Max was around two weeks old when I photographed him a few weeks ago and already a little charmer. What I love about this family is how obvious their devotion is to one another. From the careful way Max’s big brother holds him, to the way his daddy looks into his eyes, and the comforting touch of mommy’s hand… these are my favorite kinds of sessions, where the magic is already there, you just have to keep clicking!
Enjoy.
I was so excited for this family session at the Laguna College of Art and Design which I scheduled during my vacation to Southern California a few weeks ago. Ever since little Liam was born, his mom and I have been trying to coordinate schedules. It was awesome to have been able to make it happen. And since I used to live in the O.C., the opportunity to shoot in my old stomping grounds was one I could not miss.
It turned out to be almost impossible to select a “few good” images from this session because there were so many. Liam literally shines on camera (that smile!) and his parents are obviously so full of love and wonder just watching him that every image had something real, warm, and special about it. Even Grandma got in for a few shots!
It was great to be back in SoCal and nice to have a change of environment to shoot in. Now I want to schedule more sessions in the O.C. Any takers?
I am just giddy about sharing my first ever birth photo session with you!
Photographing a birth is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I had seen other photographers do it and just thought (a) what a wonderful privilege to be invited to capture those intimate moments and (b) how awesome to have photos to look back on, as a mom, to remember all those little details that all-too-easily diminish in your memory over time. Photography, to me at least, is primarily about capturing emotions and feelings, freezing special moments in time , and secondarily about “art”; there really is no more emotional moment than the birth of a baby.
So, I was super excited when this family chose me, and a friend and fellow photographer, to be on-call for the birth of their second son at Folsom Mercy Hospital.
Bradyn was born shortly after 8pm on Sunday and weighed-in at a healthy 7lbs and 7ozs. My favorite moments from his welcome party were seeing him emerge into the world, so perfect and such a miracle; the quiet love and pride on both mom and dad’s faces as they held him for the first time; and the itching anticipation of two grandmas and a grandpa, just waiting to get their hands on him.
THANK YOU to Bradyn’s entire family for allowing me into your delivery room, for letting me stand in front of you during critical moments so I didn’t miss a shot, and for not once giving me a “you’re so in the way” look. BIG THANKS to mom for allowing me to share these intimate photos with you on my blog; I know not everyone would be comfortable with that and I so appreciate it. Thanks also go to the wonderful team of nurses at Folsom Mercy, where I also had my daughter. They were always kind and accommodating to the intrusion of my lens and that made this a much more pleasurable experience than it would otherwise have been.
Enjoy this beautiful birth story…
Interested in having your baby’s birth photographed? I’d love to do it again and am close to Mercy Folsom, Kaiser Roseville, and Sutter Roseville hospitals. My birth package includes being on-call for 4-weeks surrounding your due date, up-to 4 hours of coverage during labor and delivery, all the digital images to print-and-share, plus a 20% discount on all my print products. Please Contact Me here or send an email to michelle@mbymphotos.com for more information.
Baby Max is due in early April. I just loved how his big brother, Cole, is already soooo in love with him.
This was a really sweet and relaxed at-home session. So many people worry about their home not being “ideal” for a photo session but during pregnancy and the early days of a newborn’s life, it’s often the place where everybody is most relaxed. And that is always when you capture the most beautiful moments…
I just love newborn sessions at home. They are fast becoming my favorite type of family session. Not because they are beautifully staged or perfectly lit but because it is just truly an honor and a privilege to be allowed into those first few, intimate days at home with a new baby and her family. They’re also super challenging – in a good way – because I have limited space and locations and, often as is the case for me, I’m also trying to encourage a stroppy toddler to model the doting sibling. It never fails, folks. The minute I walk in the door with camera-in-hand, even the most loving siblings flip the obstinate switch! Making beautiful portraits in those moments is fun, emotional, and creatively stimulating for me.
And so it was for the Wilson family and their second daughter, Caitlin, just 9 days old…
If you are pregnant and hoping to schedule a newborn session in the future, I highly recommend trying to schedule within the first 7-10 days of your baby’s life. Babies are still sleepy and curled-up at this time and easier to work with. Although your baby may not arrive “on” your due date, I can block out time around that date to ensure we don’t miss our window of opportunity.
And don’t stress. So many moms worry about how they will look and how their house will present. Honestly, anywhere with a window is a great location for a photo – all these images were taken within 5 feet of a patio door – and newborn sessions are literally the most laid-back sessions for you! The first 30 minutes I work with your baby one-on-one while you relax or finish getting ready. Plus, you’re at home, so everything you could possibly need is on-hand for you and your baby.
Please call me if you would like to learn more. 916.200.3956.
OMG, newborn babies! Who can resist? Baby Nate was just four days old when I had the privilege of taking his photo recently. This meant he was super sleepy and putty in my hands for some fun shots on the beanbag. Here is just a preview.
Thanks to the whole Snow family, including a very well-behaved Matthew, for allowing me to intrude in those first few days. It was so wonderful to capture your family in this special moment.
If you’re pregnant and are looking to get sleepy, curled-up photos of your newborn baby, my experience it that you need to schedule with me within the first week of your baby’s life. Of course, babies are cute at every age and if asking a photographer into your home while you’re sleep deprived doesn’t sound like it’s for you, that’s ok too. Just know that your baby will “wake up” sometime soon after the first week and will be less likely to sleep through their session and be more irritable with being moved and posed.
I have lots of other tips and tricks for ensuring a successful photo session with your new baby. Please feel free to email me if you’d like me to dish – even if it’s just for your own shot for the family Christmas card.
Baby Lucca is here! And I am so excited that he is the very first session post on my new blogsite.
Lucca was just 8 days old at the time of our session, which meant he was still super-sleepy and open to being manhandled a little by yours-truly. I just love the shots of him all curled up on the beanbag!
At the same time, my personal favorites always turn out to be the images with mom and siblings in the shots and this photo session is no exception. While it’s awesome to get those cute, curly photos of a naked baby, there’s nothing like capturing the love and wonderment on the faces of the whole family. Those first few weeks are just so special and I’m so blessed to be able to capture them.
Are you pregnant or have a new addition to your family? Memories by Michelle now offers “First Moments” packages that include multiple sessions from maternity to first birthday and discounts on other products. Please get in touch to learn more.