I’ve procrastinated on writing this post for just about as long as I have on hanging my own wall gallery. Is there anyone out there who loves hanging frames? I haven’t met anyone yet. I love to decorate our home with personal works of art. And I’m gung ho about making it happen from the photo shoot through framing that favorite print. But there’s always this idle time where I take my treasured framed print and lean it right up against the wall below the space where I plan to hang it. And then it just sits there for a few weeks until I decide to finally tackle the challenge.
Well, I recently put together a triptych (that’s a fancy term I learned in photography school for a series of three photos that I love to squeeze into my vocabulary whenever appropriate) from a outdoor session last summer with my son. And no matter how wild I am about these images, I knew it was going to be a big feat to get all three framed prints up on the wall in a pleasing arrangement so that they’re all aligned, level, and perfectly spaced apart. If you’re like me, the challenge of getting multiple frames to hang perfectly aligned and avoiding lots of holes in your wall, it can be all too overwhelming. So today, I’d like to share with you a few things I’ve learned throughout this process.
There are two main points I’d like to drive home in hopes that my experience will make yours a bit more bearable. The first is, it’s best to have a helper so that you have two sets of hands and can step back to see if you like the positioning as you go. And my second and most valuable lesson is to avoid measuring! Yep, no measuring tapes or rulers needed! Measurements are great when they’re precise, but it is oh so easy to mess up. Not to mention that you could have measured your layout perfectly and then not like how it looks when you see your artwork up on the wall.
Here’s a case in point, and I’m mildly embarrassed to share this lame first attempt…
There two problems here with this first attempt. In my mind, when I was planning my measurements, I thought that allowing two inches between the edge of each frame would be enough. But when I stepped back, the frames looked like they were crammed together. And the second mistake I made was to measure from the crown moulding where the picture hangers should go… I never went back to figure out if there was an error in my measuring or if maybe my ceiling isn’t level, but you can see that the alignment of the frames is slightly sinking to the right. If I had used a level instead of measuring from the ceiling, I’m sure I would have avoided that.
Ok, on to my findings in what does work! I decided to get out a level and draw a straight line in pencil that would represent the top edge of my frames. If you’re not keen to taking a pencil to your walls, you could use a chalk line or painter’s tape to the same effect.
If you haven’t heard of Hercules hooks, they’re genius! I used those for the two outermost frames. When I went to hang the middle frame, I found that it was centered on a stud in the wall. So, I used a tried and true picture hanger for that one. Also, if you have plaster walls, the Hercules hooks won’t work. You may want to use a standard picture hanger or 3M Picture Hanging Hook.
Now for the second issue of finding out that two inches between each frame was not enough. I could have used craft paper to trace the shape of each frame, cut it out, and used painters tape to hang the grouping on the wall and tweak the positioning as needed. That’s really not a bad idea, but I have to be honest and say that I’m not that patient. I needed to make this happen during my son’s nap time because I had let this project go for far too long. However, if this sounds like a plan to you, you’ll just need to measure the distance from the upper edge of your frame to the place where the picture hanger would rest. If you have D-rings or sawtooth hardware on the back of your frame, it’s very straight-forward. If your frame has picture wire, just pull the wire taught in the center of the frame and measure from that point to the frame’s upper edge. Then take your measurement and mark the craft paper on your walls for the picture hanger of your choice.
When I was purchasing my Hercules hooks on Amazon, I stumbled upon a very handy tool that allowed me to skip that last part entirely. The Hang and Level helps you to figure out where the picture hanger should be located by allowing you to use the actual frame to determine the positioning. I’m not getting any kick-backs from this company, just passing along what I feel is a worth-while tool. So if you’re looking for a way to make your gallery wall project a little easier, you may want to check out their website to see what it’s all about. I’d also like to add that the tool comes with a built-in level. Anyway, I started with the center frame and determined it’s position by the width of the wall. After I found the center, I used the Hang and Level tool to find the mark for the picture hanger so that the top edge of my frame would fall on the level pencil line. Then I stepped back and determined how much negative space I wanted on either side of the frame. I just eyeballed it and hung the second frame. Then I measured the space between the two frames so that I could duplicate that distance on the other side. I used the word measure, but I didn’t actually use a ruler. I just marked both edges on a piece of paper and transposed those markings on the other side and it worked! Here’s the finished look:
I love how these prints look together and now I think I’ll be hanging more wall galleries in the near future!
http://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttp://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Web-Use.pngkmiller2014-03-06 15:02:532014-03-07 11:43:39How to Hang a Wall Gallery
There are tons of photographers to choose from these days and this post isn’t meant to bash newbies who are just getting started in the business. This post is meant to help anyone who is looking to create meaningful images of their family or loved ones by offering some insight on what to look for in a photographer so that your investment isn’t wasted.
There are three main areas that come into play when choosing a photographer: professionalism, skill and style. I’ll spend some time going over concerns for each of these areas so that when you’re considering a photographer, you can be prepared with the questions that matter most to you. And because this post is pretty lengthy, I feel I need to give you something cute to look at.
When you’re spending a significant amount of money, you want to make sure you’ve made the best decision. For instance, did you have a mental list of features you were looking for when you purchased your last smart phone or laptop? Better yet, I recommend approaching your search for a photographer like you would a contractor to remodel your home. Interview several photographers and try not to get bogged down with their various approaches like packages or session fees. Some of the more important benefits of working with a good photographer are harder to measure. Here’s one that should be at the top of your list: do you like this person? If the photographer you’re talking to is hard to connect with or rubs you the wrong way, chances are slim that you’ll like the photos they create for you.
Professionalism
Ok, down to the nitty gritty—I’m pretty sure everybody wants to work with a photographer who is reliable and organized, someone who shows up on time and delivers orders in a timely manner. You expect professionalism and there are a few ways you can determine if your photographer will do what they say they will do. Does he/she respond to emails or phone calls promptly? Are contracts required to book a session? Do they outline the date, time, location, fees, and deliverables? When you’re talking with this person, do you get the sense that they run a legitimate business complete with a federal tax ID and sales tax permit? Is this the kind of person who has all of their i’s dotted and t’s crossed? Do they have general liability insurance? Do they work with professional equipment and bring back-ups? I’m not suggesting that you ask all of these questions because that could get awkward, but just offering some things to keep in mind. For example, in a newborn session, you really don’t want your photographer balancing your newborn on a chair a few feet off of the ground without an assistant or someone to stand by and keep your baby safe. If you see images of babies posed like this on their site, ask them about their approach.
Is the photographer willing to spend a few minutes talking with you to learn about the types of images you are looking for? Might he or she suggest some locations or help with what to wear?
Here’s another question that’s worth asking: does the photographer back up their work in multiple locations and how long do they store past work? If you hadn’t gotten around to placing an album order and contact your photographer a year later, it would be pretty devastating to find out your images are gone.
Skill
A good photographer should be knowledgable about lighting and how to make their subjects look their best. These are skills that go beyond simply knowing how to use a nice camera. It can be tough to judge a photographer’s skill, outside of looking at their portfolio, until you’ve had a chance to work with him or her. So you might want to consider some of the following questions if you’re planning to hire the photographer again in the future.
Does the photographer respond to challenges with ease? Is he or she good at making you or your family comfortable in front of the camera? Is there any creativity in the way they capture the subject’s personality? The photos should speak for themselves. And if you haven’t previously worked with the photographer, you might want to look at more than one blog post or gallery for an overall feel of their work.
Style
This should be the easiest quality to consider when looking for a photographer. Do you like what you see on their website? Is the portfolio cohesive with the set of images feeling like they all belong together or do some of the images seem random and out of place? If a photographer’s portfolio has a random feel, you might not be happy with the images they create on the day of your session, because photographers with a random portfolio won’t have a reliable style that you can come to know and expect.
The Bottom Line
Whew, that’s a lot of info! So, to simplify your search for a photographer and save yourself from having to ask lots of questions, you could just check out the Professional Photographers of America’s Find-A-Photographer database to find a few photographers in your area. And after that, vet them by checking out their online reviews by going to Google Plus and searching the business name. There you’ll find candid comments by Google Plus users who want to share their experience working with that business. My husband and I use Google reviews for everything, where to eat, where to stay, etc. And I encourage my clients to do the same!
http://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttp://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Web-Use.pngkmiller2014-01-22 15:59:462014-01-22 15:59:46How to Choose a Photographer for Your Newborn, Children’s or Family Portrait Session
I mentioned photographing Janelle and Andre’s engagement session in a previous post about Janelle and Andre’s newborn session. I’m a bit out of order with this post because this session took place during the holidays at their home in Point Breeze, just two weeks before baby Lucas was born! I know they had a lot going on amidst the holiday hustle and bustle, but Andre was intent on making this session happen. He loved Janelle’s baby belly and wanted to be sure they’d have images to remember it by. Isn’t that sweet?
Let Your Love Show In my post about baby Lucas, I recalled loving photographing Janelle and Andre’s engagement session. They’re just so comfortable with each other. So it’s easy to capture that natural emotion because they’re not afraid to be affectionate in front of the camera. Take this next shot as an example.
Bedrooms Are a Great Place for Maternity Sessions We did most of these shots in a bedroom upstairs. And I wanted to show a bit of the gorgeous trees outside their window, so I mixed in some light with the natural light in the room.
Gosh, they’re so cute.
Belly Shots Pregnant bellies are beautiful and these images are a great way to show children where they came from and that they were loved even before they were born.
Getting Ready for the Baby When you’re expecting your first, there’s no doubt you’re going to accumulate lots of sweet details for your baby. Here are just a few items that are special to Andre and Janelle. They might not be able to hold onto the items themselves over the years, but a photo is a great way to hold on to these sweet sentiments.
It’s easy to see, this baby is loved like crazy.
If you’re looking for a maternity or newborn photographer, let me know. I’d love to hear from you!
http://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttp://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Web-Use.pngkmiller2014-01-09 16:42:142014-01-09 16:42:14In-Home Maternity Session: Janelle and Andre
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.
http://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttp://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Web-Use.pngkmiller2014-01-05 16:43:062014-01-06 16:19:14Touching Newborn Photos: Baby Lucas
How to Hang a Wall Gallery
/by kmillerI’ve procrastinated on writing this post for just about as long as I have on hanging my own wall gallery. Is there anyone out there who loves hanging frames? I haven’t met anyone yet. I love to decorate our home with personal works of art. And I’m gung ho about making it happen from the photo shoot through framing that favorite print. But there’s always this idle time where I take my treasured framed print and lean it right up against the wall below the space where I plan to hang it. And then it just sits there for a few weeks until I decide to finally tackle the challenge.
Well, I recently put together a triptych (that’s a fancy term I learned in photography school for a series of three photos that I love to squeeze into my vocabulary whenever appropriate) from a outdoor session last summer with my son. And no matter how wild I am about these images, I knew it was going to be a big feat to get all three framed prints up on the wall in a pleasing arrangement so that they’re all aligned, level, and perfectly spaced apart. If you’re like me, the challenge of getting multiple frames to hang perfectly aligned and avoiding lots of holes in your wall, it can be all too overwhelming. So today, I’d like to share with you a few things I’ve learned throughout this process.
There are two main points I’d like to drive home in hopes that my experience will make yours a bit more bearable. The first is, it’s best to have a helper so that you have two sets of hands and can step back to see if you like the positioning as you go. And my second and most valuable lesson is to avoid measuring! Yep, no measuring tapes or rulers needed! Measurements are great when they’re precise, but it is oh so easy to mess up. Not to mention that you could have measured your layout perfectly and then not like how it looks when you see your artwork up on the wall.
Here’s a case in point, and I’m mildly embarrassed to share this lame first attempt…
There two problems here with this first attempt. In my mind, when I was planning my measurements, I thought that allowing two inches between the edge of each frame would be enough. But when I stepped back, the frames looked like they were crammed together. And the second mistake I made was to measure from the crown moulding where the picture hangers should go… I never went back to figure out if there was an error in my measuring or if maybe my ceiling isn’t level, but you can see that the alignment of the frames is slightly sinking to the right. If I had used a level instead of measuring from the ceiling, I’m sure I would have avoided that.
Ok, on to my findings in what does work! I decided to get out a level and draw a straight line in pencil that would represent the top edge of my frames. If you’re not keen to taking a pencil to your walls, you could use a chalk line or painter’s tape to the same effect.
If you haven’t heard of Hercules hooks, they’re genius! I used those for the two outermost frames. When I went to hang the middle frame, I found that it was centered on a stud in the wall. So, I used a tried and true picture hanger for that one. Also, if you have plaster walls, the Hercules hooks won’t work. You may want to use a standard picture hanger or 3M Picture Hanging Hook.
Now for the second issue of finding out that two inches between each frame was not enough. I could have used craft paper to trace the shape of each frame, cut it out, and used painters tape to hang the grouping on the wall and tweak the positioning as needed. That’s really not a bad idea, but I have to be honest and say that I’m not that patient. I needed to make this happen during my son’s nap time because I had let this project go for far too long. However, if this sounds like a plan to you, you’ll just need to measure the distance from the upper edge of your frame to the place where the picture hanger would rest. If you have D-rings or sawtooth hardware on the back of your frame, it’s very straight-forward. If your frame has picture wire, just pull the wire taught in the center of the frame and measure from that point to the frame’s upper edge. Then take your measurement and mark the craft paper on your walls for the picture hanger of your choice.
When I was purchasing my Hercules hooks on Amazon, I stumbled upon a very handy tool that allowed me to skip that last part entirely. The Hang and Level helps you to figure out where the picture hanger should be located by allowing you to use the actual frame to determine the positioning. I’m not getting any kick-backs from this company, just passing along what I feel is a worth-while tool. So if you’re looking for a way to make your gallery wall project a little easier, you may want to check out their website to see what it’s all about. I’d also like to add that the tool comes with a built-in level. Anyway, I started with the center frame and determined it’s position by the width of the wall. After I found the center, I used the Hang and Level tool to find the mark for the picture hanger so that the top edge of my frame would fall on the level pencil line. Then I stepped back and determined how much negative space I wanted on either side of the frame. I just eyeballed it and hung the second frame. Then I measured the space between the two frames so that I could duplicate that distance on the other side. I used the word measure, but I didn’t actually use a ruler. I just marked both edges on a piece of paper and transposed those markings on the other side and it worked! Here’s the finished look:
I love how these prints look together and now I think I’ll be hanging more wall galleries in the near future!
How to Choose a Photographer for Your Newborn, Children’s or Family Portrait Session
/by kmillerThere are tons of photographers to choose from these days and this post isn’t meant to bash newbies who are just getting started in the business. This post is meant to help anyone who is looking to create meaningful images of their family or loved ones by offering some insight on what to look for in a photographer so that your investment isn’t wasted.
There are three main areas that come into play when choosing a photographer: professionalism, skill and style. I’ll spend some time going over concerns for each of these areas so that when you’re considering a photographer, you can be prepared with the questions that matter most to you. And because this post is pretty lengthy, I feel I need to give you something cute to look at.
When you’re spending a significant amount of money, you want to make sure you’ve made the best decision. For instance, did you have a mental list of features you were looking for when you purchased your last smart phone or laptop? Better yet, I recommend approaching your search for a photographer like you would a contractor to remodel your home. Interview several photographers and try not to get bogged down with their various approaches like packages or session fees. Some of the more important benefits of working with a good photographer are harder to measure. Here’s one that should be at the top of your list: do you like this person? If the photographer you’re talking to is hard to connect with or rubs you the wrong way, chances are slim that you’ll like the photos they create for you.
Professionalism
Ok, down to the nitty gritty—I’m pretty sure everybody wants to work with a photographer who is reliable and organized, someone who shows up on time and delivers orders in a timely manner. You expect professionalism and there are a few ways you can determine if your photographer will do what they say they will do. Does he/she respond to emails or phone calls promptly? Are contracts required to book a session? Do they outline the date, time, location, fees, and deliverables? When you’re talking with this person, do you get the sense that they run a legitimate business complete with a federal tax ID and sales tax permit? Is this the kind of person who has all of their i’s dotted and t’s crossed? Do they have general liability insurance? Do they work with professional equipment and bring back-ups? I’m not suggesting that you ask all of these questions because that could get awkward, but just offering some things to keep in mind. For example, in a newborn session, you really don’t want your photographer balancing your newborn on a chair a few feet off of the ground without an assistant or someone to stand by and keep your baby safe. If you see images of babies posed like this on their site, ask them about their approach.
Is the photographer willing to spend a few minutes talking with you to learn about the types of images you are looking for? Might he or she suggest some locations or help with what to wear?
Here’s another question that’s worth asking: does the photographer back up their work in multiple locations and how long do they store past work? If you hadn’t gotten around to placing an album order and contact your photographer a year later, it would be pretty devastating to find out your images are gone.
Skill
A good photographer should be knowledgable about lighting and how to make their subjects look their best. These are skills that go beyond simply knowing how to use a nice camera. It can be tough to judge a photographer’s skill, outside of looking at their portfolio, until you’ve had a chance to work with him or her. So you might want to consider some of the following questions if you’re planning to hire the photographer again in the future.
Does the photographer respond to challenges with ease? Is he or she good at making you or your family comfortable in front of the camera? Is there any creativity in the way they capture the subject’s personality? The photos should speak for themselves. And if you haven’t previously worked with the photographer, you might want to look at more than one blog post or gallery for an overall feel of their work.
Style
This should be the easiest quality to consider when looking for a photographer. Do you like what you see on their website? Is the portfolio cohesive with the set of images feeling like they all belong together or do some of the images seem random and out of place? If a photographer’s portfolio has a random feel, you might not be happy with the images they create on the day of your session, because photographers with a random portfolio won’t have a reliable style that you can come to know and expect.
The Bottom Line
Whew, that’s a lot of info! So, to simplify your search for a photographer and save yourself from having to ask lots of questions, you could just check out the Professional Photographers of America’s Find-A-Photographer database to find a few photographers in your area. And after that, vet them by checking out their online reviews by going to Google Plus and searching the business name. There you’ll find candid comments by Google Plus users who want to share their experience working with that business. My husband and I use Google reviews for everything, where to eat, where to stay, etc. And I encourage my clients to do the same!
In-Home Maternity Session: Janelle and Andre
/by kmillerI mentioned photographing Janelle and Andre’s engagement session in a previous post about Janelle and Andre’s newborn session. I’m a bit out of order with this post because this session took place during the holidays at their home in Point Breeze, just two weeks before baby Lucas was born! I know they had a lot going on amidst the holiday hustle and bustle, but Andre was intent on making this session happen. He loved Janelle’s baby belly and wanted to be sure they’d have images to remember it by. Isn’t that sweet?
Let Your Love Show
In my post about baby Lucas, I recalled loving photographing Janelle and Andre’s engagement session. They’re just so comfortable with each other. So it’s easy to capture that natural emotion because they’re not afraid to be affectionate in front of the camera. Take this next shot as an example.
Bedrooms Are a Great Place for Maternity Sessions
We did most of these shots in a bedroom upstairs. And I wanted to show a bit of the gorgeous trees outside their window, so I mixed in some light with the natural light in the room.
Gosh, they’re so cute.
Belly Shots
Pregnant bellies are beautiful and these images are a great way to show children where they came from and that they were loved even before they were born.
Getting Ready for the Baby
When you’re expecting your first, there’s no doubt you’re going to accumulate lots of sweet details for your baby. Here are just a few items that are special to Andre and Janelle. They might not be able to hold onto the items themselves over the years, but a photo is a great way to hold on to these sweet sentiments.
It’s easy to see, this baby is loved like crazy.
If you’re looking for a maternity or newborn photographer, let me know. I’d love to hear from you!
Custom Newborn Photography
/by kmillerHaving 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.
Newborn Sessions in the Convenience of Your Own Home
Capturing Relationships and the Essence of Everyday Life
Revealing Personality Through Lifestyle Photography
First Family Portraits to Treasure Forever
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.
Touching Newborn Photos: Baby Lucas
/by kmillerOne 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.