How to go go with the flow and not stress if the baby isn’t cooperating.

I’ve all seen those adorable photos of new little babies looking so peaceful and relaxed and, not a care in the world. And as new parents, we want similar photos of our children to send out to grandparents, make into screensavers, and blast out to our social media pages to show off our amazing baby. But then session day comes around and BAM! – your baby does not want anything to do with it.

You’re thinking, “Why won’t you stop crying? I’ve literally done everything I can think of, but you’re still not happy. Don’t you know I’m paying good money for this session? Steffani’s baby cooperated in her session, why can’t you just go to sleep and let us get some nice photos?!” and all the other emotions that are running through your head. If this is happening during your session, I want you to stop, and breathe and remember one thing: all newborns cry. This is a natural, real emotion that all newborns have for most of their first few months of life. It’s not abnormal. There is nothing wrong with your child for doing it. It is nothing to be ashamed of. They aren’t doing it to embarrass you. And when you stress out about the fact that they your baby is crying, that then makes things even worse because they he or she knows you’re upset.

Don’t let the crying upset you. Embrace this moment in time. It won’t be long before you forget how their her little forehead wrinkled up whenever they were screaming, or how their toes would get all stretched out and tense when they were upset. Let us capture these little details. These crying photos can evoke real emotion and demonstrate we show the love you have for your child as you try to soothe him or her. Your child can look back at these photos once they’re all grown and remember the solace that they found in your arms. These tender moments are just as important, if not more so, than the sleeping, posed photos.

The point of booking a lifestyle newborn session is to help you preserve the first memories of your child’s life. While posed photos are cute, you’re not going to look back and think, “Remember how cute she was whenever she would lounge around the house in frog-form?” because that didn’t happen. You’ll look back at these photos and remember all the nights you walked your baby around the house or rocked them in a chair and hummed lullabies to try to calm him them down. Those times are very stressful, but they also help you form a bond and that’s what makes these photos treasured.

All that being said, if you have your heart set on those peaceful, posed photos, we can always take a break and try again and, if all else fails, reschedule.

All too often, men will do something just to make their wives happy and photo sessions can fall into this category.

Most men don’t really enjoy having their photos taken, which is why you need to focus on what they do enjoy if you want to convince your spouse that investing a family photo shoot is a good idea.
Jot down a few things that your spouse really loves to do in his spare time or things he enjoys doing with you and your children. Playing a game of baseball, visiting an amusement park or tossing a Frisbee around in the back yard are just a few examples of things your husband would rather be doing than posing in an outfit that you chose for him and staring at a camera for an hour or two.

So how do you bring up the topic of a family photo shoot without getting a giant sigh in return?
The key is to think more about playing and having fun and less about posing.
By setting up a more activity-based family photo shoot, you’ll have a better chance of convincing your spouse that it’s a great idea. Plus, at the end of your photo session, you’ll have everyone smiling and saying how fun the morning or afternoon was.
If posed shots are important to you, spend time taking a few with your kids and then give them a turn to play around and have fun with dad. These sincere moments make for some of the best photos and they’re incredibly fun for photographers to capture too.

Ensure that whatever activity you choose it makes everyone feel at ease, even if this means having a playful picnic in the garden. Remember that there’s no formula for the perfect portrait and trying to achieve this perfection usually just stresses everyone out. It’s best to plan something that everyone in your family will feel comfortable with.
Focus on the fun and your photographer will take care of the rest.

No matter what the occasion or type of shoot, if you are hiring a photographer you should sign a photography contract. The contract will help you and your photographer better establish what is expected and can keep both parties out of any legal disputes. While the contract can seem intimidating there are some key items you will want to pay particular attention to.

Photographer Contracts Must Haves.

The basics.

You want to make sure the general information is included in the photography contract. Name, address, and contact number should be in the contract for both you and the photographer. If you are shooting at a location this should also be stated in the contract along with the date the shoot is taking place. If you are expecting there to be a second photographer their name should be listed as well.

The total price should also be included, as well as any tax you might be expected to pay. There should be a clear breakdown of what is included in the price such as hours of the shoot, prints, additional hour fees, and extras. It should state any deposits you have made, method of payment and the date you need to pay in full.

The rights.

Who will own the copyright of you images is something many people overlook. You want to read carefully how you and the photographer can use the images after the shoot. Will you be restricted from posting them to your social media accounts? Do you have the right to make prints? Will your photographer be using them for promotional items or on their website? You want to carefully discuss this with your photographer to avoid and legal issue in the future.

The clauses.

The photography contract will have a section that protects the photographer against any unforeseen circumstances that make it impossible for them to be present or complete the shoot. Equipment failure, medical emergencies, and other unavoidable situations can prevent the photographer from completing the job they were hired to do. It will typically state whether there is a backup photographer on call, refunds that will be given and other liability issues you will want to be aware of.

Refunds.

You want to know what the cancellation policies are for both you and the photographer. How long before the shoot do you have to inform the photographer you are canceling to be able to get your money back. While most photographers rarely give a full refund you can expect to get something back if you cancel within an appropriate time frame. This also goes for if your photographer has to cancel. Be sure to know what their refund policy is.

Timeline/Shot list.

You want to make sure that you and the photographer are on the same page so having an outline of what you both expect from each other is a good idea to include in the contract. You want to make sure the time you photographer is expected to show up on the day of the shoot is clear and what time they are expected to stay to. If you are having a shoot that consists of different locations, like for a wedding, this should also be included. This allows you to avoid any miscommunication on the day of the shoot.

When it comes to booking your session, there are a lot of questions about how this the process works. Since your new little peanut isn’t here yet, it’s hard to figure out a schedule. Here is what I suggest:

Contact me during the beginning of your third trimester to set a date for the session. I require a deposit of 50% of the session fee to hold the date for you. I only accept newborn sessions during the first 14 days after birth. This means that we will schedule the session for sometime within 2 two weeks of your due date.

I will also hold a spot for two backup dates – one a week after the original session date, and one a week prior to your due date. This is to ensures that if your little nugget doesn’t come according to schedule that you’ll still be covered.

Keep in contact with me as your pregnancy comes to a close, so we can be prepared. After the baby is born, shoot me a message so we can make sure that one of the dates I have set will work out or if we need to move some things around.

 

Also, now through the end of September, 2018 you will receive a free simple maternity session with purchase of a newborn lifestyle session! 

Photos last a lifetime and having professional photos taken doesn’t always need to require you to take an entire day out of your schedule, something that can be especially challenging when you have children or need to get your family together. Mini sessions are the simple solution for people who are strapped for time but enjoy making memories with loved ones. Below are just a few types of mini sessions that you may be able book with your photographer at specific times during the year.

 

Family Sessions

If you haven’t taken some proper photos with your family in a while, a mini session is an ideal way to update your family album. Getting your family together can sometimes be a challenge but mini sessions don’t require people to take a lot of time out of their day, making them more appealing.

 

Seasonal Sessions

Getting outside and using nature as a backdrop makes for some of the best shots, which is why seasonal sessions are so popular. Whether you’re a couple that just got engaged, a family with kids or you have a baby on the way, a mini session that incorporates one of the seasons is a wonderful way to capture some special memories.

 

Portrait Sessions

A portrait mini session is ideal for someone who wants a few professional shots of themselves. They’re also great for couples, friends or any two family members, such as a mom and baby, who want a few photos together. Portrait sessions are also quite popular amongst engaged couples who want a few photos of this special time in their lives and that can also be used for their invites or save the dates. If your child is still in school and will be graduating, a portrait mini session will leave you with some great shots of their achievement.

 

Holiday Sessions

Looking to take a few family shots for use in your next holiday card or as a personalized gift? A holiday mini session is a perfect way to do this. This could be for anything from Mother’s Day to Christmas or Easter.

 

Keep in mind that mini sessions are only offered during limited times so make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter and follow us on social media so you don’t miss out whenever these sessions become available.

 

 

 

Breastfeeding awareness group session

August is breastfeeding awareness month and I wanted to do something special for breastfeeding moms. I did a model call on my instagram page looking for mothers who would like to participate in a group breastfeeding session. I am so happy that these four moms were able to join me in Wickenburg, Arizona to bring my vision to life.

Being a mom who nursed for 19 months and has had a breastfeeding session, I know that they will cherish these images forever and when they look back at them later – with a little tear in their eye – they will be so happy that they were able to capture this special bond they shared with their not so little anymore.

I hope you enjoy seeing these mamas gorgeous images and reading their stories. Make sure to leave them some love in the comments!

This session turned out so perfectly and I loved hearing about their journeys so far. I mean seriously… look how amazing they all look in this group photo.

Mariah’s Story: Around 3 months I had a really rough time nursing. My nipples were raw and hurt all the time, and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to continue. But we pushed through and things have been wonderful ever since. My goal was to try and nurse for six months. I remember in the beginning not enjoying it at all, not just because it was painful but because it felt like a job or a chore I had to do every 2-3 hours. I reached out to a friend when I went through a rough patch and thought about quitting and she helped me push through and told me it would become something I would really cherish. I remember thinking she was crazy, but Logan is now 9 months old and I love the bond we share while she nurses and plan to continue until she’s at least one year. Logan likes to put her foot in my face and pull my hair while she nurses I think it is so cute!

Mariah’s Advice to nursing moms: Reach out to other nursing moms when you have questions and don’t be afraid to ask silly questions. I’ve learned so much on this crazy journey and can’t wait to share and help other mamas!

Lisa’s Story: My first daughter I breast-fed until she was almost 4!! But she was both bottle and breast. My second daughter was breast- fed until she was 6 months. Now, I plan to breastfeed until David wants to stop. I’m ok with him not wanting to be independent just yet!! Lol. It has been demanding though since he has refused a bottle and pacifier since day 1.. but it’s gone smoothly. I love that he puts his foot on my chest and hums while I am nursing him and it is something I will alway remember about our journey.

Lisa’s advice to new nursing moms: Stick with it for as long as you can. The benefits are amazing for both baby and you!! It’s precious time for you two to bond and enjoy together.

Steffani’s Story: Nursing came very easy to me and also to both of my babies. I’ve been very lucky and grateful to have come this far. I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my babies. Once I gave birth, I joined several online and in person support groups that were integral to our success during the learning process. They not only taught me what was normal and to be expected, but I formed great friendships with like minded mamas with similar aged babies. I recently started my tandem nursing journey and it’s been incredible. I love knowing that both my babies are getting the best possible nutrition, but they’re also bonding together and with me. It’s definitely minimized the jealousy factor and I couldn’t be more blessed. I plan to allow both my babies to self wean when they’re ready, but hopefully that won’t happen before they’re two. I feel so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity with my babies.

Steffani’s advice to new nursing moms: My advice to new nursing moms is to be patient and allow yourself and your baby time to adjust. It can be painful and extremely exhausting at times, but it gets easier and I don’t think any mom ever regrets any amount of time they spent breastfeeding. I’d also suggest joining support groups, whether online or in person, they are so beneficial to learning moms and babies.

Angela’s Story: I nursed my first child until about 6 months. After returning to work my supply drastically decreased and it was difficult to keep up to my child’s demand so I stopped once he was eating solids. I will try to go as long as I can with my second child. Overall nursing has been pretty smooth, it definitely helps to have taken a class and having friends who have nursed their children for support because something always comes up!

Angela’s advise to nursing moms: Do whats right for you and baby and don’t worry about other people. Talk to other nursing mommas for advice/support!

Welcome back to the blog, dear readers! Today I’m sharing a preview of the newborn lifestyle session I recently had with Teagyn, who was welcomed into this big world on 8/4/18 to Steffani and Anthony. As you can imagine, Mom and Dad are equal parts exhausted and delirious with their sweet baby girl.

When mom seen Teagyn for the first time she remembered thinking that she was so excited to finally have her precious little girl in her arms and that she couldn’t wait for their other kids to meet her. Their favorite part of having Teagyn home has been feeling like their family is finally complete. Mom said, “Teagyn is such an easy baby and so loveable. She loves to be snuggled and rocked.” How could they not totally be in love?

When I asked mom and dad how their other kiddos reacted to baby Teagan this is what they said,  “Teagyn is number 4 in our family. We have Madysen, who is 5, Bryli is 19 months, and Xavier is 11 months. Mady and Bryli have both become little mommies, always wanting to hold Teagyn and help me out with getting her diapers, wipes, blankets, etc. I was nervous to see how Bryli would respond to a baby, but she couldn’t be more in love. She loves to rock her in her swing, cover her with a blanket and hold her hand while she’s eating. Xavier hasn’t really discovered that Teagyn is here yet. He doesn’t ever go near her or acknowledge that she’s around, but as he grows, I know they’re going to be super close. I can’t wait to see how all their relationships start to form.”

Their family has expanded faster than most in the last 3 years, mom and dad have gone through foster care, an adoption, 2 pregnancies and are continuing their foster journey. It has really kept their hands busy and their hearts full. There’s never a dull moment in their house, but they wouldn’t have it any other way and I feel so lucky to have been given the chance to be a (small!) part of their parenthood journey.

Congrats on your growing family, Steffani and Anthony!

 

 

 

 

“I don’t want my photos to look posed”, is a phrase we hear all the time.
A lifestyle photography session documents real life milestones, moments and events and gives you images that are anything but posed. Lifestyle photography photos tell your story just as it is at that precise moment and are perfect for any genre of photography. Action driven details bring your images to life over and over again.
So what are some of the situations where lifestyle photography can be used?

Family Photography
There is nothing quite like having the family together. The laughing, games, meals and memories are truly something to treasure. A lifestyle photography session is the perfect excuse to get your family together and capture different generations spending quality time with each other. Why not shoot a family lunch or time spent playing outside in the garden? Capturing moments between siblings or grandparents and grandchildren are photos you can treasure for years to come.

Kids Photography
Lifestyle photography is the ideal way to capture the beauty and authenticity of childhood. Make sure your children are well rested and that they’re comfortable in both their clothing and their surroundings. Patience is key during this type of session but this is when the magic happens. Bringing along a favorite snack, toy or book won’t hurt either.
Believe it or not, the most successful photos often happen when we let the kids lead the session. It’s all about making it a magical and spirited time where there is lots to take in. Sitting back and capturing those honest moments will ensure beautiful images that you’ll love for decades.

Newborn Photography
Lifestyle photography naturally lends itself to newborn photo sessions. True to life, crib and bassinet shots taken through the slats make for stunning photos. Then there are of course the shots with mom, dad, brothers, sisters and even the family pet. Moments that may seem mundane now such as bathing, feeding or even changing a diaper, from a distance of course, make for creative shots that you’ll love for years to come. Playing with and rocking your baby are also moments that you definitely won’t regret taking the time to capture as it gives you fond memories to look back on in the months to come as your baby grows and their routine changes.

My family and I spend A LOT of time by the pool and at Lake Pleasant during the summer and I must say, I am obsessed with @swimzip swimming suits! With summer here I thought I would share them with you because they are seriously great! Plus they will be perfect for underwater photos this summer.

I have two great swimming suits by Swim Zip and I am amazed by the quality. They are some of the best swimming suits I have ever had for my daughter. I love how many different ways the three piece can be worn and I love how much coverage the surf suit has. Might I add that they are UPF 50+ sun protection and have a great variety of swimming suits to choose from for girls, boys and women! Check out some adorable photos of my daughter below.

Find more adorable swimsuits at www.swimzip.com