I’ve been going through my personal photos lately, and decided to whip up a blog post and share some of them. Mostly my gang. Over the last few months. Enjoy the little peek into my life

The perfect newborn session. Thats what this was for me.
First, a little backstory.
Before this session I was feeling a little hum-drum about newborn sessions. I’ve just never been that good at the whole- make baby fall asleep, perfectly pose them on a backdrop without waking them up, while you’re sweating-cause its 80 degrees in the room to keep said baby sleeping. (sounds like fun eh?) I’ve given it the ol’ college try. And done ok, but I wasn’t about to be making any calendars anytime soon. and that kinda bummed me out. SO. I did some hardcore thinking, about how I like to play to my strengths. The things I love. The things I’m drawn to and enthusiastic about. None of which was sleeping-cherub baby photos. Maybe it was time to take them off my repitoir.
That’s where this session comes in. Corey and Sheila (the proud mom and dad) are dear, dear friends of ours. This session was sort of a gift to them. As I was getting ready for their session, I felt particularly excited- not just because they were my great friends and I got to snuggle their sweet babe- but also because I realized I had no expectations placed on me! I could do whatever I wanted and I knew they would be happy and grateful! Going into their session with that mindset, totally changed the way I shot. I approached it like all my other photography sessions. Capturing connection. Emotion. Little moments. With some direction and fun little projects thrown in for good measure. And the result- was my favorite newborn session to date. This is what I want to do. THIS is what I love. If you hire me for a newborn session, THIS is what your session will look like. I will still bring headbands and props, but they will be usued in a less typical way. No more ‘ill hang out for 4 hours until baby falls asleep’. Its so much more fun, natural and special this way. In my opinion. And please note….yes they did have an adorable nursery, but many of these shots were taken just with window light and a small piece of plain wall, or with their living room floor as the background (complete with dog beds that we moved out of the photo) or just the sweet dresser and wall decal used as props. What I’m trying to say is really, your house does NOT need to be spectacular to do this type of a session. I promise.

And just because i have a little rant left in me….I know what some of you moms in particular might be thinking-
‘I just had a baby, I don’t want to be in any photos!’(and trust me, i do understand. I have 3 kids myself) But guess what. Im here to tell you, you should be. You should be in some photos with your baby. Who is with your baby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for, pretty much the entire duration of your infants life? You are.

Who does your baby know and love more than anyone in this world? You.

Why should you not be in your babies photos? Do it for them. Do it because, I promise, when they are 5, 7, and 35 they will love seeing photos of you with them, when they were babies, and so will you. When you are 60 and have grandkids, will you be thinking ‘Jeeze, I look fat and tired. why did I agree to be in those photos!?’ Of course you won’t! I (hope) that you will look back at your photos and remember this incredibly fleeting time in your life, and remember how perfectly imperfect it all was.  Thats what parenthood is to me.  And thats what i want my newborn sessions to be from now on.
Perfectly imperfect.

As some of you may know, the Small family has been expecting. Our little girl was due  on the 22nd of September, and per usual…she showed up right on time (just lik eher  brother). Amry weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. and was born at 5:34  pm, after a fast and furious 6 hour birth. (hopefully someday here ill post some candid [don't worry, not scary]  shots of the day, and her, right after she was born, but for now, i wanted to post a few of lately.

This was a fun little impromptu thing we did one evening. I was 37 weeks. 

Anddddd…what kind of a photographer would i be, if i didn’t post a ‘before and after’?? (Also the top i was 38 weeks)

And one of her ‘official’ one week old photos.

A few weeks back I got to visit this lovely family and photograph their baby girl right before her first birthday. I had the pleasure of doing this doll’s Newborn and 6 Month photos as well, so this was icing on the cake! (You can click here to see her newborn photos. Sadly i didn’t blog her 6 month photos {yet} its on my list to catch up on a bunch of things i didn’t post when i got uber busy this past year) She was SUCH a breeze to photograph. Sometimes toddlers esp. girls can be tricky around this age as they can start to get that clingy unsure way…as apposed to a few months earlier when not much phases them, but not Journey. She just chilled (and didn’t even make me chase her too much!) yah, i really had it easy. No worries though, i like workin for it too, so don’t think i can’t handle your little one! I love a good challenge. (Plus, lets not forget I have two, soon to be three of my own!) Anyway, enough rambling. Here is what you’re waiting for!

Noel your pictures of her get better everytime!!

 - David (Journey’s Dad)
Thanks David! (:

Here is a sneak peek of the caaaa-uuute little bean i had the pleasure of taking pictures of this weekend! She was such a doll. She yawned for me AND fell asleep like it was her job. What a trooper!  was lucky enough to take this family’s photos a year or so ago. It was so nice to get to see them again, and see how their kids had grown. And this year, they were one more than last. Can’t wait to see them again next year! (hopefully)  ;)

Guess who’s behind on blogging again?!?!? Gah! I’m awful, but I’m working on it! I SWEAR! Here is baby Drew. What a sweet little guy he was. I can’t wait to see him again in a month or so when I shoot his Mummy and Daddy’s wedding! Eeek!

So I was realizing the other day when I was making an OpLove business card to give to my FIRST OpLove client, that I didn’t have any info up on my blog about Operation: Love Reunited! Well, lets fix that!

I recently decided to join this non profit organization- which provides free photo shoots to military families who are either about to be deployed, are deployed, or are returning home. The volunteering photographer then compiles an album of shots from the session to send to the deployed family member, in hopes of boosting morale for that soldier.

I am so excited to be a part of this, and to, in a small way, show my gratitude for all those militarty folks who give SO MUCH for us, everyday. My brother has been in the Marines for almost 20 years, and been deployed more than once, so i thought this would be a lovely way to honor him and his family. I’ve always felt there aren’t enough words that could show gratitude for what they, and all service members do for us- so I will give them photo’s instead.

For more information on OpLove sessions, or to find a photographer in your area click here to visit their website!

I had the pleasure of taking this BEAUTIFUL little girls pictures a few weeks back. She was really such a pretty little girl- and she did so well. She didn’t want to sleep too much for me, but even when she was awake, she was so peaceful and calm. She must get it from Mum and Dad.  ;)

Ugh. I just had a BLAST with this little cutie (and her lovely Mom!) She was 3 months old. Oh, how I love photographing that age- which is funny cause a lot of photogs don’t, simply because babies that age can’t sit up on their own yet, but aren’t really sleepy- easy to pose newborns either. I just love how expressive and curious they are. I find them to be so happy and interactive at that age. What fun! Well, You’ll see…

What an adorable family the Jones’ were! Lets see, I did this shoot, innnnn…..January, i believe. And I’m just now blogging it. In March. Yes. One of my business goals for this year, is to get a really awesome, super-de-duper great website, that’s easy to maintain. and possibly a blog too. BUT, for now, here is some ‘Jones’ cuteness…