How I Photograph Newborn Babies

It has been awhile since I had a newborn session....what a treat!  Baby "B" was so fun to hold and cuddle!  He weighed almost the exact same as my three children when they were born - bringing me right back. What great memories!  Anyway - as I do with almost all of my sessions - I come without props and use what we find in the house.  This method really works for me - it is so fun to find different items to work with and I think it keeps each photo session fresh and unique to the client.  Before the session I ask that baby be warm, full, and have a very loose fitting diaper - so as not to leave crease lines on his/her legs. Here's how we started the session.

Baby B chilling on one of Grandma's dining room chairs.



We started this photo session looking around the house for furniture and props we could use - this chair had a rose seat cushion (not exactly appropriate for a boy) but I knew it would make a great black and white image.

We found a cool wood bowl  that was just a bit too small  -but we added a textured blue blanket that helped.

Before we knew it - Baby B was wide awake  - not wanting to miss a minute of his session. We continued on - using a white toy chest and big brother's blanket - that we were asked to promptly give back for naptime  [Grin].

I loved the fun pattern to this carpet - a great back drop for some "birthday suit" images!

Of course you always need to have a few adorable feet images.  I like to make sure that Mom or Dad's wedding bands are visable in these images.

Baby B - was wide awake at this point and pretty interested in my camera.

I had mom face the window as we captured a few fun images of the two of them - keeping the background simple. Isn't she gorgeous!  Who doesn't love freckles and green eyes?!!



I so love have Baby "B" molds to mom's body in this image.



I try to see images from different angles....I love this one.




Finally - it seems we wore Baby "B" right out.  We were able to squeeze him into the wooden bowl  - that I thought looked great against their hard wood floors.

 

Well - it looks like my work here is done.  What a cutie!

Garden before/after/future.....it's a process

Yesterday I came home from my 7 mile run in the sunshine wanting to spend the entire rest of the day in the sun , knowing that today....well, would look like it does.  I headed to my backyard and looked over at my very neglected garden and decided I could be productive and get some much needed vitamin D at the same time!! So the image on the left is what I want my garden to look like and sadly, the image on the right is the entrance toy garden area......a bit of a difference??

Not to make excuses....but a tree from our garden area did fall on our house 8 years ago....

This image is after the tree clean-up.....pathetic I know!

Now - here we are.....up to date.  this is what my garden looked like yesterday morning. Basically a weed farm with potential.

So I went "beast" on those weeds....and got the areas ready to bring in at least 4 yards of topsoil and then the planting will begin. I'll keep you posted..

 

Kent High School Senior: Eric

Again, another guy that I have watched grow up.  Where has the time gone?! Eric's Spring session was an early one.......and even though I KNOW he had to be tired...he didn't complain once.  He was great!  We talked about his plans for Montana State in the Fall.  I love the bright yellow wall we found that complimented the shirt he was wearing.  It was a perfect image to end his session on.

Kent High School Senior: Dallin

Dallin is the third high school senior from his family to trust me with taking his senior pictures.  It has been a lot of fun to watch him grow up, he has always been such a great guy!   I love the first image below because it is an absolute natural smile.  We were just taking a few cap & gown images at Soos Creek trail and Wade Bybee (a friend and scout leader for Dallin)  rode by on his bike and yelled out to Dallin. It was perfect timing.  Again, I can't say it enough.... I LOVE the spontaneity of outdoor, on-location photography!!  You just never know what you are going to find....like in the second image of Dallin.  As we were coming home from the Auburn airport - I said "Hey -let's check out the old drive-in!"  Dallin and his Mom were up for the adventure and we found a stack of tires and the old screen made a perfect back drop.  The moody light just before the storm was fabulous. I only wish we could've spent more time......but the rain had us running for cover!! 



Kent High School Senior: Brendan

Brendan like several of my HS senior clients came to me in the Spring for a quick update to his senior pictures.  I love Brendan's eyes!  Again - it was a cloudy, rainy day in May.  We had to find all kinds of covered areas at our location in downtown Kent.  But that is what I love about outdoor, on-location - you never know what you are going to find and the weather really forces you to be creative and look at locations and light in a different way.  The images below are two of the images below were taken in a tight little corner just off the street.

Kent High School Senior: Kaitlyn

I met with Kaitlyn on a chilly May morning for a quick photo session to create fun images for her graduation announcement.  Isn't she beautiful??! I love her hair - although it drove her crazy during our session!! :) Kaitlyn's Mom was my daughter, Linda's, science teacher in junior high - so it was fun to catch up.  As we walked around the park - I found out that Kaitlyn just spent a quarter in Australia for a work study.  Lucky!!!!!  I have been dreaming of taking a few months off and heading to Australia.......I started scheming on how Linda and I could sign up for this work study together.  Sign me up for the surf 101!!

Seattle High School Senior: Anna

Meet the gorgeous Anna - both inside and out! I  really loved spending time with Anna at Gas Works Park.  We chatted and scouted around for photo locations - and I was so impressed by all that she had going on!  And as if she couldn't get any cooler in my eyes - I find out that she is a very dedicated member of her crew team! How cool is that?!! 

 I wish you all the best at Santa Clara in the Fall Anna!!