One of the coolest things about my job, is that it brings me into contact with new mothers. Some days its even more fabulous because one of those new mommas in an old friend. There is nothing greater than seeing someone you know in the first blush of motherhood, and meeting their new bundle of baby joy.

Last week I was blessed to do just that very thing.  I traveled to a near by town and spent some time with baby Lachlyn, her momma and grandma! I planned their session before I left home, and packed my little rig full of goodies, a teepee, and gobs of blankets, wraps and tiebacks. We had a great time, laughing and catching up.  

Miss Lachlyn was as doll baby, she slept through most of her session, and then shot me some great looks with her gorgeous eyes! 

Her session was a great onsite, shot with natural light, and some times a little help from my speed light. Mother Nature makes the best lighting.  

Here are a few outtakes from her session! Enjoy.

Some sessions hold a special and powerful meaning for the subject. These sessions make me wan't to work harder, be perfect, and really capture the essence of what is being celebrated.  When I edit these sessions  I find myself obsessing over every choice, every click of the mouse. How to perfectly capture the feel of the session.

This nursing session was one of these powerful celebratory sessions.  My new friend Nicole, and her little man Elias, wanted to celebrate their hard won nursing relationship.  After a premature birth, postpartum complications, and an extended NICU stay, and an especially challenging tongue tie, establishing a nursing relationship was a challenge.  Not one to give up with out a fight, Nicole powered through and now several weeks later has a well established nursing relationship with her son.  

To celebrate, she wanted to use her free session from a giveaway, for a nursing session. I was so inspired by her gorgeous red hair and beautiful story. I wanted to create an extra special session for her.  I ordered some amazing tie backs from Created by Carli, and concocted a simple yet flattering outfit for her. We went out to one of my favorite places to shoot . Nicole even had her hair and makeup done by the Fabulous Erin at Studio K, here in St. James.  This session was bound to be amazing!

Amazing it was, we used a handful of different natural backdrops and worked our way around the location. I even talked her into going out into the water!  Little Elias obliged by nursing the entire time!  After we were finished I even snuck the little man into a basket for a solo shot! 

To read Nicole's story or follow her on Facebook, click here
https://www.facebook.com/Noexcusenicole?fref=ts

Here are some of my favorite images from this session, enjoy!

One of my favorite things that people do for other people is purchase gift certificates for newborn photography. It is a wonderful shower gift, sure to be used, doesn't require a place to keep it, and creates a tangible memory for mom and dad.  A Newborn session is the perfect way to stand out in a sea of onesies and baby blankets.  

Miss Olivia and her family were the recipients of one of Little Mothers Newborn Photography sessions, it was so much fun! Mom expressed during the session how surprised and how perfect the gift was.  The session itself was fun to shoot. I planned a not too girly session with different shades of taupe, gray and mauve as our base colors.  Little Olivia had the most beautiful baby skin, and her little face was just so adorable.  

While she was a beautiful baby, she also happened to be a wide awake baby.  I have learned that the best way to deal with those little ones is to swaddle them in a wrap and eventually they will snooze and become perfect little models.  This miss Olivia had other plans, I have never seen a baby that young escape from a swaddle so quickly. She may be a long lost relative of Harry Houdini!  So plan B, we just opted to keep her happy and shoot some wide awake shots, it worked! I was able to get some shots of this beautiful little girls face and pretty eyes.  

Eventually she got sleepy and while I don't think she ever actually slept, I was able to get her to relax enough for some posed shots, and it was so worth it! 

When ever babies are fussy and hard to settle, I hear mom and dad apologize and I can feel their stress levels rise. It's ok, babies fuss, they aren't little toys, they are little people. As a newborn photographer, I understand that and plan accordingly. I try to make baby and parents as comfortable as possible, and allow for plenty of extra time.  So relax and let me do my best to sooth baby, work around babies needs and get your family some beautiful pictures. 
If you are interested in a gift certificate, please give me a call or email!
Here are some of my favorites from Olivia's session, please enjoy! 

(pants, tie backs from Upsie Daisy Designs https://www.etsy.com/shop/UpsieDaisyDesigns?ref=l2-shopheader-name )

I just love it when I get to try new things with a little one who literally blows me away with their sleepiness. This handsome little guy was a little older than my typical newborn, and to be honest I was not expecting him to sleep at all! 

However, he was experimenting with not napping earlier the day of his session and was out like a light! He even was easy to sooth between set changes and poses, a little whimper and then was right back to sleeping.  I was able to get him through all the poses I typically use for my newborn sessions, and even took him outside.  

My goal with each newborn session is to work through the poses and then attempt a transfer to outside in a basket, box, bowl...  Sometimes it doesn't always happen babies wake up, and aren't ready to sleep again, sun moves, weather, bugs. You name it.  This session was moving right along and we snuck out at the end. Little man really enjoyed the fresh air and posed like a champ. Navigating a narrow work space, some serious heat, and even a concerned citizen who thought we were looking for a lost cat in the bushes! We got these darling images for his momma! 

Thank you to all of you who allow me to be the capturer of memories for your families! It really means so much to me to be entrusted with those, precious moments.  I so enjoy meeting all of you, and seeing your children  and families grow. 

Find me on Facebook to stay up to date with new props, specials and announcements, 
http://www.facebook.com/littlemotherphoto

Simon says, I am soon cute! Really though, this kid, with his hair, lips, skin and ability to sleep through anything! 

I love it when a newborn session literally goes off with out a hitch, especially when a sibling is involved. This kid was a dream to work with, he pooped a couple of times, but then again so do all the babies!

He nailed all the poses we tried, even when big brother was playing toys in the background. It doesn't hurt that his family is absolutely some of my favorite people! Talk about a fun, down to earth, easy to work with group of individuals.  Mom and dad are sweet and big brother gives the best hugs.

One thing that really surprised me, aside from little Simon sleeping like a champ, was how awesome big brother was. At only two he isn't that big of a brother, but he really participated in his portions of the session, and was super well behaved for little mans part. He played nicely and when we were all done he gave me an awesome hug and high five. 

Some times newborn sessions are hard work with lots of stress, and many tears ( mine and babies!) This session was not that, it was peaceful, quick and most of all successful.  See for your self!

Remember to book your newborn session early, and also Newborn Photography sessions make great shower gifts!

Cute, cute, Calli! This little lady was such a doll to have the studio.  I really love working with little ones that have so much hair! Miss Calli was a trooper for her session, amazingly she never really settled, but even awake stayed in most of the poses we attempted for her, and held them long enough for me to take several frames! That never happens!

Calli's session was a delightful combination of props brought in my mom, and my own style. I find working with parents before the session, and having a clear understanding of what they want from their session helps me to develop a work flow that includes both of our goals.  This session was a perfect example of this, we were able to get all of it in and ended up with a great collaboration.  

This gorgeous yellow wrap and dried flower headband (by Created by Carli https://www.facebook.com/createdbycarli?fref=ts ) have been patiently waiting in my prop stash for just the right head of hair.  I can't even tell you how excited I was to put this little ensemble on her beautiful self.  And the results, perfect!  

This session was also fun because momma and daddy wanted in on the action. Aren't they are just lovely, this family is beautiful and I am so blessed they asked me to document this little ladies newborn pictures.  

If you like these images, please find Little Mother Photography on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/littlemotherphoto ) and follow me to see more sessions like this one, or to get more information for your own newborn photography session. 

Oh I just love it when babies who were clients as newborns come back, its so fun to see how they have grown and changed over the course of their first years.

Little Isa is no exception, I am blessed to see so many of my subjects during the course of day to day life. In passing at the grocery store, or at my children school. Isa is one who I see from time to time, but haven't had the pleasure of photographing since her newborn session.  

Her momma was so excited to have her first non boy themed birthday that we decided on a super pink and girl set for her smash cake pictures. I had my amazingly talented cake artist create a ruffled pink smash cake, and I drug out all my pink props and headbands. 

By combining all our pink goodies we were able to create a super sweet, and simple pink session. It was the perfect back drop for this little ladies creamy smooth skin, and pink cheeks.  

Little Isa was somewhat unsure of the entire process from her small out door set, to her smash cake, she maintained a small measure of reserve with me. So we weren't able to capture many of her smiles, but her serious face was so precious, and her expressions really had me laughing when I went back through her images for editing.

Here are some of my favorite outtakes from her session, there were so many usable images from this session it was hard to choose just a few.  

If you need a smash cake session for your little ones first birthday, please contact me today to start planning! Kandi

As a mother of three, amazing kiddos, I feel a special something for momma's who come to me for newborn pictures of number three. That third baby is a game changer, in a good way. However number three can be a scary proposition for momma! Your outnumbered, outmanned, and some times outmaneuvered, be the demands and needs of three little people!

This family came to me last year for family pictures, and I am blessed to be able to document and witness the growth of the family from 4 to 5 this year.  Sometimes, as a photographer, we know more about a couples new baby news than friends and family. When we are asked to take announcement, gender reveal and newborn photos' we have to keep a secret for that family. What an honor to have that knowledge and hold it safe.  This family was one of several who came to me over the holiday season last year for Christmas pictures and wanted to have a special announcement for their holiday cards!  

Finally the day came for Little Tyler to join the family, I was so excited to meet this little guy. I had been planning his newborn session for six months! Incorporating siblings into a newborn session can be a challenge.  But these two were so enamored with their little brother they really cooperated well, and we were able to get some adorable shots of the three of them.  Tyler, was wide awake for his solo act and so we had to alter my traditional poses for a bright eyed little wiggle worm. 

Thank you to all the families out there who ask me to keep your secrets for a short while, and to all the mommas of three, I am right there with you. If you need some one to keep your secret, make an announcement, or photograph your newborn give me a call!
 
Here are a few outtakes from this little mans session, Enjoy!