I love being a newborn photographer! I love that every week I get to relive my own precious “mommy memories” as I help other families capture theirs. As I was editing this beautiful baby girl’s session I was watching TV through the door from my office to our den. A Glade commercial came on and it brought me to tears. I think the combination of working with a perfect little newborn and the commercial created to tug at my heart strings was a perfect storm for a very emotional moment. Even re-watching it now I get all choked up.
“Baby smell” is one of the things I miss most now that my kids are grown. When I am posing babies with their parents one of the things I will say to them to get the expression I am looking for is, “breath in your baby”. I know it sounds weird. But it works every time. Babies come with a perfect smell to go with that flawless, peachy skin. And you never forget it. I am reminded just how much a baby’s smell means to its mother every single time I watch anything on the Nature channel. It is a marker ingrained in us. And every time I imagine “breathing in” the smell of my babies (now that they are all grown) it takes me back to those first moments in the hospital. Cradling them in my chest. Rocking them in the rocker and lying next to them on the bed. Smell is such a poignant sense. It encapsulates so many details. Just one smell makes the memories all rush back.
I am so happy that I get to capture parents “breathing in” the smell of their brand new babies. Treasure it up. It is indeed one of the “Best Feelings In The World”.
In case you want to cry with me her is the commercial… grab a tissue!
This is a very personal post for me. Last week I photographed a friend’s newborn baby boy. Since he was a tiny peanut in his mother’s tummy my family and I have been praying and fasting for him. We have prayed for his life, his strength, his family and most of all for a miracle! Sharing a part of your heart as you faithful pray for a miracle on behalf of someone, bonds you to them. I feel like I have given a part of myself to him. With so many scary prognoses floating around the life line of this precious baby he had hundreds of people pouring out their souls to the Lord for his well being. It is an intimidating thing to pray for a miracle of wholeness and well being for a baby doctors are worried about surviving. I am so proud of his brave mommy and his courageous family.
Visiting him in the hospital and holding him I couldn’t help but think how perfect he was. I know that our hopes and prayers are not always answered the way we want them to be. I know that others suffer and soulful supplications seem to go unheard. I have been there at the hospital for families whose miracles never happened. What I do know is that God loves us. I do know that tragedy is indiscriminate. It strikes the good and the bad. Life is messy. But this time He intervened. Luke has a purpose that required he stay and live with relative good health.
I can legitimately say that I love this little boy. He is precious, smoochably cute. But most of all he is a miracle. He is strong, heart and soul!
Zac’s family has been coming to see me from there home in Bonney Lake for a few years. Zac is their second baby I have photographed. What a privilege that is! When I have families come in for baby portraits this is one of the poses I aim to capture for them. Why? Because it is something I miss. I miss it terribly. Watching my babies discover their toes and play with them in fascination always made me so happy. I can remember lying on the floor with them and just enjoying those moments. Life was so simple then. Now chores, homework, prepping for college, sports, piano lessons, teenager angst, hormones and so many other things get in the way.
These days are the best days. When it is just you, your baby and his toes.
I love when my newborn photography clients come back to see me for baby portraits. It is a special treat when they are from my neck of the woods here in Puyallup. The sitting stage is such a wonderful time for portraits. Babies are just coming into their own at around six months. Their little personalities have started to bloom. They love hand games and song. Their smiles are real smiles, not gassy flukes. Just like their newborn session I like to keep things simple so that they can be the shining stars of their own show. Jack is bigger and stronger and all full of smiles. But as you can see there is a lot that hasn’t changed. He is still a cherub ready to melt your heart.
Being a newborn photographer is such a wonderful job. I get to be one of the first people to witness a miracle. The creation of a family. I think families aren’t really a “family” until a baby has brought two people in love together in a way only a newborn can. Before baby arrived Mom and Dad had their own careers, their own interests, their own goals. Once a little one arrives they are bond together with “glue” so to speak. Now they have to yolk themselves together to bring up a little person. Parents careers take the back seat as their singular purpose, interests and goals change in a moment to the bringing up of a healthy happy child. I love family portraits with brand new babies. It is such a significant time and it is such an honor to be the one behind the camera.
Maxine Evans - Squish! Love him 🙂
Angela - So cute! Adorable!
Meghan Rickard - Oh I love her chub!
Eden - Love this hammock shot! He’s adorable!
Jackie T - This photograph is just so perfect. The neutral tones are soothing, and that little babe looks so snuggled up!
Starla Wise - Precious!