Tag Archive for: newborn

Touching Newborn Photos: Baby Lucas

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One of the most satisfying parts about being a portrait photographer is getting to see how families grow. And I was so very excited to get an email from Janelle during her third trimester, inquiring about booking a maternity and newborn session. I was honored to photograph their engagement session while I was still shooting weddings and remembered how much fun we had working together. And little Lucas is no different. He slept most of the session and while we found out that he didn’t like being on the large bean bag, he loved being held in his parents arms, and that’s where the magic happens.

Sweetly Sleeping
 When I arrived at their home just east of Pittsburgh, Lucas had a belly full of milk and was nodding off to sleep, so we started with him in this cozy sweater suit and tucked him into bed.

newborn sleeping

baby feet

Two Weeks and Younger
This session is a great example of why it’s best to schedule newborn sessions within the baby’s first two weeks. Luke was just 8 days old and still in that dreamy state where he can pretty much sleep through anything. At this stage, newborns are less likely to be fussy because their little bodies are still adapting to life outside the womb. So Luke was pretty easy-going. Of course he cried a little here and there, but that’s to be expected. And we found out that he really did not enjoy laying on the large bean bag I use for individual shots. Most babies enjoy sinking in to the soft blankets on the bean bag, but each baby is unique so I’m always on the lookout to find a way to make each baby comfortable. So for the images that are all about Luke, we responded by including his parents in the shots in a way that he felt comforted, but was still the main focus of the image. Here’s a great example of one of those shots. And I kind of love seeing the soft outlines of Janelle and Andre looking over their little bundle.

sound-asleep-newborn

I love seeing the baby and mama’s faces in close proximity. And in this shot, it almost looks like Luke is smiling at Janelle.

mama and baby

Capturing the Wonderful Bond Between Parents and Their Baby
You can usually tell when a baby breastfeeds by how they respond in their mama’s arms. And I think that’s really neat, because in this next shot, you get the feel that he’s nursing even though he’s not and there’s no need to blush. I know from my own experience that it can be embarrassing when your baby does this (especially when you’re out in public) but it’s completely natural and I love it when it happens in front of the camera because breastfeeding can be such a wonderful bonding experience and in my opinion, newborn sessions are all about capturing the wonderful bond between parents and their baby.

new family

First Family Portraits
These last two shots are straight-up family portraits that we shot in their living room. Studio lights were added for this one.

newborn family portrait

And I went with natural light for this one. They’re equally great ways to show off this sweet little family, but there’s something about this natural light portrait that I love. It feels more spontaneous and that’s one of the aspects of lifestyle photography that really sticks with me.

baby's first family portrait

If you like this approach to newborn photography and are expecting a little one, you might want to click here to find out more about what it’s like to work with me.

Lifestyle Newborn Session: Baby Zayn

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Now that I have a little one of my own, my response to a friend or a loved one who’s having a baby is extra spirited. I can finally relate on a personal level, and I’m thrilled to find out about someone else’s joy and all of the fun things ahead as they expect their little one. So when my friend Annie told me she was pregnant with baby Zayn, I did a happy dance, or two, or three. Sometimes I just can’t contain myself and this was one of those times.

Bright-eyed Baby
Here’s one of my favorite shots from their on-location session at their home in Wexford, Pa. Look at those eyes! I’d just love to know what he’s thinking!

baby close-up

First Family Portraits
The baby’s first family portraits is one of my favorite parts of the session. Because that’s where you get to see the love. Sometimes the portraits are formal with everyone looking at the camera and sometimes they’re informal with a focus on relationships and emotions.

lifestyle newborn session

Mixing Natural and Studio Lighting
In my previous post, I mentioned the need for adding lighting to already existing natural light as a family portrait gets larger. Here’s a great example of just that. We started with natural light and I overexposed so that there is adequate light on their faces.

natural light family portrait

This was a cloudy afternoon in December and the sun was setting fast. So it was time to start mixing in some studio lighting, especially since we added in Annie’s parents and I’d need to increase the depth of field to make sure that everyone is in focus. So here’s a shot with some mixed lighting. I still wanted to keep the feel of this shot light and airy, so I made the most of the light coming in from the window and added some studio light to illuminate their faces. This might be too much info if you’re not interested in photography, but I think it’s worth mentioning because my clients sometimes ask why I use extra light in some shots but not in others.

family portrait with mixed lighting

The Lifestyle Approach: Keeping It Natural
Here are a few more natural light images since I’m partial to lifestyle photography and keeping things natural.

babe in arms

baby toes

Are you pregnant or adopting and looking for a newborn photographer? If so, please check out this post with an overview of custom newborn photography.

In-Home Newborn Portraits: Baby Tyler

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Boy is this little babe a cutie! I am just getting caught up on some blogging from last year when I had the pleasure of photographing baby Tyler and his first family portrait. This on-location session took place in Cranberry, Pa., in the family’s living room. During our pre-session consultation, Tyler’s mom, Lisa, and I discussed the best location for shooting this session, and when I heard about the French doors in their living room, I knew we’d have plenty of natural light in the afternoon.

Thoughtful Details Made by Grandma
It was important to Lisa to incorporate some of the handmade items her mother had knitted for her new grandson. So we laid the blanket on the giant bean bag that I use for posing and dressed Tyler in his matching hat and sweater. I know I’ve mentioned before how I love to incorporate some of the baby’s blankets and accessories, but I can only imagine how Tyler’s grandma loves having this photo with her grandson dressed in the clothes she took so much time to knit for him.

Pittsburgh newborn photo

Getting Newborns to Smile
If I knew how to make newborn babies smile, I’d be a lucky lady. But when it spontaneously happens in front of my camera, you can bet I’ll be clicking away. I think it was Lisa’s voice that made him smile like this. But I consider this a special treat, because a smile by a newborn is a rarity!

baby dressed as an apple

Telling Your Story in Natural Light (When Possible…)
I always come to my sessions equipped with studio strobes and other lighting gear, but when there is gorgeous natural light like this, I go for it because it’s the most beautiful light if you ask me. If this family were any bigger, I’d need to add more light with studio strobes to ensure the right depth of focus so that everyone’s eyes are sharp. So I’d never define myself as a natural light photographer solely, because there are certain situations that really call for additional lighting and I think that’s one of the things that separates professional photographers from amateurs.

baby's first family portrait

Lifestyle Portraits Can Be The Most Meaningful
This image of Tyler with his dad is one of my favorites from the session. I knew it was important to capture as this was one of the images Lisa had mentioned wanting during our pre-session consultation and we went about it in a few different ways as far as posing and lighting goes. But this image is the most natural and I think it really shows the bond of father and son.

father and son newborn photo

If you or someone you know is looking for meaningful newborn photography, here’s another post that gives a great overview of custom newborn photography by Captivating Imagery.

Sweet Newborn Photography: Baby Gabriel

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I’d like to take some time to introduce this precious little baby I had the pleasure of photographing a few weeks ago. Baby Gabriel is the latest in a cluster of little boys to be born among my friends from church here in Pittsburgh. And we’re so excited to add this tiny fellow into the mix!

baby

BYOBB – Bring Your Own Baby Blankets!
His mom brought some wonderful handmade baby blankets and toys which is a great way to personalize your session. And we really loved seeing him snuggle up to this knit bunny.

Pittsburgh newborn photography

The Best Time to Photograph Your Newborn
During the session, Gabriel was just about two weeks old—that’s about as old as I like to photograph newborns because they become more and more alert and there’s just so much more we can do with infants who sleep most of the time during their first two weeks. Anyway Gabriel was so easy going, asleep or awake. He even cooperated for this shot by curling up over his knees while on his tummy.

infant on small bed

Not every baby will do that…including mine! I remember trying to get my son to pose for a similar shot and he was not having it. He hated tummy time from the very start!

First Family Portraits
And one of my favorite parts of newborn sessions are the first family portraits. Carolyn and Joe, you two are naturals!

baby and parents

Don’t you just love little feet? And look at them next to his mom and dad’s hands. I love that.

baby feet

Isn’t it hard to resist kissing your baby? With boys, I figure we should squeeze all of the kisses in while we can!

mama kissing baby

Babies in the Buff
And I know we don’t normally hold our little ones in the buff for practical reasons, but isn’t he precious? That’s why I like to have newborns nude for most of their photos. Their is no need to buy cute little outfits for their newborn photos because nothing is better than seeing your baby (tastefully posed) in his birthday suit!

two weeks old

Below is a slideshow I put together to present the images from Gabriel’s session to his parents. If you’re expecting and would like to schedule a maternity or newborn session, check out this overview of our custom newborn photography.

Cute-As-A-Button Newborn Photos

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I know the title to this post is a bit boastful, but I think I can get away with it as a proud aunt. I got to visit my sweet niece, Kynleigh, just about a month ago and she is an absolute bundle of cuteness. Normally, I like to do newborn portraits in the studio, but with my sister living four hours away, this session was definitely going to be on-location at my sister’s home in Baltimore. After a day or so of cuddling with her, my mom, sister and I unloaded my car full of gear and props and made a crazy mess of my sister’s living room. It took a while for little Kynleigh to adjust to the change of scenery, but once she settled in we had so much fun! Here are a few favorites from our session:

bunny baby

Kynleigh has no shortage of cute accessories and this bunny hat is perfect for a springtime baby. My sister made prints of this image as Easter gifts for our mom and her mother-in-law.

newborn in a white cap

I think this one above is my favorite. I love how she is cuddling her arms close to her face.

baby in a hammock

We, very carefully, placed Kynleigh in this hammock. What you don’t see is my mom laying on the floor beneath her and my sister close at her side. I know that hammock is very secure, but there’s something unnerving about seeing a newborn suspended underneath a small tree branch, so we take every precaution.

close up of a baby

Just some more cuteness. I think she was actually quite comfy hanging there.

apple for the teacher

And last, but not least, we put her in this apple cocoon. This little one could snooze! It was at least a full four hours of changing her accessories, moving her, and posing her, intermixed with the usual needs of a newborn such as feeding and changing. She was pretty tuckered out and was like clay in my hands!