Kieran’s Fresh 48 – Northside Hospital | Atlanta Newborn Photographer

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Kieran Patrick was born on August 7th, weighing 8lbs 6oz, and he is the absolute perfect addition to his family. The next afternoon, I headed to Northside Hospital to photograph my very first Fresh 48 session, and it was a total dream. Kieran has a 10-year-old big brother who was the sweetest with him and kept asking when it would be his turn to hold him for photos. It’s pretty obvious that it was love at first sight for all members of this family!

This type of session was new to me and one I’ve been excited to try out for some time now. I’m so thankful to this sweet family who welcomed me into their little circle to document this momentous time in their lives. Brand new love… pure and simple. Welcome to the world, Kieran!

Tips for preparing your home for your newborn session | Atlanta Newborn Photographer

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So you have a baby on the way (yay!) and have booked a photographer for newborn portraits…. how do you prepare for your session once baby is here? I sometimes get questions or concerns from parents about not having the perfect nursery, or their house is a mess, or they don’t have much space for newborn portraits… but I’m here to assure you that I’ve worked with a variety of spaces and lighting situations, and I can always find a spot to work with. My goal is to capture this special, awe-inspiring time in your lives — so while the backdrop is a component of your photos, it’s certainly not the focus. I’ve compiled my top tips for parents to help make your in-home newborn session as easy and seamless as possible.

 

  1. Before the session, walk around your house to determine which rooms have the best natural lighting during the day. Sunlight provides a beautiful, natural-looking light for photographs. So turn off the overhead lights and lamps (I know you think that’s crazy, but I promise it’s the way to go!) and open up those blinds and curtains. When I arrive, I’ll do a walk-through to find a couple spots that work best for lighting. Even if it’s just a hallway or a guest bedroom, we can set up shop and you’ll never know the difference in your final images. I do have a special love for shooting in the nursery to capture some shots of baby in his or her own space, even if it’s just using the crib or glider for some solo shots. If you don’t have a lot of natural light streaming into your home, don’t worry — I can bring along some extra lights in case they’re needed.
  2. How should you dress your family? For parents and siblings, there’s no need to match — coordinating colors/patterns are best for photos. Neutral colors are great because they are pleasing to the eye and don’t compete with the focus of the photos, which is your family! The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and look like yourself. If you can have the baby in just a diaper (swaddled up is fine), then we can easily start photos without having to disturb them by removing clothing. I also love a baby in a plain white or light-colored onesie, so having one on-hand is great.
  3. I will provide a few neutral-colored blankets for backdrops, various colored wraps/swaddle blankets, headbands, hats, and a large basket for photos. You are more than welcome to provide anything else you like — a family quilt, a special stuffed animal or outfit, swaddle blankets, headbands, etc. I also have a white noise app that I can play from my phone, but if you have a noise machine or soft music, we can play that to keep the baby calm.
  4. An hour prior to the session start time, turn your thermostat up to about 85 degrees. It’ll be quite toasty for the adults, but baby will love it and be nice and cozy, especially when partially or fully unclothed.
  5. Plan to feed your baby just before the session starts in order to help induce sleep. A full baby is a happy, sleepy baby. It’s also a good idea to have an extra bottle on hand or be prepared to nurse in case they get hungry mid-way through.
  6. It may be easier said than done, but try to relax and just enjoy your session celebrating the newest member of your family! You’re here to soak in the newborn smell, the baby snuggles, and the love that created this new life. I’m here to take care of the details and create beautiful images for you to cherish forever.

Evan’s Newborn Session – Buckhead | Atlanta Newborn Photographer

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It was such a pleasure getting to photograph Allison and Lee’s newest addition to their family. Allison was a sorority sister of mine, and I’ve so enjoyed watching their family grow over the years. Miss Evan is such a cutie pie, and their son Drew is the sweetest big brother ever! He followed us around the house during the session and loved getting to hold his sister’s hand or give her kisses. I couldn’t help but include a couple of outtakes toward the end… one of Drew’s favorite things to do was “make crab eyes!” — hilarious! Allison and Lee, I wish you all the best with your new family of four!

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Jane’s Newborn Session – Buckhead | Atlanta Newborn Photographer

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Miss Jane Frances was an absolute doll at her newborn session last weekend. She didn’t want to sleep much for us, but I’m sort of glad we got to capture those beautiful blue eyes instead! Big sis Caroline was equally as precious, and I had such a lovely time capturing the Mulwee family as a new family of four. Enjoy!

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Ryland’s Newborn Session – Marietta | Atlanta Newborn Photographer

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Some of our good friends in Nashville told me about this nonprofit organization a few months ago called Preemie Prints. Their mission is to support and share hope with preemie, NICU, and angel (those who have had a pregnancy or infant loss) families through a variety of outreach programs. Those programs include the gift of NICU & NICU graduate photography nationwide, all done through volunteer photographers. Knowing several people who have dealt with the struggle of the NICU with their babies, I was thrilled to find this organization to volunteer my services with. My first assignment was with a family in Marietta a few weeks ago.

When the request came to me, this note was sent along from Ryland’s mom, Carrie: “I came down with a condition called the HELLP syndrome. I had to have an emergency C-section at 30 weeks gestation. I was scared for my baby because he was so young and little. He is doing good and gaining weight like crazy. He is currently a little over 4 weeks old (34 weeks gestation). He now weighs 3lbs 7oz! He was put in a crib today!! I have hope that he will come home soon. It has been a long road and we still have a long road ahead of us, but I know he will be fine!”

I so enjoyed getting to know Ryland and his parents, Carrie and Jacob, and I had the best time photographing their little angel. I hope these photos bring them joy for years to come as little Ryland continues to grow!

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