Shy Heart Studios

Shy Heart Studios We are a boutique photography studio specializing in Weddings, Family, & Branding sessions in SoCal.

05/26/2026

Meet some the Moms who participated in our portrait series over the last year!

I am over joyed to celebrate these women on Thursday at our 2026 Stories of Motherhood Gala, along with all of the Mom’s attending. It’s going to be a night to remember 🥹

❤️

05/12/2026

If you don’t already follow - you should. Her motherhood content is precious. And full disclosure, she is exactly as lovely and sweet as she looks.

Emily came into the studio to do our Stories of Motherhood promo with her precious daughters. I had never met her before… but I get to witness a lot as a photographer. I see and hear things people don’t even realize. It’s a big reason I am so deeply trusted by my clients… I see them. I hear them. Even when they don’t realize it… and then I capture their truth.

Emily’s truth was easy. It was pouring out of her and her girls. She was gentle, playful, elegant, and loving in every possible way with her girls.

And the girls… absolutely madly in love with their darling Mama.

The way they interacted together was truly from the heart. Even when her little one was bouncing off the walls (as all 5 year olds do!), Emily’s redirection was so loving and sweet.

I feel so privileged to get to witness motherhood the way I do. I learn a lot from my clients, and capturing their genuine connections in a way that is authentic to them is my greatest joy.

Our Stories of Motherhood Gala is in just over 2 weeks and I can’t believe it.

If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, please go to the link in our bio! With the Gala this year we are fundraising for . It’s going to be a beautiful night with a beautiful cause.

Thank you to and for dressing Emily!

❤️ casao

05/07/2026

I am LOVING the Mothers Day trend I’m seeing where people are posting the raw, unfiltered version of motherhood.

Why!? Because this is exactly the point of Stories of Motherhood!!! It’s to normalize every aspect and ditch the preconceived notions or “highlight reel” of what Motherhood has historically been viewed as.

It’s about building community around the truth and realness of motherhood in all of its beauty, glory, pain, suffering, transformation, growth, trials and triumphs!

So I’m just really pumped that I’m not the only one trying to do this. We need to change the narrative, speak our truth, share our stories, and sit in community with one another. Because that’s what motherhood needs to be - community. Common loves, common struggles, common challenges and common celebration with others who get it and who see you for every part of you.

Welcome to Stories of Motherhood. Join us in celebrating it all on May 28th, and help us raise funds for CASA Orange County simply by attending.

This Gala is for everyone who loves a Mother, who is a mother, who isn’t a mother, who wants to support the efforts of CASA…literally… everyone.

Happy Mothers Day. I see you and I love you. ♥️

Happy 9th wedding anniversary to my love!I thought I knew what I was doing marrying this guy. I thought I knew the man h...
05/06/2026

Happy 9th wedding anniversary to my love!

I thought I knew what I was doing marrying this guy. I thought I knew the man he was and the man he would grow into…

…. Lucky for me, I was right. I chose wisely. I chose a true partner in this life and I am blessed beyond measure that he, too, chose me. ♥️

Fun fact: I wore this dress for our engagement session 10 years ago. He wore the exact same suit as well. I decided to put the dress on again for some photos for my 40th birthday. I hadn’t worn it once since our engagement… swipe to see how we wore these out fits 10 years ago 🥹

Thinking I can finally get rid of this dress… or maybe I’ll put it on again for my 50th? What do you think!? 😅

05/05/2026

I’m obsessed with this Stories of Motherhood session.

I get asked a lot about the look I want for these sessions and my answer is always, “it’s not about me. It’s about YOU. This is YOUR story.”

Catherine has spent most of her adult life supporting her husbands ambitions and career goals. She has been happy to, of course! But now she’s entering a new phase. Her kids are going to school and Catherine is finding her passion again in ceramics. She’s building her own business where she can share her passion by teaching others.

So we spent time in her garage photographing her in her element and with her family.

This has been one of my most unique Stories of Motherhood sessions and it was extra special for me because I’ve known Catherine since we were 8 years old! We went to grade school together but then to different high schools and then she left the country for a while. She met her husband in Korea, then they moved to Ireland and now they’re back. We haven’t seen each other in 25+ years… but we stayed connected. She has followed my career and reached out to me to step into this experience. What an honor it was for me to get that message.

Cannot wait to celebrate with you at the Gala, Cat!

My greatest accomplishment in this life, is creating these two little beings. It’s true what they say… it’s hard work. I...
05/04/2026

My greatest accomplishment in this life, is creating these two little beings.

It’s true what they say… it’s hard work. I don’t know if I’m doing it right, but I do know that I’m doing my best… and my best is always going to be good enough.

Here are 5 things I do with and for my girls that I know is helping shape their core belief systems:

1. Every day on the way to school we speak affirmations out loud. Whatever we are feeling. If they aren’t in the mood, I lead the way… if they are in the mood, I let them lead it.

2. I kiss them goodbye every time I leave the house or their presence. Even if they’re tucked sweetly in bed asleep. I don’t care if it wakes them. This is something my Dad always did even though he left before we woke. He always wanted us to know that if something happened to him, the last thing he did, was kiss us goodbye. It wasn’t yelling at us for misbehaving, or telling us to go to bed… no matter what, we knew he kissed us and told us he loved us before he left every single day. I want my girls to know that I did the same.

3. They go to sleep in their own beds every night, but they always make it into mine at some point usually in the wee hours of the morning. I wrap my arms around them and tuck them in next to me. I will always be their safe space.

4. We have dance parties. In the living room. In their bedroom before bed. In the car with the windows rolled down. In public when a good song comes on. I want them to always feel free to express themselves, and know that being silly and having fun always lightens our load and can often bring smiles to others who need it too.

5. When I feel they are in need of some special 1:1 time… we play hooky. Just 1:1 me and whichever daughter is currently feeling the extra need. My mom did this for all of us growing up. It wasn’t often, because she worked full time… but when we got our special day with mom we felt like a million bucks. It was her special way of slowing down with us one at a time, and showing us how deeply loved we were. This was one of favorite childhood memories, and I know it means the world to my babies too.

This is going to be a night for the books for sure. and I are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event o...
04/28/2026

This is going to be a night for the books for sure. and I are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event one you do not want to miss. If you attended last year… you’re in for some surprises this year! If you didn’t come last year, just you wait. Let’s show up for

Get your tickets asap. Link in bio.

Xo.

❤️

It’s true. Owning a business is not for the faint of heart. Some days I wonder how much longer I can hang… Some days I f...
04/28/2026

It’s true. Owning a business is not for the faint of heart.

Some days I wonder how much longer I can hang… Some days I fantasize about having a regular salary I can always count on… Some days I cry… Some days I crack a bottle of champagne and celebrate.

Once in a while (not often enough), I step back and look at all I’ve accomplished and all the things I’m doing all of the time and I think about what it would be like to whisper into the ear of little me… and tell her what’s ahead. I think she’d be in awe of who she’s become because this story wasn’t written in the stars. I had no idea I’d ever own my own company. Even when I was getting my degree in photography I didn’t imagine for one second that I’d be the boss one day.

The truth is, I wasn’t always on THIS path. It took some poor decisions, some big time bullies, and a lot of grit to push me into this. But I’m grateful for every single step because today… I don’t just own my own company. I get to show women what I see in them. I get to reflect back to them, the power house mothers and business owners THEY are. I get to help transform their perception of what they do and help them see the magic in it all. To literally see themselves in a way they never have before.

Because it’s so easy for us all to brush what we do and what we accomplish under the rug. We are often the last ones to celebrate ourselves. Myself included. Yet, I get the privilege of making sure the women who come into MY world - literally see all they do and all they are magnified, and honored and glorified… the way I see them.

So today, I reflected back on my own journey and what I’d say to ME, and how I’d feel as a little girl, a young woman, hearing it all and my reaction was …. “Hot, damn, girl. That’s powerful. Keep going. Especially when it’s hard, because what you’re doing it’s important.”

Address

Anaheim, CA
92780

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16572218882

Website

https://connect.shyheartstudios.com/gala

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