This post has a couple months in the making.  After much soul-searching, I have decided to step away from photography for the time being.  Meeting new families, documenting those first precious few days in a newborn’s life, and doing my very best to create ‘art’ always warmed my heart and left me feeling so satisfied.  But I have come to realize that I need to spend some time concentrating on my own little ones.  I hope to be back soon, and can’t wait to again photograph the new angels in your life.  But for now…

I am going to kiss this a million times over…  (Have you ever seen such a kissable and HUGE belly!  I love how he just lets it all hang out.)

And I am going to build these…

And sometime, hopefully soon, I will be back behind the camera.

Can I tell you how much I love my job?   Aside from the love of photography and the perfect blend of science and art that goes into it, I am so lucky (SO lucky)  to be a part of the first few days of life.  And no matter how many times I am there to witness it, photographing someone so fresh from God always takes my breath away and leaves me teary.  And when babies are SO wanted and SO loved as these two, it makes it all the more sweet.

I remember rocking my own newborns as they slept, and while staring at them, telling myself, “remember this…  please, remember this”.  And try as I might, some of those memories faded.  But when I see little ones like these, with the sweet newborn skin, the soft fuzz, the wrinkled knees, it brings it all back.  It is so magical.

I must confess, I caught a bit of baby fever with this one.  Seven days old, and a photographer’s dream.  She was oh, so sleepy, with the most adorable yawns and hiccups.  It must be exhausting to be so fresh.

So, it is no secret that newborns are my favorite age to photograph.  But this little guy makes me certain that eight months old is a close second (if not a tie) .  He is the most smiley guy you would ever meet, and was rocking out to my “I’m just a love machine” dancing toy.

Moms and dads…  if missed out on newborn (first 10 days) photographs for your little one, or would like to update your frames and albums,  consider this age (6-8 months).  It is a magical time to capture those memories.

Just a note to my wonderful clients…  I will be away from my desk for the next week, and I may or may not have internet access.  Please go ahead and leave emails, and I will return them as soon as I am back in town.  For clients waiting on galleries and orders, thank you for your patience!

Any babies born while I am gone?  Please keep them small and sleepy (much appreciated), and as soon as I return, I will call to schedule a session!

Oh, this kiddo made my heart melt.  So tiny, so perfect, so loved.  I was able to take pictures of mom and dad (before being mom and dad) last year, and it was so fun seeing them again in this new role.  They are naturals.

Peanut was affectionately nicknamed “monkey baby” throughout mom’s pregnancy, so this shot was only fitting.  Makes me smile every time I see it…  don’t they look like buddies?

Sweetness…

It was such a pleasure meeting this little angel and her family.  Within a minute of being in this home, it was clear, this baby is adored…  not just by mom and dad, but two absolutely adorable big brothers (who will, without a doubt, make her dating years……. challenging), and grandmas and grandpas.

What a cooperative model she was!  She was fast asleep  in the beginning, and after one little fuss, crashed back out for the remainder of the session.   In fact, I think this was the first time I have wrapped up a session and handed over a still-snoozing baby, and I had to pull.myself.away.  (You see, it goes against all instincts of a newborn photographer to walk away from a sleeping baby.)

Thank you, K family, for sharing your beautiful baby girl with me.

That hair made my heart sing!

There is something so magical about a family expecting a new arrival.   You can feel the anticipation everywhere…  the talk of a sister (finally!), the rearrangement of bedrooms to make space for baby, the chit chat of baby’s name throughout the house to remind everyone that she is coming.  It is contagious…  I always leave these sessions with so much excitement and thrill.

This is one lucky baby to be welcomed by such a loving family.  Congrats to the M family…  I can’t wait to meet your newest blessing.

This weekend, I was able to meet such a beautiful family and their precious baby.   This little one was “girl” in every way… the delicate lashes, the quiet squeaks, the tiny features.     And she oh-so-cooperatively snoozed for most of the session, and even held poses perfectly.  What more could a photographer ask for?

I did discover one very important lesson during this session.  As you know, when I am photographing newborns, I prefer that they be undressed so that we can capture their pure, womb-like innocence.   But without need to explain, a diaperless baby can have some…  quite consistent side effects.  And what I learned is that, no matter where you are from, or how many times you are exposed to the same thing…  poop is funny.   I definitely had a good laugh.

Oh what a difference a year makes.  It is always thrilling when I get to re-visit kiddos, and see how they have changed. It is (and I know will always be) wild to me to see them go from a sleepy ball of love to a spunky, energetic soul in such a short amount of time.  As I pulled up to this session, mom, dad, and baby “I” were waiting for me outside.  And while it was great to see wonderful mom and dad again, I distinctly remember squealing as I saw sweet “I”.  Gets me every time.

Then…

Now…