Jan
07
2019I was so honored to be chosen to do Adelynn’s Anderson Natural Baby Girl Safe Newborn Photography. My sweet (and amazing outdoor family photographer) friend Alison Montgomery Photography referred this family to me. I’m actually in Taylors, SC (outside of Greenville), but Adelynn’s parents are my third Anderson family this year. It’s such an honor to have families drive so far to see me.
One of the reasons that Adelynn’s mama chose me is that she values newborn safety. In addition to a strict sick policy, I’m also passionate about posing these little ones safely. If there’s an image that looks a bit “risky” or “impossible” on my website, then I promise it’s only half of the story. Some kind of magic work in Photoshop to remove either a hand inches from baby or actually on baby has occurred in those rare images that I will do on request. I have learned when to reposition little ones due to limb falling asleep and how to sooth the fussiest of babies. I love creating beautiful images with your tiny babies, but I really believe that making your child comfortable is more important than any one pose.
That said, I encourage my clients to select the poses, props, wardrobe, and accessories that appeal most to them. Some sessions, like Adelynn’s, the parents choose more natural posing on backdrops. Other parents like a good mix of props and backdrops. But I always encourage families to get in the picture as well. Your baby needs to see how much they were loved by you from the very start.
Adelynn was absolutely adored by her big sister Aubrey. It was such a beautiful relationship to see starting so precious. I mean look at these!
And this smile with open eyes is pretty much the unicorn pegasus of newborn photography. I had to wake Adelynn for this image and as you can see below, she wasn’t at all interested in being woken up for awake shots.
Michelle, thank you so much for trusting me with your sweet girls. I had so much fun cuddling Adelynn and making chalk pictures with Aubrey.
Are you looking to book your own session with a safe newborn photographer? Please drop me a line by this contact form.
Feb
09
2018
Noel contacted me for Timeless Natural Simpsonville Newborn Photos because she loved my style. The details, the simplicity, the focus on the sweet baby and the relationships was just as much her heartbeat as mine.
Noel and Chris had just moved back to Greenville to be close to family. They closed on their home and just days later sweet Addison Josephine arrived on Christmas Eve. I guarantee sweet Addie Jo was the very best Christmas present this family has ever received.
Addie Jo came into the studio at about a month old two days after a South Carolina big snow. The first thing I asked her parents was if I could take her outside to play. It was 55 degrees, but I wrapped her in three wraps and put a wool bonnet on her head. I took her outside to this shady patch that had not yet melted and photographed these images in about 5 minutes.
Baby safety is so important to me. I will never endanger a precious life to get “the shot”. Addie Jo and every newborn that comes into my studio will always call the shots. I monitor their temperature and re-position babies when they start to loose circulation in their limbs. If I walk away or do a pose where there is danger of startling, I will ask mama and daddy to keep hands on or near. If the image looks impossible, then the odds are we created it in Photoshop. I repeat: newborn safety is a big deal to me!
Although I love my snow in South Caroline picture, my favorite set of Addie is this simple cream set with the curly posing and the sweet newborn faces. They are perfect just as they are. Always. Babies don’t need embellishing to be beautiful. They just are.
Thinking about booking a session for Timeless Natural Simpsonville Newborn Photos? I’d love to hear from you today about your dreams and wishes for preserving your memories in fine art.
Jan
12
2018Meet Rhys! His sweet parents wanted a Simple Classic Newborn Photos on White Greenville SC. We used a few other neutrals too!
Rhys has a rocky beginning that included twelve days in the NICU for respiratory distress. His parents Stefanie and Chris were so excited when he came home and just wanted to remember how much they loved their little guy. They wanted to capture every little detail. I love how we did just that with a few beautiful macro images.
These are always some of my favorites because these are the details we remember as the grow up: those paper thin fingernails, the skinny legs, their profile, their tiny toes. It is a gift to preserve imagery to go with the memory.
I also just love the way newborns curl up int a little ball, don’t you? Black and white is my favorite, but the color is lovely too.
Stefanie also requested the “froggie pose.” It’s not one I do unless it’s requested, but Stefanie was shocked to find out this the image is Photoshop Magic. It’s actually two images of Rhys fully supported that are stitched together to create this final image. If a photographer ever tries to balance baby in this pose, fire him or her on the spot. Baby Safety is always more important than the image created! Babies are priceless treasures. You can see the two images I used to create this image below.
Here’s another angle of this pose that was also stitched together in Photoshop.
But for the most part we stuck to simple, classic, and safe poses for Rhys which are always my favorite. They’ll also stand the test of time. However, we couldn’t resist this bear bonnet. It’s a crowd favorite!
Are you looking to book a session for your own sweet love? Sessions book quickly so I recommend booking in your second trimester. We’d love to help you remember your little one. Contact us today!
Stefanie and Chris, I have never had two clients who enjoyed themselves so much laughing at me posing! Thank you so much for your sweet spirits and your laughter.
Aug
04
2016Sometimes a dream baby is carried into my studio.
The greater newborn photographer world refers to these as unicorn babies. When a unicorn baby comes to the studio, I rarely see their eyes. And if I do see their eyes, they are content while awake.
Gentry was a unicorn baby. The mythical newborn creature that allows me to pose to my heart’s content (and makes mama’s gallery HUGE)! I especially love Photoblocks Wall No. 13 and was so glad to fill it with lovely images of Gentry.
A unicorn baby always smiles at least once.
And most of the time, a unicorn baby smiles more than once.
It’s almost as if Gentry is amused at how the above pose (called Froggy) fooled you into thinking that he did it all on his own. But he didn’t: safety is so important to me! A little work in Photoshop creates this magic pose.
Did I mention that sweet unicorn babies LOVE being in images with their mama and daddy? Gentry even smiled every time his daddy kissed him!
One of the ways to create unicorn baby behavior is to follow my prep package for making sure your little one is perfect for photos. I recommend a purposeful awake period of about one hour before the session and a full tummy right before you leave to come to the studio (if you live closer) or right when you arrive if you live farther away. Gentry’s mama followed prep to the letter and was spoiled with this full gallery of lovelies.
Sweet Gentry, thank you so much for spoiling me with all of these beautiful images. I’m sure your mama loved them too!
And one more Photoblock Wall because I can’t resist!!!
Mar
01
2015I love creating beautiful heirloom imagery of your babies and children. But what I love most about my job is meeting new or expecting mamas and being able to encourage them on their journey.
Early motherhood is hard and it often feels lonely. If I can come alongside one new mom and tell her what she is feeling is normal or point her toward a resource that helps, then I am truly living my calling.
So when Babies R Us in Greenville approached me about teaching classes for them this year, I was so excited about this opportunity! I’ll be teaching 3 complimentary classes rotating throughout the year and you can read about each topic.
8 Things to Do Before Baby Arrives: Practical Steps to Prepare for Early Motherhood
7 pm on March 9, June 1, and October 5, 2015
A round table discussion about 8 things that will help you transition into early motherhood with joy. From where to get your car seat installation checked to making a plan for date night to making new mom friends, we will tackle some often neglected areas on preparing your home, heart, and lives to welcome your new baby. To get a head start on this class, sign up for my email newsletter here to get my free ebook where I cover 5 of these topics!
How to Choose a Photographer to Capture Baby’s First Year
7 pm on April 6, July 6, November 2, 2015
I’m the first to admit I’m not the photographer for every couple. But how do you sort through the overwhelming number of photographers out there to choose just one? How do you know that their business is safe, reliable, and ready to meet your needs. I will teach you how to interview photographers in order to find the one who is the perfect fit for your family’s wants and needs (even if that photographer isn’t me).
Navigating Mompetition: Learning to Give Grace to other Moms (and yourself)
7 pm on May 4, September 7, December 7, 2015
When I became a new mom I was shocked to learn that mothering was becoming almost a competitive sport! I watched mothers around her choose teams and sit back to smugly judge those who mothered differently In this round table discussion, Melissa will introduce you to some of the competitive issues of motherhood that may surprise you and then help you learn to give yourself and others room to parent differently. Let’s be a generation of moms who recognize that each mom is just doing what works for her and her children.
