Why you should bring your newborn into the studio for a bonding photo session

Typical newborn photographs involve hours and hours of posing.  Putting the baby in all sorts of outfits on all sorts of props.  But I'm not a props photographer, and I'm not a posing photographer. 

Having a baby is tough.  One of the hardest things you'll do in your life.  So  I prefer to bring moms into the studio when they're ready to be in the frame.  Wait a few weeks, regulate your body, and come when you're ready.

Wait until you're ready (emotionally, physically) to be in deeply felt, meaningful photographs with your baby. You'll wear all black -- your body won't be the focus of these photographs.  But get in them.  Be with your baby.  Because newborn photographs can be so much deeper than just a beautiful aesthetic representation of your baby.  These photographs can represent the complexity and depth of the bond you're building.  

This mama brought her 1 month old and her 4 year old into the studio, and that meant that the photographs had to be kind of off-the-cuff.  Very little time to plan when you've got an energetic, excited 4 year old in the room.  Photographs with a toddler have to be more about what happens in the moment.  And as is the case with most of my toddler-led sessions, they did their own thing for much of it.  It wasn't my idea for them to lay on the floor -- they just naturally kind of came together that way.  But it was so special and unique to their session.  That's my favorite kind of moment.  Just capturing what is.  Not what I think motherhood should look like.  

And you can tell that this little sweet baby felt completely safe and loved during the session.  I have never seen a newborn smile so much at one time.

Bring your babies into the studio.  Let's play!