My First Post-COVID Newborn Session | Whidbey Island Family Photographer

Oh, hello world!

Where do we go from here? In the midst of COVID shutting down the world, all of my sessions were put on hold for several months. But living in the middle of nowhere comes in handy every once in a while, as we've now been in Phase 3 for some time. I've had a super-busy-crazy-summer trying to fit six months of sessions into three, but listen - I'm not complaining AT ALL. I'm so grateful to be working, and I've literally had my best season ever. I've worked with the most amazing families, and have so many plans in the works for next year. 

For now I want to start sharing these lovely 2020 sessions that have filled me up and given me a sense of purpose in these wild and turbulent times. So here goes...

Watch your story unfold

I want to try something new, and let you see (and hopefully FEEL) how my clients see their gallery for the first time.

I know, I know - it probably seems super sappy, but there's a good reason (well, several actually), why I've incorporated slideshows into my sessions over the past year, and why I'll continue to include them going forward: 

1. Your slideshow feels more like a story, which is the way I shoot it. I want to tell the (beautiful!) story of your family in this moment of your lives, and there's something about hearing music that brings the images to life.
2. As mothers (where my ladies at?!) it's so easy to pick ourselves apart in pictures (or worse yet, not get in them in the first place!). We see little imperfections that no one else does, and my goal is to shift the narrative so that you see the love your family has for you. I want you to see the way your baby's eyes light up when you smile at him, or the giggle you and your spouse share when I ask you to snuggle or smooch. 
3. And lastly, your slideshow shows (hopefully!) why holding on to ALL of your images is so important. I always suggest my clients invest in an album with their print credit, because it's the best way to see the story of your session via TONS of images laid out in a book (like a story - get it?!), instead of just enjoying one or two images hanging on the wall, which - let me be clear - I also suggest!

The story behind the images

Instead of posting all of the images from the session below the slideshow, I decided to pick out a few of my favorites and tell you why I took the image and give you some behind-the-scenes context. Let me know what you think friends! Because otherwise I have to ask my cats, and - let's be honest - they're pretty judgy. ;)

Let's go behind-the-scenes, shall we?

I picked out a few of my favorite images from Ali and Carl's in-home newborn session, and wanted to share with you why I took the image and why I was excited to include it in their final gallery. And when I say "newborn," the session actually took place several months after baby Sully was born due to social distance requirements (hence his adorable rolls and even-more-adorable personality!). Can I just say that after this session I'm a huge fan of waiting?! I don't put babies in bowls so there's no rush to take pictures in the first few weeks. Let baby's personality come out and give me a ring, okay? 

The last time I saw Ali and Carl was when I shot big brother's newborn pictures, and it was so fun to see Owen as a big boy. I love this shot because mom and dad are just chilling, letting him get out his energy before the snuggles begin. I also love the image above their bed, which was their announcement when they found out they were first starting a family. It's crazy how fast time flies, right?!

I love the minimalism of this image, and the love that connects one family member to the next - from baby to mama, mama to dad, and dad to big brother. I gave them both the color and black and white image, but the b&w just speaks to be (I'm a sucker for white space!). #nerdalert ;)

Owen checks on his baby a lot, and I love how baby Sully is almost giving him a "what's up, bro?" fist bump.

This feels like a private glimpse into their day-to-day life, and the beautiful nursery and neutral tones draw your attention to the family member, and mom's smile in particular (for me at least!).

Big brother is such a character. We played hide and seek while baby brother had a diaper change and top-off. It was so fun to see his silly personality and incredible imagination in his natural habitat. 

I mean - you can't get this gold in a straight-up newborn session people!!! Mama gets the talking and cooing from the changing table, but daddy gets all the giggles and smiles! I included so many angles of this shot in their final gallery - the look on dad's face is (almost) just as priceless.

This wasn't posed at all, and the sweet connection was so quiet and beautiful. I had popped into Owen's room to work with Daddy and Owen, and then popped back to see if Ali was okay, and she was just rocking Sully (who had fallen asleep from all of the excitement), and staring at him, smiling. It transported me back in time to the hours spent rocking and staring at my babies.

Big brother LOVES his Pooh bear, and I love that Pooh looks like he's alive in this image, holding on to the railing and looking back at Owen. I feel like he's whispering something in Pooh's ear, like they're having a secret conversation.

I love how dad Carl played so freely with Owen (who was in heaven by the way). This little guy is pretty fearless, but dad gives him space to be a little wild and crazy while having fun at the same time.

And then came the post-wrestling snuggle with dad. The look on his face is so sweet and sincere.

During Owen's newborn session (three years ago!), Ali and Carl told me the story about how they met, and that one of the ways they connected was discussing beloved books from their childhood. They've carried on that tradition and read books nightly as a family. Daddy does the reading, but Owen insists that Mommy does "the voices." This is the gift that in-home sessions deliver on - every single time - that you will feel comfortable enough to be yourselves, tell your story, and live in your every day - which happens to be extraordinary.

I love everything about this image, which was one of the final frames from the session - the little bitty baby in daddy's big arms, big brother standing on daddy's leg, and the look and smile between mom and dad. It's pretty perfect to me.

Thinking about an in-home session?

Thanks for coming along for the ride friends! My cats have fallen asleep, so I guess that means they liked it?!?! If you're expecting a baby or have had a baby in 2020 (first of all - you deserve a cape!), let me just put out there that an in-home session will be so much more fun and intimate than you can imagine. Oh, and you don't have to have a baby in the home to capture your family in the most relaxed way possible! You may not think your day-to-day is anything special, but trust me - it's extraordinary. 

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