I recently enjoyed shooting a session with a precious nearly-three-week old baby girl. It's always an adventure photography babies - an adventure I really enjoy. The theory in photography-land is that babies sleep through sessions the best when they're very young, a week or two old. But I've photographed two babies who were three weeks old and several who were much younger, and the three-week-old little guys seem to be the best sleepers for me! This little one slept through most of the first half of her session. Then she decided to stay awake for a while.
The trick is to put away the camera. Then they fall fast asleep! I brought the camera right back in and we got the photos that mom had really been hoping to capture - the baby fast asleep and hanging like a little monkey on a tree in dad's arms! They won't have anything to do with it while awake, but when they're asleep - they are happy as little clams to do all the fun poses!
To the new mom and dad, congratulations! Here are your sneak preview photos - your online gallery is almost ready too!
Little sleepy smile!
Some of my favorite newborn shots involve the "baby in bowl" part of the session. We got lots of cute ones of her sweet face but I had to show this one. I love this shot for that little foot casually propped up on the edge of the bowl. I had to get this one lined up just right! Mom and dad will see the view from the other side, but this is the "public" facing side of this particular photo. :)

This photography stuff is so boring!

I wanted to get a few shots on the front porch because we were shooting at the home the new mom grew up in. We got just a couple in before it was feeding time! I used texture on this one - texture is very "in" these days and I do use it when I feel a photo calls for it. Clients always have to choice to go with or without it whenever I use it.
I get the best session dads! I love this one for that very masculine, tough tattoo and the sweet, softness of his beautiful daughter curled so carefully in his arms. This wasn't posed, and that's one of my favorite things to do as well - catch some of the moments as they are happening. Mom was preparing to feed her and dad was on duty - made for a memorable photo.
This is one of the more challenging shots to get - as mentioned above, they need to be deeply asleep to cooperate. But when it works, it's wonderful - and mom and dad will look back on this one in just a few months and remember how tiny she really was!