A COVID Newborn Session
I could write a whole series about the challenges of giving birth and all things newborn during the current COVID-19 pandemic. I have not blogged in months because, quite frankly, it is overwhelming at times to process it all!
This beautiful family booked me last fall, so we had been months in the planning. The original plan was to document a Fresh 48 session in the hospital after their baby was born. Among mom’s priorities were capturing images of big sister meeting the new baby and capturing all those sweet little newborn details. Mom had a previous preterm delivery, so she had hoped that she would make it full-term this pregnancy and avoid the long NICU stay they had experienced last time. Unfortunately, she delivered two months early, in the middle of the early shutdowns. To say it was frightening for them would be an understatement.
This meant there was no documenting either in the hospital or in the NICU and even visits from both parents were tough to navigate for fear of coming and going from the hospital in the middle of our first surge.
Luckily, as this sweet girl was able to come home from the NICU two months later, we had just started to open back up again, and photographers were allowed to operate at limited capacities, so mom reached out to me, and we altered our original plan to an in-home newborn session. I love how it turned out!
I just love that this family has such a positive outlook, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Big sister felt so comfortable at home and much more at ease with her baby sister after having her home for a week before their session.
My COVID precautions include frequent hand washing, sanitizing items between sessions, using new items for items that cannot be properly sanitized, and wearing a mask at all times. I keep my distance as much as possible as well. Your safety is so important to me and something I take very seriously.
This family was so smitten with this little one, and it was so beautiful to watch. I just loved mom’s outfit choices and color palette; they were true perfection.
I am so grateful that this family trusted me in their home during a time of so many unknowns, and I am so happy we captured such beautiful images for them to have forever. Mom is so great at printing her images, and I have no doubt they are already hanging on their beautiful walls.
Tuesday, September 15th, 2020
In-Home Newborn
I was so excited when this mama reached out to book their in-home newborn session with me.
A dear friend and client referred Alyssa to me, which is always an honor! I also worked with this dad in labor and delivery as he is a local anesthesiologist.
When people I know are pregnant, I always secretly on the inside hope that they will contact me, and when I found out, they were expecting hoped I would be able to document any part of welcoming their sweet baby girl into this world.
I love getting that text or email from parents saying that their babies are safely here and they are ready to set up their newborn session. All those weeks and months of waiting and anticipation have finally arrived, and hearing that everything is well is always the best news!
When I arrived at their home and saw just how beautifully and thoughtfully decorated it was, I have to admit my heart just jumped inside my chest. Of course, your home DOES NOT have to be perfect or Pinterest-worthy to capture beautiful images during your newborn session! The light and decor sure were perfect, though!
Baby O was just like a real-life baby doll. So much hair and all her perfect little petite features just melted my heart. Mom and dad were totally smitten by her and kept telling me they couldn’t take their eyes off her. You could feel all the love between them all throughout the whole session, it was so heartwarming.
One of my favorite spaces to use during in-home newborn sessions is your bedroom. It is usually a comfortable space, and it is such a great space to cozy up in naturely.
I just loved that they included their furry children in their session!
Thank you so much, Rubio Family, for trusting me with such a special time in your lives!
Wednesday, May 13th, 2020
I have a whole list of reasons why I am passionate about documenting newborns and their families in their homes here in Las Vegas.
As much work as it is, I truly love blogging, especially if it can help someone else! Hopefully, this post will be helpful to anyone trying to decide whether an in-home newborn session is for them.
One of my favorite things about in-home newborn sessions is that they have so much more of a relaxed feel for me. I photographed newborns in my studio for six years and loved it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with posed newborn photography. The reason I moved away from my studio work into the homes of families and from posed to lifestyle is that I really developed a love for filmmaking and for really digging into the stories of each family. Birth stories have become my true passion. To be able to work cohesively with the families I serve, I really felt drawn away from the studio, and into the homes of families, where their memories are made and where they feel the most comfortable.
Not having to take your baby out of the house during those first weeks is a good reason to consider an in-home session! I know that there are still appointments and places you have to go in those weeks, but the safest place is almost always home. You can control who interacts with your baby and know exactly how clean the items are that you use.
This family is a good example of why I feel in-home newborn sessions are so wonderful. Although they had posed newborn images of their older two, they were really interested in capturing beautiful images without the worry and work of getting everyone out of the house and managing them in a strange environment.
In the weeks before their due date, we communicated often, and I checked in to see how things were going. Mom had delivered at different gestations with her previous two, so it was hard to know which way she would go. As luck would have it, she went over her due date! When their baby finally arrived, things got even crazier. Poor dad got sick. Thank goodness the time crunch is not as vital for in-home newborn sessions. For posed newborn sessions I really tried to get my clients in within the first 10-14 days while the baby was still sleepy and easily settled in those adorable posed images you see.In contrast, lifestyle newborn images
We were past the three-week mark when dad finally felt well enough for us to move forward with their session. Because time restrictions aren’t so stiff with in-home newborn sessions, we were able to be sure that dad could be present and feel well enough to participate.
Another thing I love about in-home newborn sessions is that siblings feel so much more at home, and are able to move in and out of the spaces we work in comfortably. Big brother and sister were able to go upstairs and play with their toys with their babysitter while I focused on mom and dad, helping everything to stay relaxed and everyone at ease, which shows in images!
Another thing I love about in-home newborn sessions is that we use the spaces that hold the most meaning to you. Your baby will grow in the spaces where all those memories unfold. I love that you and your children will look back on images we have captured together and have the sentimental feelings associated with them.
While mom was feeding baby brother, we could just play and relax and capture some images of dad with big brother and sister.
We then moved to little E’s room to capture some of the details there. This is another space I love to use during newborn sessions.
No matter where you document your newborn, whether by hiring a posed studio newborn photographer, or a lifestyle photographer in your own home, I encourage you to do so! The newborn stage of life is one of life’s most fleeting periods between sleepless nights, diaper changes, and feedings. It passes quickly, and they change even quicker!
Tuesday, March 24th, 2020
