Photographers are a lot like parents: we pretend we don’t have favorites when in reality each season has it’s own favorite session (or child if you’re a parent).

This is my favorite Taylors SC Newborn Photography session of 2013 so far. 

I’m not sure if another session from this year will be able to top it (though if you’re the competitive type, please book me and try to top it!).

Right before this session, I was able attend a newborn posing workshop that totally changed my perspective on posing and editing.  I left changed and empowered with just a few simple tools that were game changers for me.  I had a vision for where I wanted my photography to go and then I booked this session.

I also had the privilege of working with siblings who were older than my typical 2-3 year old siblings.  This meant they could follow directions well for the elusive sibling shot.  So exciting!

Chelsea is a dear friend and mentor (though I’m not sure she sees herself as that) with three older children. I adore her.

Baby Elliot was a sort of welcome surprise. And folks, he had rolls.  I have never seen such a chunky adorable baby.  He was just 6 days old and had the roundest pot belly and rolls on his legs and arms.  He was nearly 10 pounds at birth!  But Elliot was also one of the curliest and sleepiest babies I’ve ever had.  He was such a joy to photograph.

While I was posting a few sneak peaks on Facebook, Chelsea wrote me these sweet words.

“Last night was a rough night and the morning has continued that pattern. But then I saw the latest picture and it just made everything better. I told you that your talent is a blessing. Thank you!” ~Chelsea

Folks, I nearly cried!  I needed this affirmation so much during the season surrounding this session. Here’s the image that I posted that morning.

Okay… prepare yourself for the explosion of photos to follow. It’s too hard to pick just a few favorites from this session!

Just a visual reminder that this pose should always be completed in Photoshop.
As you can see, Dad’s or my hands never left Elliot unsupported.
And as another note: not all babies find this position comfortable. Elliot simply loved it as you can see by his smile!

When Sarah and I talked during her pre-session consult, she mentioned that the story she wanted her Greenville SC Newborn Photography session to tell was thankfulness to God because babies are a gift.

But everything seemed to stand in our way of even getting to this session. We mis-communicated once and had to reschedule, next, there was an attack of the stomach bug for her little girl, and, finally, my babysitter backed out on me last minute and I scrambled to find a replacement.  I found one last minute and we finally were able to meet.  In case you were wondering, this sort of thing doesn’t normally happen.

But by this time, Shawn was 19 days old. Newborns are best photographed between 5-14 days: at this age the baby still has “womb memory” and retains their ability to curl up tightly without discomfort. After the growth spurt around 3-4 days, they’re also extremely sleepy which makes my job much easier.

19 days is officially the oldest newborn I have ever photographed, but, oh, how hard we worked for some of these images.  And Shawn definitely had opinions about how he wanted to be posed.  I’ll write about the differences between an under 14 days newborn and a 19 day newborn for an upcoming post. I’m willing to do both, but know that your imagery will be different.

But for now I want you to hear that Sarah’s vision of thankfulness for this precious gift of God was realized in this session.  I’m thankful for our ability to capture these images despite our obstacles.  I’m thankful that I was able to meet him.  I’m thankful that Lily, at almost 4 years old, was able to follow directions precisely for gorgeous sibling shots.

But most of all I’m super thankful for the time I was able to hold this precious bundle of joy and rock him to sleep.  I was so blessed to be a part of this family’s story.

And a final one to make you laugh (because it cracks me up every time)!  Shawn, I pray you’re bring your family many more laughs and lots of joy.

Andrew’s mommy is a photographer acquaintance from college. I saw her using Pinterest to collect tutorials on the “Frog Pose” featured above and offered to help her achieve that image.  I guess that means I’m a Greer SC Newborn Photographer who does mentoring sessions? I really do love helping other photographers learn 🙂

Let me tell you, it was so nice to have another photographer in the room.  I could pose and she could photograph which is one of those things that make sibling images so much smoother: especially with a sibling as young as Sophie (2).  It was a little slice of heaven.  So about half of these images she took and the other half I did, but I edited them all for the purpose of this blog 🙂

But the real reason I invited her over was so that Michelle could get in the images too.  As a photographer, it’s pretty difficult to get ourselves in our images and I wanted to give her that gift.

In return, Michelle gifted me some images of me doing one of the things I love most: posing squishy little babies.  Thank you, Michelle!

Sometimes if you tickle a cheek the baby smiles. 😉

I can’t even begin to tell you what an honor it was to be contacted by this client for Greenville, SC newborn photography for baby number 2!  I served Amy way back in my portfolio building days two years ago as my fourth baby ever. The lighting was horrible the first day we shot, so I had to go back and shoot again.  I was learning so much in those days and my imagery needed to grow in so many ways.  I was both surprised and honored that my images were still featured prominently in Amy’s home.

Here are a few favorites from Charli’s session two years ago.  As you can see, I’ve always sort of leaned toward the relationship images 🙂  These family black and whites are precious!

Now look how big and beautiful Charli is two years later!  So pretty and such a sweet big sister!

Piper Olivia’s Greenville, SC Newborn Session

For Piper’s session, I finally managed to heat my studio room to the precise temperature to keep a newborn happy and sleepy.  We were all sweating profusely, but sweet Piper never woke once and let us pose her however we wanted. I’d also just completed my first newborn workshop, so lots of things were coming together for me! I’m really excited about this imagery.

Mom brought this ruffled diaper set. I loved that it inspired me to finally nail this pose! Love those back wrinkles.

Piper’s also one of only two girls I’ve been privileged to photograph this year: what’s with the boy baby boom? I need another girly fix and soon!