It is no secret that I am a big proponent of taking family photos. This is especially true for newborn photos. With that being said, I have many clients who just want a photo session that is focused on the baby alone. These clients are looking for images to hang on their walls and use for announcements. Most of these clients book a family session wither at six months or a first birthday, when moms are feeling up for family photos.

Congratulations on the newest addition to your sweet family! These first few days & weeks are just so magical and it is such an honor to capture your little babe during this special time. Here are some tips & tricks I’ve found to be super helpful in preparing for your newborn session so it can be as fun, stress free and enjoyable as possible.

Yes, that is right. I am talking to all of you gorgeous expecting moms out there. So many women choose to skip maternity photos and it makes me so sad. I know that some women don’t feel their best during pregnancy, or they feel that the photos will be awkward, but I encourage you to take the photos. First of all, no one is more beautiful than a pregnant woman. It sounds like a cliche, but women are simply radiant when they are pregnant. The pregnancy glow is not a matter of fiction. I have seen it first hand with each and every one of my gorgeous clients.

Most of the clients who book me for newborn photos are looking for images that are not heavily propped and focused on the family. I get a lot of inquiries from clients who are torn between an in home session and a studio session. Both of these are great options that allow me to capture family centered newborn images. The one to choose is really a personal choice and based on certain variables. I always do a pre session consult with my clients and during this consult I can help them to determine the session that is best suited for their family.

Last year I decided to take a brief hiatus from offering newborn sessions in the studio. Instead, I focused solely on in home newborn sessions. I decided at the end of 2022 to refresh and remodel the studio space and star offering limited sessions in the studio in 2023. Many clients, who felt their homes did not have the general aesthetic they wanted for their photos requested studio sessions and so the studio is up and running again.

I have been photographing most newborn clients in their own homes for  newborn lifestyle sessions, so it has been a while since I have photographed a family in the studio with their newborn. I prefer to photograph the whole family together for newborn sessions, so choosing either one of these sessions is a great option. For those clients who want more of a documentary look to their photos, the in home newborn session is best; whereas for others, the bright, airy and polished look of the studio newborn session is the best option. Both will document you and your family interacting with the baby.

I was so excited to meet Miss E! Her mother is a close friend of mine and I couldn’t wait to meet her beautiful baby girl for her newborn photos. Miss E was a perfect and snuggly little model. She slept peacefully throughout the session and barely cried at all…even through three outfit changes.

The holidays have come and gone and, thankfully, so has 2020. Like most of you, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of 2021 and the positive changes it would bring about. I have been busy since the start of the year making some changes to my business. For example, I have been working with a graphic designer to redesign and revamp my website. I have been taking some professional development courses to improve my craft. I also have been busy making some aesthetic changes to my studio and adding some sets to the Spring lineup. However, the best thing to happen thus far is the arrival of my nephew, who was born on January 6th. I was thrilled to finally meet and photograph him in my studio last week.

I photographed my brother and his family one year ago for his daughter’s newborn session. Yes, that is right, these cuties are one year and ten days apart. When photographing families with children in this age range, I always make sure to work swiftly. So, this means I start my sessions with sibling photos and family photos. Of course, every child is different. For example, some children need some time to warm up, while others tend to be most cooperative in those first few minutes. I really base the session on the child’s needs and work accordingly. My niece happens to be a super happy and cooperative baby, so we were able to capture sibling photos, family photos and even a few solo photos of her with out a hitch.

Having a baby is perhaps the most important milestone in life. This experience is special in so many ways. While planning for the arrival of her new child, most new moms have tons of decisions to make, one of which is choosing the best newborn photographer for your family. This decision is an important one because your photos of your newborn child will forever preserve this precious moment in your life. There are many photographers and session types from which you can choose, but it can be difficult to decide which is best for you and your family. The following tips can help you make that decision.

This newborn session is one of my favorites that I photographed recently. The parents opted for my simple newborn session, which is a session that captures timeless portraits of baby. It is perfect for families who are looking for images to use as announcements and to hang on their walls. Although I love family newborn sessions, these are equally as beautiful.

Baby B was seriously a dream baby. He literally did not cry once during the session, slept the entire time, (even through multiple outfit changes), and he smiled throughout the session. He is just adorable!

I always love photographing newborns in my private studio space. The studio allows me to capture images of families with a lifestyle approach in a bright and modern setting. These studio lifestyle newborn sessions are geared towards capturing families interacting with their baby. So, even though most of the session is centered on capturing family photos, I do take the time to also capture beautiful portraits of your little one on one of my hand made backdrops. These family images are not only more visually interesting, but will capture the memories you will want to remember years from now when baby is grown up.

Natural and Bohemian Photography Studio

I am in the process of renovating my photography studio. I have made some minor changes to the space to give the studio a more modern, beachy and bohemian look. I have added furnishings and decor that have a lot of texture and will provide visual interest to the images I take in the space.

Accent pieces such as my new rattan arm chair and velvet sofa, both provide a comfy space for my clients to relax, but I also incorporate these furnishings into my studio lifestyle newborn sessions, which are geared towards capturing families interacting with their baby.

Another key design element is the use of textures, such as macrame pillows, the chenille bedding, and faux fur side table and blankets. Not only do these items beautifully decorate the space, but they add dimension and depth to the photos I take in the studio.

I have always taken the safety of my clients very seriously, but now due to the recent findings of COVID-19, I have heightened my safety measures. I am a mom of two, so I know how nerve wracking it is to be a new parent. I always want my clients to feel comfortable, confident and, most importantly, safe during a session with me, so I have instituted new safety guidelines for my business. To see the new safety measures I am taking, you can click here to view my post on those guidelines.

I held several newborn sessions in my Long Beach studio over the last two months. I absolutely love working with each and every family. This recent session is no exception. I know I say it all the time, but I really do have the nicest clients. It is always a pleasure to chat with the family while I photograph their new bundle of joy and I truly love learning new things about each family I meet.

I got to know my recent client during our pre session consultation and I knew she and her family would be fun to work with. During the consult, mom told me that Dad is a police officer for NYPD and she wanted to incorporate a nod to his profession in the photo shoot. I was thrilled to accommodate this request, not only because I love to customize my studio sessions, but because I have tremendous respect for police officers. Even though mom was going to bring along Dad’s badge and hat, I decided to purchase a hand knit outfit for baby to wear for one or two photos. I always love incorporating the look of textures such as knits into photos.

My brother and sister in law recently gave birth to their first baby and she is an absolute cutie.. Our family is absolutely thrilled for them, but we are also super excited because it has been about five years since we had a newborn in the family. We are all eager to spend time and cuddle with the newest addition to the family. In fact, I recently had the opportunity to spend the morning with her and photograph her in my studio space.

My niece was born a few days after Christmas, so I knew we had to incorporate some type of subtle nod to the holiday in her session. I also have a wreath obsession, so as soon as she was delivered, I knew exactly what set up I would use for her portraits. She was a little over two weeks old on the date of her session, but we were still able to coax her to sleep and capture some beautiful polished portraits. What is great about the family studio newborn session is that baby only really needs to be asleep for those posed portraits. She can be awake for all of the family photos and even for swaddled photos. I love that this provides parents with a diverse gallery that includes those squishy sleepy images we all love, as well as awake and alert images in which you get to see a tiny bit of baby’s personality. Furthermore, it allows for the session to move a bit more quickly. Typically, a family session will run around 2 hours, sometimes 3 hours if the session includes toddler aged siblings.

I have been shooting a lot of newborn sessions here in my Long Beach studio and I am loving every second of it. I recently photographed a baby and his two older sisters. I met this family two years ago while shooting an extended family session. The family is a delight to work with. They are fun loving and super nice, so I was thrilled to be able to work with them again for this very special session.

Baby C was an absolute dream. He slept throughout the entire session…even through several outfit changes! Big sisters clearly love their baby brother so much and it was so sweet to capture images of the siblings together. I love the way mom dressed the sisters in classic white shirts, jean shorts and a boho floral halo headband. The attire brings a classic simplicity to the photos, which I adore.

To meet the diverse needs of my clients, I offer a variety of newborn sessions. Because I know how important it is to capture family memories, I always encourage my moms to schedule a family newborn session; however, I recognize that not all moms want to be in the frame and some are only looking for images to use for birth announcements. For those moms, I offer the Simple Studio Newborn Session. This is a shorter session, running around 60-75 minutes in length and includes two sets. As always, my set is kept neutral and understated, which will help me to focus on your newborn’s beauty and allows me to capture timeless imagery.

I recently photographed a beautiful baby boy in my Long Beach studio for his newborn photos. This little man happens to share the same birth date as my eldest daughter. Now, I know some people fear that the holidays can overshadow December birthdays, but as a parent of a child born in this special month, I actually think it just enhances the festive spirit of the birthday celebrations. When mom booked the session, I knew I had to incorporate something to commemorate Christmas. I found an adorable handmade knit Santa suit to use and I just love the sweet images I captured of him seeping in the suit.

My approach to newborn photography is a bit different than other photographers. As opposed to photographing baby in an array of props and outfits, I center my sessions around the family and their interaction with baby. I do this because I know that years from now when baby is grown, you are going to want images that capture those first few moments with him. I know sometimes as moms, we don't feel our best right after delivery and would rather not be in photos, but years from now you will be so grateful to have photos that document those precious first moments with your baby.

I have been photographing more family newborn sessions in my studio lately.  I love that so many families are opting for the family session because I believe it is so important to get in the frame with your newborn. I know sometimes as moms we don't feel our best right after delivery and would rather not be in photos, but you will want photos that document those precious first moments with your baby because they are gone in the blink of an eye. Besides, new moms are always gorgeous and always seem to be glowing.