Meet Baby Hazel Love Chavez

There is something so special about welcoming a brand-new baby into the studio, and it was such a joy meeting Hazel Love Chavez and her family. Born on July 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., Hazel weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 20 inches long. She was an absolute sweetheart and slept beautifully throughout her newborn session, allowing us to create a wonderful variety of portraits for her family.

When Victoria filled out her newborn questionnaire, she shared that she loved flowers, soft girly colors, and a timeless studio session. Beyond that, she trusted me to design everything, giving me the creative freedom to create a collection of setups that felt elegant, feminine, and uniquely Hazel.

One of my favorite parts of the morning wasn't just photographing Hazel—it was watching Victoria's excitement as each new setup came together. While my assistant and I prepared each scene, Victoria happily helped change Hazel into her next outfit, and every time she saw a completed setup, her face would light up. Her enthusiasm made the entire session feel relaxed, fun, and incredibly rewarding. Meanwhile, Dad, Steven, took the older kids out for a fun morning together, giving Mom the opportunity to simply enjoy the newborn experience and soak in every sweet moment.

Storyboard featuring highlights from Hazel Love Chavez's newborn photography session in Shawn Spencer Photography's Elk Grove home studio.

Shades of Purple

Hazel's gallery began with rich purple tones accented by soft lavender textures and delicate florals. The color palette beautifully highlighted her full head of dark hair and peaceful little expressions, creating a timeless first chapter to her newborn story.

Nestled comfortably on a soft lavender flokati, Hazel slept peacefully while surrounded by floral accents and a tiny teddy bear. Simple changes throughout the setup created several unique portraits while keeping everything beautifully coordinated. Every image captured another tiny detail—from her sweet little fingers to her relaxed expressions—that her family will cherish for years to come.

Watching Victoria's excitement after seeing this first completed setup made it clear we were off to a wonderful start. Her smile said everything.

Baby Hazel Love Chavez wrapped in deep purple on a lavender flokati with floral accents and a teddy bear during her newborn session in Elk Grove.

Soft Yellow and Spring Florals

The next setup introduced soft yellow tones paired with natural wood textures and delicate white flowers. It added a fresh, cheerful look to Hazel's gallery while still maintaining the timeless feel Victoria had envisioned.

Curled peacefully inside a woven bucket, Hazel looked completely content through every little adjustment. Small changes, like switching between a sleepy cap and a floral headband, created even more variety without ever disturbing her. Those subtle details are often what make each image feel unique while keeping the overall setup beautifully cohesive.

One thing I love about newborn sessions is how the smallest changes can create an entirely different portrait. By thoughtfully layering accessories instead of changing the entire scene, families receive a wonderful variety of images without ever interrupting their baby's peaceful sleep.

Hazel Love Chavez sleeping in a woven bucket with a yellow wrap, floral headband, teddy bear, and white flowers during her Elk Grove newborn photography session.

Pretty in Pink

Every newborn gallery deserves a little sweetness, and this blush pink heart setup was the perfect way to celebrate baby Hazel.

Wrapped in soft pink and nestled inside a heart-shaped prop surrounded by beautiful flowers, Hazel looked absolutely precious. After capturing a collection of wrapped portraits, we transformed the scene by dressing her in the cutest pink bunny outfit while keeping the same heart backdrop. It created two completely different looks while maintaining the soft, feminine style that Victoria loved.

The bunny outfit added just the right amount of personality without taking away from what mattered most—Hazel herself. Her peaceful little expressions and tiny features remained the focus, creating portraits that felt both playful and timeless.

Baby Hazel Love Chavez photographed in a pink heart setup with floral accents before changing into an adorable pink bunny outfit during her Elk Grove newborn session.

Swinging Among the Flowers

One of the most whimsical moments of Hazel's session came with the floral swing setup. Surrounded by beautiful blue blossoms and dressed in a lovely teal dress with a matching bow, Hazel looked completely at peace as she gently rested on the swing.

The soft beige background allowed the teal tones to stand out beautifully while the flowers framed Hazel in a simple, elegant way. It created a completely different look from the earlier setups while still tying perfectly into the floral theme Victoria had envisioned for the session.

This quickly became one of those setups that made everyone in the room stop and smile. Seeing Victoria's excitement as Hazel peacefully slept among the flowers made it even more special.

Hazel Love Chavez sleeping peacefully in a floral swing while wearing a teal dress during her newborn photography session in Elk Grove.

Sweet Dreams and Classic Poses in Teal

After the swing, Hazel stayed in her beautiful teal dress for a collection of classic newborn portraits. While props can add personality to a gallery, some of my favorite images are often the simplest ones. Without elaborate accessories, the focus stays entirely on your baby's tiny features—the delicate eyelashes, button nose, sleepy lips, and little fingers that seem to change overnight.

Hazel looked absolutely precious as she peacefully slept through each pose, making it easy to capture those timeless portraits that never go out of style. These are often the images parents find themselves coming back to year after year because they simply celebrate their baby exactly as they were during those first precious days.

Every newborn session includes a balance of creative setups and simple portraits like these. Together, they create a gallery that feels complete while preserving all of the little details that pass by so quickly.

Classic newborn portraits of Hazel Love Chavez wearing a teal dress during her newborn photography session in Elk Grove.

Timeless Elegance

One of my favorite collections from Hazel's session featured a beautiful vintage bed layered with soft textures, delicate flowers, and an elegant ivory lace outfit. Everything about this setup felt calm, classic, and feminine while allowing Hazel to remain the true focus of every portrait.

She looked completely relaxed as she peacefully rested among the soft blankets, creating the kind of portraits that never go out of style. Rather than relying on elaborate props, the simplicity of the scene highlighted Hazel's beautiful features and created images that her family will treasure for generations.

Throughout the morning, Victoria's excitement never faded. Every time another setup came together, her smile grew even bigger, and it was so rewarding watching her envision these portraits hanging on the walls of their home long before she ever saw the finished gallery.

Baby Hazel Love Chavez wearing an ivory lace outfit while resting on a vintage bed with soft textures and floral accents during her Elk Grove newborn session.

Finishing with Lavender

We finished Hazel's newborn session by bringing the purple tones back into the gallery with one final floral-inspired setup. Wrapped in soft lavender and nestled inside a rustic wooden bowl surrounded by luxurious purple textures and delicate lavender flowers, Hazel looked just as peaceful as she had all morning.

This setup also allowed us to capture some of my favorite detail images from the session. With her tiny hands and little feet peeking out from the wrap, these portraits beautifully preserved all of those newborn features that parents always tell me disappear far too quickly.

It was the perfect ending to a gallery filled with soft colors, elegant florals, and timeless newborn portraits. More importantly, it was a wonderful morning spent celebrating a beautiful little girl and creating memories that I hope Hazel's family will treasure for many years to come.

Hazel Love Chavez wrapped in lavender inside a rustic wooden bowl with purple fur and lavender flowers during her newborn photography session in Elk Grove.

Welcome to the World, Hazel

Hazel, you were an absolute dream to photograph, and it was such a pleasure spending the morning with you and your wonderful family. From your peaceful little expressions to the way you slept through each beautiful setup, you made this session such a joy from beginning to end.

Victoria and Steven, thank you for trusting me to capture this incredibly special season in your lives. I loved seeing your excitement throughout the session, and I hope every time you look back at these portraits, you're reminded of just how tiny, peaceful, and deeply loved Hazel was during her very first days. Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl, and thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your family's story.

To see other newborn sessions

If you're expecting a little one of your own or simply love newborn photography, take a look at a few more newborn sessions from my Elk Grove studio below. Each session is thoughtfully designed around every family's style while always following a calm, baby-led approach to create timeless portraits you'll cherish for years to come.

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