Focusing On You:

Your Newborn Session

I wanted to let anyone considering an in home, newborn session with me know what you can expect and where my focuses are.  I often am told stories by clients of their first experience with a newborn session where they feel they were not the focus.  Where the focus was on using as many baskets or props as possible while in reality, they just wanted a few nice shots, and to be able to go home and relax.  And to be honest, that is so me!  I want everything in my life to be as stress free and as easy as possible.  

So please, join me in viewing one of my most recent and favourite in home, newborn session for the Hutton family while I tell you a little about my process and what I am hoping to achieve in your session.

First of all, my intention.  My intention is always to capture your family connection. I am a photographer who likes to capture your natural interaction and not let your precious bundle be over shadowed.  As much as my sessions are about my artistic vision, that is not usually my first focus.  My first focus is you, what we can achieve together that showcases you, and how I can do it in a style that is consistent to my work.

My next intention is to be as relaxed as possible.  I have a child, I have been a brand new Mum, who was supermum in the hospital, only to get home and go, OH MY GOD, WHAT AM I DOING?!?  You don't need anymore stress and discomfort than necessary.  Which is part of the reason I come to you.  I didn't want to leave my house when I was a new Mum, I wanted to feel comfortable and able to relax.  What better place than your home?

Another priority is to be realistic, and help you be too.  Your baby is so new to the world.  Everything is new, and the only comfort they know is you and the inner workings of your family.  And then, here is this new, strange smelling lady come into my home, and I'm supposed to be cool with that.  Sometimes, they are definitely cool with that, other babies are not.  And that is ok.  You don't need to apologise, or worry.  Newborn sessions take time.  Your bub needs to know that it is ok, that they are safe and that they can be comfortable.  That may mean cuddles and getting to know me, it may mean feeding, it may mean taking a break and all of that is ok.

We also need to be realistic about your older children.  Just like your new bundle, some kids are happy as Larry to have me around.  Others, not so much.  Life has completely changed for them, and in some instances, for their whole life they have been priority number one, and all of a sudden they have to share.  It's totally natural and totally ok!  The more you stay calm, the better the session will go.  Kids will be kids!  They are amazing!

My focus is always your baby and family.  I like to work minimally.  I don't like to detract from your amazing new baby.  I generally like to observe the little gestures of your baby.  I know as a Mum that I look back on the pictures of my little guy, I love seeing the little nuances he had, and they remind me of all of the amazing little things he did at that age.  My focus isn't on all of the decoration, my focus is him.  Because he is my star, he is why I am here.  You baby and family are the stars.

You may notice a lot of my family images have minimal posing.  I do definitely pose clients, but I'm generally not there to capture a pose, I am there to capture your relationship.  You can have the most amazing pose in the world, but it still not portray the amazing love between your family.  I pose my clients then say, now have a cuddle, or a tickle or a play.  Especially when it comes to kids.  How many kids do you know that are totally happy to sit still and look at a camera, smiling for hours on end?  I would much rather become an allie to kids by letting them be kids, than be a stranger telling them to sit still!

So that is pretty much me really!  I was asked recently if I entered many photography competition, and without thinking my answer was, not really, I just want to make nice photos for good people.  And that pretty much sums me and my session style up.  Let's make it fun, easy and capture some amazing images for you!