Sep
30
2019Nothing brings me greater joy than being a Natural Emotive Greenville SC Newborn Photographer. But I’m often asked: “What if my baby cries the whole session or won’t fall asleep?”
This sweet girl, Mariana, had a really difficult session. You probably wouldn’t believe it with this gorgeous smile, but Mariana was diagnosed with severe reflux and put on an elemental formula just a few days after our session. Her digestion hurt and she wasn’t very happy for most of the session.
But I rocked and I soothed. I wrapped her up tight. I found the incline that felt most comfortable for Mariana. And in this intricate dance of making another human feel most comfortable, we made art.
We captured her beautiful features and soothed her aching body. Sometimes I reschedule if your baby is having a rough day, but often I’ll comfort and dance and capture moments in between the discomfort. It’s always worth it to conform to your little one’s needs of the moment.
I’m sharing this to soothe your fears. I want you to have the most amazing art that celebrates who your baby is and their inherent beauty. But I also want to respect the tiny person that is your most important treasure above all else. Their comfort matters to me. Their safety matters to me.
I rarely use this pose below. It’s called “the potato sack,” but for Mariana it was one of the most comfortable positions for her aching belly. Being vertical kept the reflux down. And even in these images, my hand is just out of the frame to comfort her if needed.
These brief smiles made every rocking and soothing motion worth it.
Are you looking for a Natural Emotive Greenville SC Newborn Photographer who respects your little one as a person while creating exquisite memories for you? I would love to be considered. Drop me a line by clicking here.
Sep
24
2019One of my favorite things is to meet my newborn families for Creamy White Backdrop Simpsonville SC Studio Maternity Photography. The maternity session fee is waived for newborn clients so that I can get a chance to know you before your session. I especially love this option with my families with big siblings.
Meet Sloan and her mama Whitney and daddy Josh.
Whitney did an amazing job prepping Sloan for this session! Sloan was a two year old Angel. We were able to play and laugh and fun faces and capture so many images of Sloan alone and with her family. Sloan knew my name, had practiced her silly faces, and knew what was expected of her and it shows. I send prep instructions for big siblings to all my families for this reason.
This shocked face cracks me up! Part joy and part surprise, for me it encapsulates what will happen when baby Abel is born.
During a maternity session, we play with light to create variety. This high key light on my cream drop was new for this session and I love it. It’s such a perfect way to showcase the love of this family. The joy from Josh tickling Sloan in this image is tangible.
But my favorite set from this session is when Whitney changed into this pink lace gown from my studio wardrobe and we back lit this series. Looking at this following series feels like drinking hot chocolate by a fire on a cold evening. So much cozy welcoming joy.
Whitney and Josh, I can’t wait to meet baby Abel soon. Thank you for sharing your love with me.
Are you wishing for your own Creamy White Backdrop Simpsonville SC Studio Maternity Photography session? I’d love to serve you! Click here to tell me about your sweet family and your dream session.
Sep
16
2019When Holly asked for Simply Minimally Posed Newborn Photography Simpsonville SC in our first phone conversation, I knew we were a match made in heaven. I can do fancy poses for your session, but my heart isn’t in it for all the props and styling. I want to capture the beauty your baby was born with and not distract from it with extras.
And so with this sweet girl, I was able to do just that. Simple Minimal portraits that have such a huge impact on our emotions. They help us remember just how tiny and fragile our little ones were. I mean, look at these sweet faces!
And I love how we were also able to incorporate some sweet family heirlooms like this blanket and tiny pink sweater.
And focus on sweet details like these tiny toes.
But what I loved most about this session is how much Holly and Jorge wanted to be IN the images. It make their love for their baby girl shine. Their hands and bodies juxtapose a tiny baby with loving and protecting parents.
And more importantly, Holly and Jorge being in the pictures will let their daughter know just how much she was completely loved from the very beginning.
Often new mama’s avoid being in pictures. But I work hard to make sure each mama loves her first family pictures. I offer a wardrobe that fits during maternity and postpartum. I shoot while standing on a ladder and often avoid shooting below your arms. Finally, I perform some minor Photoshop magic to minimize the worst of the postpartum tummy. Your baby deserves to see how much you loved them; be brave and get in the picture.
Looking to book your Simple Minimally Posed Newborn Photography Simpsonville SC? I would love to be considered. Drop me a note by clicking here to tell me your baby story and wishes for your session.
Sep
09
2019I had a blast with Finn at his Fun Timeless Boy Cake Smash Simpsonville SC.
I always tell my cake smash clients that usually your baby won’t cry for either the cake or the bath. Actually, I say it oppositely: usually your baby won’t cry for both the bath and the cake, but will probably cry for one. Rarely do they cry for both… but even then I usually get some amazing cuddling relationship images.
Finn was the rare baby who cried for neither cake nor bath. And he had a blast both smashing his cake and splashing his bath. It was delightful! I could have watched him play all morning long.
Here’s a few fun videos of the chaos! Can you believe it?
Finn’s Cake Smash from Melissa Aldrich on Vimeo.
Both mama, Shayla, and I had blue fingers and hands from steering his exuberant self back onto the seamless to make more of a mess. And in case you doubt how much he enjoyed Christine of Baking Sweet Scents‘ frosting… well here is the full evidence.
Oh my word. I have never had such a gloriously messy roll of seamless paper before.
And then there was the bath. Deep and gloriously full. Too tempting not to splash. So Finn splashed. Everywhere!
Until the studio floor looked like this and I had to run and get a heap of our pool towels to clean it up!
So much fun!
We finished our session with some really sweet family portraits as Finn got tired out from all of the activity.
My favorites from this portion are the details. Light on Finn’s belly button. This sweet thumb sucking. It makes my heart burst.
Shayla, thank you for choosing me. I have so enjoyed getting to know you and do life with you a bit. I’m always amazed and the new friends God brings my way through work. I’m grateful for you.
Interested in booking your own cake smash session (and maybe making a new friend?), I’d love to enjoy seeing how your little one responds to destroying their cake! Drop me a line by clicking here.
Sep
02
2019I had a blast photographing Caleb and big brother Porter in this Greenville SC Simple Fun Studio Cake Smash Photography Session.
Porter and Caleb were like peanut butter and jelly. They are the best of friends and wrestling partners. I know this bond is one that mama Christine treasures.
And it was so much fun to photograph their antics. I love how much fun Caleb is clearly having with Porter. Baby brother’s have a special resiliency. 
Porter made me laugh so hard with his antics. He’s just so full of joy. It was easy to see how loved he was and how much delight his parent’s find in him.
Caleb is a total ham. He couldn’t get enough of the me. He may have even tried to snatch the camera from my hand while enjoying a round of peak a boo!
Christine requested a cactus theme to match Caleb’s room and I loved the unusual request. The understated greens and succulents were so fun together.
Every cake smash session with me includes a simple backdrop like this and a cake from the amazing Baking Sweet Scents. I love planning the session set with parents. I also love being told a theme (cactus? boho? ballet? Mickey Mouse?) and creating a surprise for my clients.
After Caleb had a chance to eat cake and Porter had played with his dinosaurs with daddy, Porter joined Caleb in cake destruction. I actually still have one of these dinosaurs on my desk. I meant to mail it with Christine’s thank you gift, but forgot. And everyday it reminds me to pray for these sweet boys.
I like to finish cake smashes with a bubble bath to rinse off and to catch a few more fun images. This progression is perfect!
And, yes, Porter joined Caleb too! First behind the tub. Then he jumped in, sending cascades of water all over the studio. Mama and daddy were freaking out and I was LOVING it. Look at this perfect joyful naughty face as mama rescued Caleb from being squished. I was soaked and it was so worth it.
Do you want to capture your little one’s first birthday with their sibling? I’d love to talk to you about your vision and help it become a reality. Click here to tell me about your Greenville SC Simple Fun Studio Cake Smash Photography dreams.
