A Former Movie Ranch in the Foothills of Los Angeles
Corriganville Regional Park, located in Simi Valley, was once a bustling film and television location known as Corriganville Movie Ranch. The ranch was owned by stuntman and actor Ray "Crash" Corrigan, and between the 1930s and 1960s, it served as the backdrop for hundreds of Western films, serials, and TV shows. Productions like The Lone Ranger and Fort Apache were filmed here, thanks to its varied landscape of rock formations, open plains, and wooded areas that could mimic different regions of the American West for filming.
Today, Corriganville is a peaceful park that maintains small remnants of its Hollywood past. Visitors can still explore trails where old movie sets once stood and see natural features that made it a perfect filming location. It offers scenic views, hiking paths, and a quiet, rustic charm, which makes it an ideal backdrop for maternity and family photography with its natural beauty and historical allure. Many of my clients don't know about the history of the park, so it's always fun telling them when I bring them there for maternity and engagement photography! I've run into film crews, cosplayers, and plenty of family photographers while in the park for good reason.
Complimentary Client Wardrobe
For this maternity session, Danielle wore one of the dresses from my client wardrobe, which I offer to all expecting mothers for their shoots. My client wardrobe is small but curated with a variety of beautiful, timeless dresses which fit sizes 2-16, ensuring every mother feels confident and comfortable during her maternity photo session. This service takes the stress out of outfit planning and gives mothers access to high-quality, flattering pieces that photograph beautifully. For this session at Corriganville Regional Park, the natural beauty of the setting was perfectly complemented by the pink boho dress Danielle chose, accenting her femininity and hinting at her baby girl to come.
When to Schedule Maternity Photos?
The ideal time to schedule maternity photos is typically between 28 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. This window is when most baby bumps are beautifully round and prominent, yet mothers still feel relatively comfortable. At this stage, there’s a lovely balance where the pregnancy is visibly advanced, but before the discomfort that can come later in the third trimester. Every woman is different, so it’s important to consider personal comfort and how the pregnancy is progressing as well as any complications that could make delivery sooner than 40 weeks. For some, an earlier session might be preferable, while others may prefer waiting a bit longer. Ultimately the timing listed allows for the most flattering and memorable maternity portraits, highlighting the excitement of the pregnancy without too much discomfort! As a seasoned maternity photographer and mother of two myself, I love working with fellow mothers to capture the beauty of the maternity season. With or without a partner, maternity photos are underrated, and can only be taken during such a short window of life. Although it may feel daunting during an already stressful time, I think it's so important to make time to commemorate how amazing your body is!
Maternity Photos + Film Photography
Although Danielle's maternity session in Simi Valley was photographed on digital mediums only, I have since changed my business to include film photography in all of my weddings, engagement sessions, family sessions, and maternity photography. I've photographed several maternity sessions now with my hybrid approach of digital and film, and you can see some more examples of that here in another blog post.
