustrate her beauty, sass, sweetness and girly personality! Auntie loves you Bailey Boo!!
2015-03-30_0006.jpg
2015-03-30_0003.jpg
2015-03-30_0001.jpg
2015-03-30_0004.jpg
2015-03-30_0005.jpg

Filed in:Kiddos
Amanda Brown - April 1, 2015 - 12:09 am

You always magically get the best photos even when it seems like she won’t stop moving for one second and the shoot is a disaster. Love these!

Melissa Stewardson - April 1, 2015 - 10:59 pm

Ahhh, thanks for the nice note!
F a c e b o o k
I N F O
I n s t a g r a m