A look into the Experience

The Scheduling Process

There are few milestones more thrilling than finding out a little bundle of love is on the way, especially for those who have dreamed of this moment for as long as they can remember. All of the anticipation, planning, and prepping can feel overwhelming – especially for first time parents! But as a Momma of three, my main goal is to make the portraiture experience as easy and relaxing as possible for everyone involved (all the while creating beautiful lasting portraiture of these incredibly exciting – and fleeting – moments)

For those interested in bundling their maternity and newborn portraits – I usually like to schedule the maternity session around 28 – 32 weeks. You still have a darling baby bump to showcase but aren’t so far along that walking feels like a chore and breathing feels challenging. I love doing an outdoor location somewhere around the Dayton area – the natural lighting compliments the session beautifully!

Newborn portraits are typically scheduled 1-2 weeks after delivery. This gives you a at least one full week of bonding and healing before coming into the studio. Many of my clients choose to be in the portraits which allows me to photograph the sweet soft quiet moments of the fourth trimester.

The Studio

My favorite thing about this studio is the tranquil mood that I’m able to create. It’s in an old repurposed warehouse in Dayton, OH. I absolutely LOVE the look of the aesthetic – natural light pours into the original floor to ceiling windows, 100 year old wooden floors creak under your feet, and my ever-growing collection of plants and weeping fig tree cozy up every corner. Soft acoustic music drifts out of a speaker and hot tea is ready and available for sleep deprived parents. I have a comfy rocker ready for feeding and cuddles. I remember exactly what it feels like to be a new first time parent (overwhelming) as well as how it feels to welcome in new little additions to a family (extra overwhelming) and making the experience as relaxing as possible is a high priority of mine.

Studio vs Hospital portraits

Some parents in the Dayton area opt for the hospital portraits where they come into your hospital room and start photographing you and your newest arrival. This is a lovely option for some but I find there are a few areas in which studio sessions are far superior.

First – the last thing I would want to do 24 hours after pushing a baby out of my body (or undergoing major surgery like a c-section) is prep for photos in my hospital bathroom. I couldn’t imagine having to fuss with make up or styling my hair while still having those painful post partum contractions or performing incisional care to my lower abdomen. Not to mention that childbirth is incredibly stressful, even when everything goes wonderfully! Allowing a week or two of healing prior to a session gives your body and mind a reprieve before getting in front of a camera.

Second – those sweet little baby fingers and toes are so beautifully perfect in those first few months, but their skin complexion is (usually) not. Not to worry! As a portrait photographer, my job is to blend the skin tones so the end result is smooth & dreamy. I use natural and studio lighting and spend hours in post production making sure the end result looks straight out of a newborn magazine.

Big Siblings

A new arrival is exciting for parents but also a HUGE milestone for the big sisters & big brothers in the household – and I am so very honored to capture this transition! Siblings are very welcomed to come to the newborn session. I usually do their portion first so they can relax during the last half when I’m rocking the wee babe to sleep for those darling little slumbering poses. I have a treasure chest full of books for them to look through and often times suggests that parents bring plenty of snacks.

Props

I have a beautiful array of soft linens, wool hats, headbands, and baskets to choose from. Often times I’ll see what color scheme a family arrives in prior to selected the newborn ensemble – I love to create the entire gallery with a cohesive look in mind. I set out all of the options and together we will choose which aesthetic not only looks the best with your outfits, but also what colors will look the best in framed in your living room or on your mantle.

Gallery Delivery

I love offering sneak peeks within a week or two of the session (we all looooove having that new phone wallpaper to show off to whoever will look, am I right?) but you will receive the entire gallery within 4 weeks. These are all high resolution fully edited images that you can download from on online collection. This gallery comes with an option to print – which I highly recommend! I spend countless hours trying to get the colors *perfect* and I can not stress enough how important it is to go through a reputable print company who promises products that are ‘true to color’ (meaning it won’t skew the colors or exposure). Print prices are pulled down because I truly want my clients to have the best print options available so that the image in your frame looks the way it does on your screen!!

If you are interested in learning more about a maternity or newborn session, please click here!! I’d love to work with you!!