This lucky momma, won a contest and used her winnings towards a maternity/Newborn package, what a great deal! She is such a beautiful lady, and her maternity session was really a great time. There was no question her little lady would be a beauty too.

Little Miss Braelyn came to meet me when she was just six days new, and tiny as could be. Maybe the smallest baby I have ever had the pleasure to work with.  She brought her big brothers with her to the studio, and we had a lovely session, even got to go outside!

B was a little cranky when we got her out of her clothes and diaper, like most newborns she liked to be covered and warm. When I got her wrapped and in front of the heater she settled in for a great session.  First pose was with her big brothers, and they all did great, she settled down, and big brothers smiled like champs. Then they really were so well behaved in the studio, we turned on a movie and they happily played toy while mom and I were focused on sissy.

Braelyn was a great little baby to pose and work with, she settled in nicely after each shift and really did a wonderful job being jostled about. Mom and I were both tickled with how quickly her session went.  We even snuck outside for a quick pic in the tall grasses and I am so glad we did. Those images are some of my all time favorite pictures! 

I can't wait to see more of miss B and her big brothers in the studio!  Here are some of my top picks from her session. Enjoy!

As with any career, hobby, or activity, there comes a time when one needs to reach outside of the comfort zone. A time to grow, learn, and challenge oneself.  For me, with this path of newborn photography, first I conquered by goal of learning how to pose and shoot newborns. Next I set a goal to shoot so many newborn sessions, practicing new poses, wrap techniques, and various other techniques. After that, outdoor sessions, a challenge for so many reasons, Bugs, wind, sun etc...  Most recently I set a goal to shoot a newborn session with multiples. Preferably twins, but really I probably would have attempted triplets as well.  ( with much trepidation and quaking in my boots!)

Amazingly right about the time I decided to attempt twins, I was contacted by this lovely lady expecting twins in a few weeks. We chatted back and forth, set a session date, and viola it was time!

I made plans, watched tutorials, purchased props. watched more tutorials, and asked so many questions. Feeling somewhat prepared for the session, in I went.

The babies were adorable, like amazingly cute, and so obviously had their own personalities even though they were only five days old. Little Harrison was calm and cool, happy to sleep through the entire session!!!! His sister, Julie, not so much. She took a little extra time to settle and sooth, but eventually we were able to get her to play along.

In my head I had a daydream of this amazingly perfect session with sleepy babies, no poop, no puke, no pee, and lots of adorable perfect poses. Welllllllll lets just say we did good on the no poop, no puke, and kinda nailed some of the adorable poses.  (Just a little pee)

Honestly I feel incredibly happy with the final product from this session. Taking notes for next time, learning from mistakes, and moving forward. I met my challenge head on, and to be honest it felt great.  

The babies were really troopers to my posing and handling them. They put up with hats, headbands, wraps and a variety of blanket changes.  Mom and dad were awesome assistants and all the extra hands were much appreciated. I really don't know how I would have managed with only one parent present.  

Here are some of my favorites from the session, hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

I LOVE THIS FAMILY!

Really they are salt of the earth, sweet, friendly, and they love each other so much!

This session was just a great way to kick of summer, full of fun, laughter, and lots and lots of paint.  

Really this was a blast to watch, so neat to observe family totally involved in an activity together, especially one the involves making a mess and getting dirty!

Even little brother got in on the action eventually, though in the beginning he was not a fan of the idea.  

These sessions are actually really quick and go fast. I always start with some "before" pictures of the family, individual head shots and a pose of the parents and the kids. Then the fun begins, I set up the paint and give each family member a foam paint brush, some quick direction on keeping the paint in the jars  (no dumping) and then get clear of the splatter zone. 

They are timid at first, especially the kids, they aren't quite sure if they really really can do this. Splatter paint on each other and mom and dad! Mom and dad are usually the ones to break the ice, and start the fun. They splatter each other, and the kids and then its on. Kids start laughing, and splattering paint every where, doesn't even have to be on a family member!  For this session poor little G was more interested in painting my crate than his family and was not happy to be involved in the paint fight.

Finally the entire family is really into it, the laughter is so magical, lots of giggles and belly laughs, its so much fun to paint dads jeans!  

About fifteen minutes later its over, the excitement has played out and then its time for an after shot.  All covered and paint and short of breath from all the fun the family crowds in for a group hug. It really seems to bring a family together and make them relaxed and just Happy.  Its quite a wonderful thing to observe and photograph.

So if you and your family need a little fun incorporated into your summer family portrait session schedule you paint splatter session today!

I think the best, most awesome, and amazing part of my job is photographing the birth of a baby.  I can clearly and vividly remember each birth I have been blessed to witness. Surprisingly all of them to date have been little girls, all their momma's friends of mine, and all of them miraculous.

Miss Ellie Pearls arrival into this world was no exception to all those things. She came into this world with a little difficulty and a lot of love waiting for her on the outside.  Her momma, is a good friend and together we have been through the births of six children.  Watching and documenting her journey into the mother of four was truly amazing. One really touching moment during the birth took place immediately after baby was born, she needed some extra TLC from the nurses and momma wasn't able to see what baby looked like. I spend that time snapping pictures of baby, and running over to mom and sharing with her the images off the back of the camera. Seems like one of the most important jobs I have had in a delivery room.  

Ellie and her momma made it home and into the waiting arms of dad, brothers and a sister. I stopped into visit the family and take some newborn pictures of this sweet little lady.  Apparently little Ellie sleeps all the time, except when I am around or try to touch her!  This little lady was tricky to work with. The best laid plans for a newborn session are often disarmed by the baby!  

I set up my sets, turned on the white noise and away we tried to go. Ellie does sleep all day, just not on blankets, props, and wrapped up in scarves. She sleeps on momma and daddy, ( as she should). SOOOO I quickly reworked my plans, adjusted my sets and we managed to find poses that made her happy, and also made for some fantastic pictures.  

For this in home newborn session, I used only natural light and camera settings. I am quite pleased with the results and I think mom and dad are too! Here are a few highlights from the birth and newborn sessions. Enjoy!

Every photographers moment of dread, the morning of an outdoor session, and you wake to thunder and pouring rain.  For me that moment is quickly followed by a quick nudge of my husband with an insistent request that he look at the radar and report back post haste with a forecast. 

The morning of this session was exactly like this. Rain, Check, Thunder, Check, Radar, Check.  Surprisingly this morning the rain looked to be lightening up and moving on, or so I was reassured by my darling husband.  So several texts to the hair and make up specialist, and the client, and one tense breakfast eaten in front of a window, later. It was go time.

Hair and makeup started at 8:00 sharp, still raining, 9:00 going over jewelry and prop options, still raining, 9:15 light rain, but I say lets go for it, the area we are shooting at is covered by trees, so we should be ok. I was so blessed that the momma to be's momma came with her for the session, we put her to work in a borrowed rain slicker and holding an umbrella! 

Out into the rain we went, and honestly the rain was to our benefit, water in the air intensifies color in pictures. Also it made for a really neat affect for the session. We trudged out into the creek, swollen from the rain, and this momma to be was amazing. She jumped right into the water struck her poses and nailed all of her poses. I was so impressed she braved the weather.  

We completed three outfit changes and several poses out in the elements, and then decided to head into town and the studio to finish up. A quick run into the house to change into dry clothes and we were off. The studio portion took no time at all and I was so pleased with the variety of styles we were able to pull off in just one session. 

I am so excited to meet this little one in a few weeks and take some newborn pictures. Fingers crossed we have a nice dry day with no rain drops. I don't think any of us is ready for another play date in the rain! 

Here are a few of my favorite of this session, enjoy!

Oh baby it is so nice outside, warm weather is finally here to stay! I love it, my kids love it, and this little man loves it.  

This young guy needed to spend so much time with me, we did two sessions for his little self.  He was just not in the mood for his first session. Sometimes baby just isn't in the mood, maybe the car ride wasn't to his liking, or maybe he just needed to know me better! Either way, we had a much better session for our second meeting. He stayed sleepy, and allowed me to pose him just right.

One of the key factors in my job is knowing when the tiny little subject is done. Recognizing when a baby, or child is just at the point of no return, and just not having it anymore is important. For a couple of reasons, first off, baby screaming pictures aren't really that fun, and second, as a photographer I want to create a positive environment for my little ones. I want them to want to come back and be happy! A kiddo who hates having pictures made is no fun for mom and dad who so want those pictures.

Mr. Wyatt just wasn't feeling his first session, he was not sleepy, and not hungry, and not wanting to pose for me.  So we just called it, and after I reviewed his images and contacted mom letting her know I really felt like we should give it another try. Change of scenery, change in plan and viola' baby magic. 

Here are a few of my favorite images from his sessions, a little from both. Enjoy!

As a mother of three, I understand with complete certainty the difficulty of capturing a good picture of all three kids looking, smiling, cooperating, and just being happy.  Inevitably when I do sibling shoots, there will be one non compliant kiddo. Someone who just isn't happy, doesn't want to be there, doesn't want to smile, and no matter what the bribe, promise, or consequence will no cooperate. 

NOT THIS TIME!

These little guys came in with their baby sister for a quick sibling pose, one pose five clicks, super fast.  They nailed it, I showed them my secret fruit snack stash and offered them each a package after the pictures. Put them into position and placed little one in the middle. Both boys smiled, listened, and nailed it! We ended up with a beautiful picture of the three of them and I felt like super woman!

Little sister stayed behind while the boys got to go hang with their grandma, then she and I got to play. Knowing mom had two boys I pulled out all the pink i could get my hands on. Super sweet and girly! 

This little lady was just beautiful, chunky and happy. She was a dream to work with for an older baby. Love love love her little baby self. She even threw me a few smiles at the end.  

This session was such a blessing to me, I was able to work with a small baby and siblings in a new pose, and play around with options for a wiggly 6 week old little one. Not things I am able to do with every newborn session. I really used this as an opportunity to try some new things, and practice some seldom used skills. Thank you to the family for bringing them in! 

Here are my favorite outtakes from the session. Find Little Mother Photography on Facebook to see more session sneak peeks and find links to the entire album!

I just love a challenge! Charming little Charlie was a wide awake, and not happy about it young lady. She was just fighting her nap and just not to happy with me when I would move her, reposition her, or just generally be by her, At first...

Soon into our session I learned that little miss loved to be swaddled, she really calmed down, and settled in for some wrapped and less posed shots. Her momma was so awesome, she was right there the entire session ensuring babies safety and able to lend me a helping hand to shush, comfort, and sooth baby.

To provide a variety of looks with out upsetting baby, I chose to use a variety of wraps and blankets to mix it up. Because she was so sensitive to my moving her I opted to try and keep her asleep and not push for the super posed shots.  Sometimes you just have to take what the baby gives you.  Towards the end of the session I got a little brave and flipped her over onto her belly. She wasn't having the pose I was aiming for but she did flash me a brief smile and I was lucky enough to catch it.  

This session was a special in home session using mostly natural light from the front window.  Working in my clients home is a great service I offer to ease the burden of a new family.  Having a new baby is hard work, it exhausting and exciting all rolled into one.  By shooting newborn sessions in your home I am able to reduce the stress of getting ready and out of the house with a little one. Please contact me to discuss or schedule your in home newborn session.

Here are a few shots from this little ladies session, enjoy.