I love lifestyle and documentary photography (they are both different, but I’ll save that for a later post). I have tried several different “genres” throughout my photography journey and am quickly learning that this is where my heart seems to be. I love it in every sense, but today I want to talk about newborn sessions. Newborn sessions have always been a huge favorite of mine. I love the newness, I love the snuggles, I love their soft cries…seriously…I love newborns. My husband cringes every time I come home from a session with baby fever. (Don’t worry…I’m good with 4. Until the next newborn session at least…) However, something has been missing. I’ve studied newborn photography, I’ve had countless sessions, I’ve met absolutely wonderful babies and families, but I noticed that something always felt “off” when I got home and started culling through the images. I noticed I was quickly drawn to the family photos on the bed. And not the photos where everyone is looking at me and smiling, but those photos where mom or dad is gazing down at the new life that they created and it seems as if they have forgotten about me. I realized that the photos of the cute newborn curled up in a pose I put him/her in wearing a knit hat were never my favorite. Instead, I have been drawn to the yawns, the stretches, the gazes at mom. No hats. No huge bows. Just a simple little new creation in this big world. I still admire the “posed” newborn sessions and there are photographers who have completely perfected that craft and I appreciate their art. I, however, have not and I am ok with that. I wanted to perfect it, but now I know that the reason I haven’t is because I just simply love simplicity. Eventually, I will only be offering the lifestyle sessions for my sweet little newborn clients. This session is truly just to document your new baby in his/her new home and capture those early days with the family. If this isn’t your first baby you already know this, but those days become such a blur. I will not only be able to provide you with photos of your new little one, but I will also be able to tell your story in photographs, which is quickly forgotten.
