May 26, 2007:  I had the pleasure of meeting 8 day old Miss L on Thursday. She is such a little beauty! She was an excellent subject and cooperated the entire time for her session. May her sweet disposition last for the next 18 years!

May 26, 2007:  I just peeked at the Sentimental Silver website and found Christi’s latest creation - a personalized sterling silver key chain! Looks like the perfect gift for the dads!

May 23, 2005:  May has been a whirlwind month, but I have to admit I have had a TON of fun and have had the opportunity to meet some fantastic families and giggle with the greatest kids. I hate to just group a bunch of recent work together, but I am too excited not to share them! I have some more session from this month that are still in the editing phase, so be sure to check back before the end of the month for more showcases!

May 11, 2007: It’s hard not to love newborns. I will admit they are some of my favorite sessions to shoot. There is just something about a newborn that is irresitable and it’s fun to watch the parents just marvel at the life that they’ve created.

As you’ve noticed from the sneek peek I’ve posted over the past few weeks that I’ve had the priviledge to capture the first portraits for several new babies this spring. And, based on the numerous inquiries I have received and continue to receive daily, more and more babies are on the way this summer!

I thought I would share some notes about what makes a newborn session successful.

1. Earlier is better! - Some of the best newborn portraits are captured between the ages of 2-14 days old. Unfortunately, the first two weeks are the ones that go by in a flash! For this reason, I really encourage expectant parents to contact the studio ahead of time about a newborn session. I highly recommend the Maternity/Newborn package (the maternity session is discussed HERE) as a way to capture the entire pregnancy experience, but if you’d prefer to just do a newborn session, don’t hesitate to call before the little one arrives so we can put you on the schedule with a tentative date!

2. Loose is best! - On your way to your session, make sure that there are no tight fitting clothing, such as socks or elastic bands, on the baby. All newborns are stripped down to their birthday suits and these type of items leave red marks that take several minutes to fade.

3. Speaking of naked babies - I swear that the second you remove a diaper the baby likes to pee. It’s okay. They all do. All of the blankets and cloths I use for the newborn sessions are washable. When it happens, we get a good laugh, clean up the baby and continue on with the session!

4. FEED ME! - I am not sure what it is about newborn sessions, but most babies decide that they would just prefer to eat their way through the session. It’s not a problem to stop for a break so that junior can get a bite to eat. It’s usually when they have a full tummy that they will doze off for those adorable sleepy newborn pictures.

5. HOLD ME! - It’s amazing how quickly a newborn forms an attachment with you as his parents. They know the best place is in Mom or Dad’s arms and this can be where we capture the most emotional images. With this in mind, I recommend all parents come to the session ready to be photographed. I suggest jeans and a solid black shirt as the black will allow the baby to really stand out against the clothing.

6. Older Siblings - Newborn and sibling portraits can be some of the more difficult images to capture. Is it possible? Yes. Can I guarantee success? Unfortunately, no. Each newborn and each toddler is unique in their attitude towards each other. I have several ideas for trying to capture siblings together, but sometimes, no matter what we do, it just isn’t possible. I will happily attempt to take a portrait of your newborn and toddler together, but cannot guarantee the outcome.

Lastly,

7. Been There, Done That! - I am a mom to two kids - trust me when I say there isn’t anything your baby (or toddler!) can do that mine haven’t already done.   I love my job and always feel priviledged to be the photographer you choose to capture this special time.

May 10, 2007: I’ve had several inquiries from parents about the large bean bag-esque ball I use for my newborn sessions. Most babies LOVE the ball and doze right off in it and even little kids love to climb on top and snuggle in with a favorite blanket or stuffed animal.

The ball is a “Fuf Chair” (pronounced “Foof”) from www.onepurplefrog.com. The size I have is a large, though I would recommend a medium or small chair for general usage. Also, I suggest getting the removable cover for ease of washing.

May 5, 2007: This little guy (well, I guess if you consider 9lbs 12 oz little!) was just a little over 2 weeks old when he came for his portraits. So very alert for most of the session, but he finally settled in to the ball and dozed off.

May 1, 2007: Miss A brought in her Mommy, Grandma & Great-Grandma for a 4 Generation portrait. Warms my heart to do sessions like this.

Sometimes, a pacifier isn’t good enough. This little guy decided that the thumb tasted better during his session.

He also arrived with some rock star hair and set out to charm the camera with some fun faces!