I’ve photographed hundreds of newborns, super sleepy and fussy, smiley and grumpy, 4 pound preemies and 10 pound chunky babies. I’ve seen them all. Every baby is different. I love the challenge of newborn photography and strive for perfection in every picture I create.

Newborns are my passion and my absolute favorite subject to capture. I love every single bit of what makes each newborn special – from peeling skin to tiny toes, from pouty lips with milk blisters to wispy hair and squishy newborn rolls.

My style is simple and classic. I love working with organic textures, wooden props and earthy tones. My goal is to focus on precise newborn posing to make sure that your baby looks relaxed and comfortable in the pictures.

I love it when my clients tell me they’ve been researching for the best San Diego newborn photographer for days and weeks, but kept coming back to my website. It warms my heart and encourages me to continue working hard at what I love to do!

When I am not shooting or editing you can find me swimming in the ocean, fishing, biking and hiking. I get my inspiration from nature!

Svetlana Aleynikova is an award-winning San Diego newborn photographer. She specializes in fine art San Diego newborn photography. She usually photographs newborn babies in her cozy home based studio conveniently located in the Torrey Highlands/Carmel Valley area. It’s an easy up to 30 minute drive from all over San Diego county including La Jolla, Poway, Rancho Penasquitos, Mira Mesa, Lakeside, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Vista, Miramar, Torrey Pines, University City, Kearny Mesa, National City, Black Mountain Ranch, Fairbanks Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, 4s Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee Lakes, Escondido, Encinitas, San Marcos, Oceanside, Fallbrook, Ramona, Temecula, Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Pacific Beach, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, Gaslamp quarter, East Village, Ocean Beach, Little Italy, Point Loma, Coronado, Normal Heights, North Park and South Park.

Outdoor newborn photo session San Diego | San Diego newborn photographers

We are lucky to be able to shoot in San Diego where we have warm weather and are able to shoot almost year round. Your newborn will always be wrapped or dressed in a warm stylized outfit. A heater and a pop-tent are also used to keep the baby warm and cozy.
Svetlana photographed weddings and engagements in San Diego for 15 years before switching to newborn photography. She has been able to scout out many pretty locations all throughout San Diego.
Outdoor sessions are always planned ahead of time at locations with easy access and a variety of spots for different setups and poses. It can be a neighborhood park, shaded trail, field or even beautiful patches of flowers near a parking lot. Keep in mind we don’t need a large space for outdoor newborn photography. A small tiny garden or patch of wildflowers can look huge compared to the size of a newborn baby. Each session is styled ahead of time with custom made props and outfits. This allows the pictures to always be unique and beautiful. Svetlana always works with an assistant for her studio and outdoor newborn sessions to ensure the baby’s safety. The assistant is always an arm length away and keeps an eye on the baby at all times. The safety of your children is her utmost priority and is very important. Newborn skin is very sensitive and is always kept in the shade to protect it. Svetlana uses a screen or a pop-up tent to keep your newborn out of direct sunlight. Parents are always encouraged to help with outdoor sessions. They can hold a reflector and help spot the baby. An extra helping hand or two are always welcome.
Outdoor newborn sessions can be scheduled in the morning or in the evening 2 hours before sunset, during the golden hour, which is the perfect time for the most beautiful soft lighting. A white noise machine, called the baby shusher, is provided to help soothe the baby. A vibrating pad is also used to keep the baby calm when they are fussy. Everything is provided for you on the day of the session. You don’t have to bring anything, just your baby, milk (breast or bottle), and a pacifier!
Although outdoor newborn photography sounds like an amazing opportunity to use the beautiful San Diego outdoors with endless background options, sometimes it can be tricky to keep the baby warm and comfortable. Therefore outdoor newborn sessions are limited to using long sleeve outfits, hats and wraps with a selection of a few props. Outdoor sessions are always dependent on the weather and what’s blooming in the area. As a result, each session is unique due to the location, time of day and preferred style. Outdoor sessions tend to be more vibrant, colorful and feature natural elements, greenery and flowers. If you prefer neutral colors such as white, cream and gray, you would need to go with a studio session where setups are designed to match your nursery and home decor. If you can not decide which session is best for you and want to have the best of both worlds, you can go with a combo package that comes with a 3 hour studio session and a 1 hour outdoor session. Svetlana recommends booking a studio session first and adding a mini outdoor newborn session for those parents who want to add variety to their newborn photo gallery.

Studio newborn photo session San Diego | Newborn Photography San Diego

If you are interested in booking a newborn session in San Diego and not sure if you want it to be done in the studio or outdoors, Svetlana offers both options. There is a huge collection of props available in the studio including various baskets, swings, little beds and hammocks. Svetlana carefully selected the best hand made newborn outfits, hats and delicate headbands. With a degree in engineering and design she loves to design her new props and outfits to make this San Diego newborn photography studio experience unique and unforgettable for her clients. They always comment on how amazing it was to watch her do her magic, safely posing their newborn babies in very cute and comfortable poses and using her numerous baby soothing techniques. Her prop collection is very unique, allowing to create one-of-a-kind San Diego newborn pictures.  

There is a comfortable sitting area in the studio where parents can feed their babies and even take a nap while Svetlana and her assistant work their magic photographing newborns. A regular newborn session is about 3 hours. It usually allows for plenty of time for posing, feeding, diaper changes and soothing the baby. Multiple babies and sessions with siblings or pets usually require more time. Clients can extend their session if needed. Svetlana encourages bringing grandparents to your San Diego newborn photo shoot whenever possible, as it allows to create priceless three or four generation pictures that become family heirlooms.

San Diego maternity pictures | San Diego Maternity Photographer

The best time to take maternity pictures is around 28-32 weeks when your belly is already showing but not too close to your due date.
Svetlana includes a consultation session to perfectly tailor the maternity session to you. Style, posing, wardrobe, and lighting will be discussed during the consultation with her. Svetlana believes that working closely with her clients and  allows her to truly bring their dreams into the real world. A Maternity Guide that provides more info on how to prepare for the session will be sent to you once you book your session. You will be able to choose from a wonderful collection of drapery, gowns, dresses, and robes for your session. Your stunning portraits will be enhanced by having your makeup and hair done by professionals and can be added to the package. The maternity session can be shot at a local scene such as a park or a beach; or in our San Diego studio.

The option of shooting in the studio allows you to relax during the session in the comfort of a private and air-conditioned environment. The safe and comfortable atmosphere in our studio is ideal for those who are intrigued by nude or semi-nude photos.

Up to two wardrobes are included in the one hour maternity session. Husbands and children are welcomed to participate in the session at no extra cost.

Finished Art Work | San Diego newborn photography

ABL Photography is a full service San Diego photography studio, specializing in fine art wall art, museum quality prints and albums, archival keepsake print boxes, wooden blocks, canvases and much more. Inquire about our custom hand painted portraits.

Why you need to hire a professional San Diego newborn baby photographer

When it comes to choosing a pediatrician for your new baby, you spend hours researching while pregnant. You want someone who has a lot of expertise, is kind, and knows how to deal with babies. You’re entrusting a piece of your heart to a stranger, and you want to be sure that your child will be secure and well cared for. This is equally as essential when it comes to newborn photographers!

This is what San Diego newborn photographers are for! Many of the poses we use during a newborn session are far more sophisticated than they appear, and hiring a professional newborn photographer is critical to ensuring your baby’s safety at all times. Having an assistant there guarantees that your kid is kept secure and comfortable throughout the treatment. In order to achieve those gorgeous pictures, professional photographers should have received instruction on how to keep your baby safe as well as taught many strategies to keep your baby calm and pleased.

Not to mention the fact that newborns are completely unpredictable. We have no idea when they will want to eat or when they will become fussy for no apparent reason. A professional photographer should have enough skill to switch gears fast and capture those stunning images in a way that pleases everyone.

This is one moment when you don’t want to cut corners on professional photography. There is a lot of moving factors involved in achieving that professional aesthetic. When it comes to cameras, lenses, and lighting, a professional photographer will use professional-grade equipment. With the appropriate lighting, you can get beautiful shadows and depth while also perfectly capturing your baby’s skin-tone. Knowing how to place studio lighting is half the fight.

We will also provide you access to hundreds of items that have been developed exclusively for San Diego newborn photography. Sometimes the cheaper props may not fit well and will look bad in photographs. Your professional San Diego newborn photographer will be able to style your newborn session in a way that is timeless and will provide you with timeless artwork for many years to come.

Finally, the correct editing software is critical for taking any shot from beautiful to absolutely perfect. As a full-service studio, we will guide you through the whole ordering process. There are many options for where to print your photographs, yet only professional photographers have access to photo labs that produce heirloom-quality pieces! We even have a tool that will show you how your photos will look to scale on YOUR walls! All we need is a smartphone photo of that great wall space you’ve been looking to fill.

It will be a flawless experience when dealing with a trained professional! We totally understand how exhausted you are after having a baby. The last thing you want to think about is how to dress your older children for photos or where to get unique items for a newborn session. When you enter the studio, there will be a comfortable couch for you to rest on (We’ve even had some parents fall asleep on it!). We will have all of the setups ready to go so you don’t have to wait for us to get anything ready! My assistant and I will look after the infant from start to end, so you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Not to mention that we take the time before the session to get to know you and your goal for the session. We’ll have set ups based on your style and preferences, as well as any colors you’d want to see used. This is the ideal time to coordinate that nursery or ensure that your family’s clothing matches the decor of your home. It’s critical to us that you have a stress-free experience from beginning to end, so it’s not just about producing the best final result, but also about enjoying the entire process.

Last but not least, your baby will only be a newborn for around 2-3 weeks. That’s all! There are no do-overs or makeup days. When newborns reach 3 weeks of age, they grow more aware, their bellies fill out, and they begin to change. It’s usually a good idea to schedule your newborn session as soon as possible since we prefer to have our clients come in within that brief 2-3 week window. Not to mention that this will be your first family portrait. As you look back at these photos, you won’t be thinking about how exhausted you look or if you should’ve gotten your nails done… you’ll be remembering that newborn smell, the curled toes, and the flaky skin. These are Family Portraits that you will cherish for the rest of your life.