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Tag Archives: newborn photography

I can’t believe it is the last Day of April!  This little man is already a month old so I better share him quickly before he gets any bigger.  He has already changed so much and I love seeing his daily happenings on Facebook and Instagram!

I was so honored to help photograph this sweet boy.  His Mom is the very talented wedding photographer, Liana Lehman Hall.  I can remember holding my own newborns and at a week old I could already see the changes and growth in them (especially their heads!).  It is cliche now but it really does go so fast.  The same thing must have happened to Liana as she put the call out to her Atlanta Newborn Photographer friends to come [quickly] and help her out.  Even when you are a photographer it is often easier to hand over newborns to get the best images.  When you are Mom they smell you and don’t want to sleep as well.  I went with my friends, Alice, Elizabeth and Jenny to capture Atticus and he couldn’t have helped us out any better than he did.  I had planned on being more of a prop and position-er but did manage to catch several pictures of him with mostly my 100 mm lens (and usually one handed!).

I loved the colors in the above hat and had to take it off the orange dinosaur in the nursery for Atticus to wear.  He was a good sport and didn’t mind at all!

~ Behind the Scenes look at us during Atticus’ newborn photo shoot.  Thanks to Jenny and Alice for the photos. ~

Don’t you love the name Atticus?

“When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don’t make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion faster than adults, and evasion simply muddles ’em.”

– spoken by Atticus Finch, by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

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posted in: Baby,Musings,Photographer's Tips

I am a member of the National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP) and last summer I had the opportunity at one of their workshops to learn about newborn posing techniques from Kelly Ryden and her sister, Tracy Raver.  This is one of the pictures I took of a cute little newborn model.  These ladies really did have a special way with newborns and the biggest key of that was the patience to wait and being thoughtful enough to keep the babies safe and secure.

I love the natural look of a baby curled up sleeping.  I also love lifestyle images of babies in their mother’s arms.  If you are shopping for a newborn photographer or if you are a photographer please keep in mind that a lot of the newborn pictures online of babies hanging in mesh from sticks, or high up on things are composite images completed in Photoshop.  Please do not ever hang a newborn from something where they could potentially fall or have an accident.   Also, please do not ever put a baby in a glass jar (I have seen this recently online).  Have you ever had a glass coming out of your dishwasher suddenly break in your hands for no reason?  It is just not worth it and looks unnatural as well as uncomfortable (in my opinion).   That was me on my soapbox for just a moment because I don’t ever want a new baby hurt for the sake of a picture or to get the latest and greatest picture.

I will show a set up for a composite image I mentioned before for those interested.  These are my pictures straight out of the camera (cropped but unedited).  This was to be one of the hanging baby pictures and you will note the firm grip on the baby at all times.  Obviously, there needs to be more than just the photographer to hold and support the newborn.  I would not try this unless you have been well trained and have an assistant at your session.  I prefer the basket image on the far right the most anyway!  🙂

While I may have the attention of new or expecting Mommies, I want to share the What to Expect website with you.  The book has long been considered the American Bible of Pregnancy and now their website provides even more info.  Try the Baby Growth Tracker.  I always loved knowing the progress my baby was making during pregnancy.  It got me through some of those hard days of being sick when I could keep my focus on what the greater purpose was!

posted in: Baby,Photographer's Tips

Another newborn session share from my Marietta studio to make you smile.  This sweet little one was so handsome and by the looks of his parents you can see why.  I just love his little lips!

Below is a view of a black distressed Organic Bloom frame that his Mom chose to frame one of the black and white images from our session.  Most of the families I meet say they will probably move in the next couple of years so this black or any neutral frame is great to have because it will look wonderful anywhere.  It is very classic.  These frames also come with an optional glaze and a gold or silver glaze would really dress it up.  I have a black frame with a silver glaze on the way that I can’t wait to share.  It will frame a white invitation and is going to look great.

When you have an ordering session with me, it is my goal to make it very easy for you to get framed images on your wall.  I know it can be overwhelming especially if you think you might move in the near future or just don’t know what to do.  I have a lot of experience walking people through this process and in the end they have beautiful wall art they can enjoy every day.  In the last 3 weeks I JUST framed my own newborn image of my NOW 4 year old.  Her sweet baby picture is just now framed and hanging on the wall!  I don’t want any other new mom to have to wait as long as I did and in hindsight I wish I had walked away with a framed image ready to hang.  At least it is up now – it is never too late!

posted in: Baby,Products

I fell in love with newborn baby, Jordan, and I think he might have fallen in love with me.  Or, he was very interested in me at the very least.  This was the first newborn session I have had that for 3 hours the little one didn’t want to go to sleep.  He didn’t cry or fuss but he just stared at me and at times I thought he might talk to me.  He seemed more like a one month old baby than a little over a week like he was.  I think he must be very advanced for his age!  He was a sweetie and I enjoyed all the extra time I got to hold him and we still got many sweet pictures of him while he was little.

Look at the stunning morning light at my Marietta studio!  I love having the variety of shots and settings with such perfect light all in one place.

posted in: Baby,Studio

I  was fortunate enough to photograph Sweet Baby Lyon soon after he was born.  I love him.  His Mommy, Alice Park, is a friend that is also an Atlanta photographer so several us let her sit back one morning and photograph her new baby.  You can check out Alice’s blog and follow Project Lyon and see how big this little guy is getting.  I think this is a fabulous idea any new mother can do with her newborn.  The moments go fast so keep that camera on hand at all times!

It will be hard to duplicate the beauty and sense of humor of Alice’s post but it gives me inspiration to document more little moments with my own children, in particular my youngest.  I have volumes of thick albums detailing every moment and activity of my boys’ young lives.  I have not one entry written in Kate’s baby book.  I started my business around the time I had her so life, work and 3 kids got away from me fast.  This wasn’t meant to be a confessional but at least we can always start where we are.  It is never too late.

In case you were wondering…Little Lyon did not have a big roar.  He was so sweet and easy.  I don’t think he ever even cried.  🙂

posted in: Baby,Studio

Welcome to Miss Elizabeth’s Nursery.  I always love to see a baby’s nursery.  They always have such sweet precious baby things to oohh and ahh over.  Elizabeth was no exception and is lucky enough to have a wide assortment of new, old and handmade things that made her room all the more special.  Whether it is blue or pink and sometimes purple I have fun in these rooms thinking of how perfectly prepared they are in great anticipation of Mom & Dad’s new arrival.  It is such a short time that the clothes are so little and before the baby grows to throw toys all over the room.  All of it makes me smile.

I traveled to Augusta to be with little Elizabeth.  She was a little older than the typical 2 weeks but was still a perfect angel and slept a good bit for me.  That is especially important to note since I forgot my room heater!  I had a great time hanging out with her family and can not wait to see this little one grow up.  It will be bittersweet to see her nursery grow with her and turn in to a toddler room and then on to a little girl room.

Photographer’s Tip:  Take a picture of your nursery if you are getting ready for a baby to come.  Take a before and an after picture.   Your baby will not know what his or her room looked like before they came along if you do not.  I have pictures of my husband painting my nursery (3 times!) so all my kids will know that there were special preparations made just for them.  Take a close up of special little things in the room as well as the whole room before baby comes and diapers explode all over the place!  I also took pictures of gifts that were given to me when my children were born – it is so easy to do in the digital age.  I could go on and on but you get the idea.  I love the idea of sharing with children how excited you were about their arrival and what life was like way back when.  🙂

posted in: Baby,Photographer's Tips

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