• 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}

Newborn Amelia / Orange County, CA Newborn Photography

I love working with this family! I first met them when I did big brother Nathan’s newborn photos 15 months ago. Then we did a holiday season back in November, with baby Amelia still in mommy’s tummy. And now, here she is, just as perfect as could be! I just adore her name, and she was such a sweetie during her session. And can you tell her mommy requested we use a lot of purple in her photos. : )
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Baby Jace / Orange County Newborn Photographer

I had the honor of photographing little Jace’s mom and dad at their maternity session and they were so great! I was so excited to work with them again and meet their new bundle. Jace was the sweetest little guy during his session. He was such a good poser and sleeper and had the most perfect newborn skin. I just love how his gallery turned out. Check out some of his shots below. 2015-02-25_0006.jpg

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June Bug / Orange County Cake Smash Photographer

June was such a little sweatheart during her one year cake smash! But I need to back up and give you the story of how this session came to be. I received an email via my website from a woman who lives in Alberta, Canada. She wanted to purchase a gift card for a friend who lived in the same city as me and surprise her with the photo session. Come to find out she and June’s mom met in an online birth group when they were both pregnant but they have yet to meet in person. I mean…how awesome of a friend is that?! I love this story and I loved getting to meet June and her mama last week. And even cooler is that both mama’s will be meeting in person for the first time next month!

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Baby Cowgirl! /Orange County, CA Child Photographer

I’m on a roll with blogging! Whoop whoop! Meet little Miss Cadelyn, the cutest 6 month old baby girl. I was honored to take her mommy’s maternity pictures and then her newborn pictures a couple months later. And here she is now full of personality and LOTS of energy. Little girl was the sweetest mover and shaker. I just love working with 6 month olds. Definitely one of my favorite ages to photograph. And Cadelyn definitely gave me some baby fever. I am so lucky I have a job that let’s me play with babies!

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Courtney Jo Gallegos - January 20, 2015 - 4:30 am

Blessed Beyond Words by Our Sweet Girl CADELYN DRU!!! Melissa we can not thank you enough for capturing these moments and helping us to freeze them in time… We Truly Admire Your Talents and Adore You!!! ❤❤❤

Melissa Stewardson - January 20, 2015 - 5:16 am

You are too sweet Courtney Jo Gallegos! You sure know how to make a girl feel good!

Miss Ava / Orange County, CA Child Photographer

Meet Ava, aka Rock star photography subject! Her mom wanted some photos of her for a New Year’s card and this is what is happened. Pose after pose, shot after shot, she just nailed it. I absolutely LOVED working with her and her mom and could have photographed her for hours. This is the type of session I dream about I couldn’t have asked for more to start my 2015! 2015-01-08_0004.jpg

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Adoption of baby Julia / Orange County, CA Newborn Photographer

A little over a year ago my good friend Nina and her husband, Mark decided they wanted to add to their family and adopt a baby. How awesome is that?! They already had two biological boys, Dominic who is 11 and Ethan who is 8 but felt they had room in their hearts for one more child.

So, in October of 2013 they started the long process and were officially approved to adopt in 2014. Just a few weeks ago, they got the exciting call that a baby girl was safely surrended and ready to be adopted. Off they went to the hospital and graciously took baby Julia home with them. What an incredibly selfless and loving gift the Morton family has given to this sweet baby!

As soon as I read the news, I knew immediately that I wanted to gift them a newborn session. Baby Julia was the perfect model for her session. I don’t think she opened her eyes the entire time and she never even pooped or peed on anyone or any prop. That is a personal record for me!

Oh and you should know the Morton’s are a big baseball family, so check out the baseball we added in to a couple shots.

XO,
Melissa

 

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Nina Morton - December 30, 2014 - 1:42 am

I can’t get enough of the beautiful pictures! Thank you! Also, thank you for the kind words!

Barbara Rodusky Parchan - December 30, 2014 - 2:46 am

Such precious pictures. She is adorable

Ellen O'Connor - December 30, 2014 - 4:27 am

Such a beautiful baby and story!

Ellen O'Connor - December 30, 2014 - 4:28 am

Fabulous pictures!

Kelli Hester Campbell - December 30, 2014 - 5:39 pm

So beautiful. Julia couldn’t have found a better family. God bless!!!

Kanye Lordring - January 27, 2015 - 8:09 am

do you need a baby for adoption?? if yes contact child support in New York USA now for a good and straight adoption, i get my baby adopted there in their organization, is safe and guarantee. their E-mail is, adopt@collector.org

Uthus Maternity Session / Orange County, CA Maternity Photographer

Being pregnant for the first time is such a fun and exciting time in a couple’s life! But I don’t think I am alone when I say I couldn’t appreciate it while I was living it! I was tired, nervous, feeling huge, nesting, etc. and I am so sad that I didn’t have any professional maternity pictures taken. I am very happy that Kaitlin and Mark decided to get their pictures done, and I am honored that they chose me to take them. And look at the results…such a beautiful couple! And, I cannot wait to take pictures of their baby when he/she arrives in February!
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Scheduling for 2015

I have been blessed to be completely booked for 2014 for a few months. But now my 2015 schedule is starting to book up quite fast, especially for newborns. The best time to book is during your second trimester! And don’t forget I offer a special discount if you book a maternity session too.

 

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