Sometimes it is hard to choose my favorite image from each newborn photography session.  With Marley’s session that was not the case.  I knew the moment that I was done taking her portraits that my favorite would be this image.  Nothing is more perfect than a family.  Some families are created without many trials along the way.  Some family’s are blessed to happen without a wrinkle.  Some families have to spend some time as a unit of two before they become three.  Those families are always my favorite.  There is extra reason for celebration when a baby finally finds it’s way into a childless home.  Marley’s parents were beaming ear to ear the whole time I photographed their precious daughter.  I am SO excited to share all of her images with them.  But this one, is the best.  Because it is them, holding in their arms are daughter that is most wanted.

“Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. Before you were an hour, I would die for you. This is the miracle of love.” – Maureen Hawkins

As a newborn photographer I try to capture the little details of brand new babies that are going to be significant to parents as their infants become children and then adults.  As a mother of 4 “big” kids I feel like I have an advantage.  I know from experience the things that you miss.  One of the things about being a mom of a brand new little soul is the feel of that tight grasp around your finger.  It is often times the first contact between a mother and her new baby.  From the moment a baby is born to a year later when your newborn is a toddler and learning to walk you build up a pretty significant attachment to those little hands.  So many things that you will never forget.  The tight squeeze, the soft skin, the chubby padding of those little puppy paws all things that you imprint on.  I think one of the things that make humans such an amazing species are our five senses.  I know that other animals have individual senses that are superior to ours. But I don’t think (and admittedly I am no expert) that any animal uses all five senses the same way we can.  So many memories bond themselves to our senses.  Touch is just one.  I know that as Kensley grows this image of her precious newborn hand will become more and more significant to her mother.  Those teeny tiny fingers, those newborn flakes, the wrinkles of chub around her wrist all of it makes for a treasured memory.  Sometimes it is those simple things that matter the most to us.

I swear the cutest babies live in Puyallup, and I see a lot of cute babies come to my photography studio.  I think it helps that Puyallup babies live close to the best children’s boutique I know.  If you are looking for the perfect duds for a photography session than Sugar Babies will not disappoint.  Every time I go there I wish my own children were still a size 5 or smaller.  Many of the things I have stocked my own studio with come from this heaven for mother shoppers.  Emily, who is cute as can be, and doesn’t need the perfect frock to make her shine, really knew how to rock her pink tutu.  I love how it is so perfectly piled all around her.  She is such a princess.  I should have put a crown on her precious little head.  She ate her cake like a princess too.  One lick at a time.