Embarking on the journey of parenthood is a whirlwind of emotions, and capturing those precious moments should be nothing short of magical. I recently stumbled upon my daughter's newborn photo from the hospital, and let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster of nostalgia and frustration.

You see, back then, my photography focus was weddings and families. Newborn photography was a realm unknown to me. Trusting the hospital to bring in a photographer seemed like the logical choice at the time. Oh, how I wish I could turn back the clock and rethink that decision!

Enter the hospital photographer, armed with a computer on wheels and a camera. She was pleasant enough until I repeatedly told her we didn't want the huge packages. I couldn't justify spending $300 for 5 photos. We went with the smallest package (1 8x10, 1 5x7, and 4 wallets for $75). The photographer swiftly turned my cozy hospital room into a makeshift studio, tossing aside my bedding like it was yesterday's news. With a flick of her wrist, she posed my newborn on the couch, capturing a moment that did no justice to her sweet face. Safety precautions? Nonexistent. My baby rolling off the couch? A plausible scenario. After those two photos she returned to her computer and my husband rushed to hold our new baby girl. With a huff she asked which one we wanted. My photographer's eye didn't really want any but she had us pay before she began. So I chose one and then she was off to the next new mom. I felt like I was part of an assembly line and she was just out for her commission. I vowed right then never to allow a hospital photographer to touch my babies.

Fast forward to my youngest baby's birth—I refused to let the hospital take his photos. The nurses and staff guilt-tripped me because of my decision. Eventually, my husband had enough and informed them that I was a photographer and that we had had a bad experience before. Finally, they relented. It's not fair to make a new mom feel less than perfect and push her to do something she doesn't want to do. 

Now, with those experiences etched in my memory, I strive to ensure no mom feels the way I did. During lockdown, I delved into newborn safety classes, and still constantly educate myself to keep your precious one safe and capture unforgettable moments.

So, what can you expect from a newborn session with me? The studio will be warm. Baby is use to an environment of mom's internal warmth. The warmth will help them sleep and sleep means safety. Also, I work at baby's pace. If baby is having a hard time with a pose I assess if baby's gassy, hungry, or truly hates the pose. If it's gas I'll try to work it out of them with gentle massage or burping them. Sometimes this results with spit up or poop on me. It's okay... I'm washable! If it's hunger then I like to give them a bottle or if mom is breastfeeding I hand baby off to mom. If baby hates the pose then we skip it and move on with the session. This is why sessions are two hours for full newborn sessions.

I've got an arsenal of props, wraps, outfits, and backdrops designed for newborn photography. Bring in your own sentimental items, and I'll ensure they pass the safety check. Pacifiers? I've got hospital-issued ones to soothe, but no pressure—your parenting choices are respected.

We'll start with solo photos, ease into sibling shots, and wrap up with heartwarming family portraits. You can kick back and relax while we create memories to cherish.

My mission is clear: no one leaves my studio feeling the way I did with my hospital newborn photographer. Let's make this experience unforgettable, filled with moments that will be treasured for a lifetime.