Is there anything more special than those first few weeks home from the hospital with your new baby? I really can’t think of anything that beats it. And it’s such an honor to be able to document this special, tender time for parents and their bundle of joy!
I first had the pleasure of photographing Corey and Jeff for their engagement session (back when I was shooting weddings). So it was a real treat to meet baby Graham, who was a little angel during the two-hour session. Look at that adorable face!
And here’s one of their first family portraits by the French doors in their dining room. What a sweet family!
I love photographing newborns, so if you or someone you know is looking for a newborn photographer, please check out my site and get in touch. Thanks!
https://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttps://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.pngkmiller2014-08-13 13:31:182014-08-12 13:51:44Fresh Newborn Session: Baby Graham
It’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of photographing a baby girl, after a what seemed like the season of baby boys (including my own little sweetheart!) So when my friend, Susanna, found out she was having a girl, I was super excited to meet and photograph her darling baby.
Baby Cosette was a charmer. She actually seemed to be posing for the camera!
And here is one of the (many) first family portraits! I had a hard time choosing, so this is the image that they chose to print. I think they couldn’t resist this one because it looks like she’s smiling. Such a sweet moment! I love this family!
https://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttps://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.pngkmiller2014-05-14 13:39:072014-05-14 13:39:07Newborn Session – It’s a Girl: Baby Cosette
Having a baby is one of the most wonderful events we can experience in this life. I remember feeling like my life had really just begun when I first held my son in my arms. I also remember feeling a lot of pressure to make sure I captured all of the wonderful details of my newborn son and how exhausted I felt. And it all happens so quickly, so it’s really important to have a plan in place before your baby arrives so that you can be sure to capture this special time in your family. And once you do have your newborn session booked, it is a major weight off of your shoulders, which is a particular relief by the time you get to that third trimester! If you’re expecting or in the process of adopting and looking for a photographer, check out some of my recent posts to see what custom newborn photography by Captivating Imagery is all about.
Hiring a photographer to capture your baby’s first year is one of the best investments you can make. As time goes by, your photos will become more and more precious to you and your family.
Check out this video below to get a glimpse at a custom newborn session from start to finish:
During the post-session consultation, I like to introduce clients to some of the products I recommend for preserving their memories, like framed prints, custom-designed albums, and image boxes.
Image boxes are a great way to display your favorite images, especially when you’re low on wall space. And they’re perfect for holding images from multiple sessions, like the newborn session, sit-up session, and baby’s first birthday. I’ll be sharing more products that are available for custom newborn photography in the coming months.
If you’re interested in booking a session with me, please check out my contact page and give me a call or send me an email. In order to ensure my clients have the best service possible, I limit the number of sessions I accept each month, so it’s best to contact me during your second trimester.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
https://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttps://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.pngkmiller2014-01-05 16:43:062014-01-06 16:19:14Touching Newborn Photos: Baby Lucas
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
