For (early) Valentine’s Day, my sweet husband gave me a new 50mm Canon lens for my camera. I have a family portrait session scheduled for next week, but OBVIOUSLY I needed to test out my new toy right away!
And it just so happens we bought our little girl a teepee before she was even born. To be honest, it was the very first baby purchase we made. It went like this:
Found out we were pregnant at 6 weeks.
Browsed Pinterest for nursery inspiration at 7 weeks.
Started saving money for a teepee at 8 weeks.
Measured entire nursery to make sure teepee would fit at 9 weeks.
Ordered this teepee from Etsy at 14 weeks.
(This was taken with an iPhone, fyi.)
Nevermind the crib, burp cloths or diapers—our number one priority was, obviously, a teepee for baby girl. And since she hasn’t been able to sit up on her own until very recently, it hasn’t appeared in any photographs with her… until now.
So this is me being vulnerable for a sec: It used to be that “I don’t do baby photos.” When clients have asked, I’ve said no—unless we’re really good friends, and then I didn’t charge.
In the past I have been very uncomfortable around babies. I literally had no idea what to do if they cried, and I wasn’t confident enough in my abilities to capture them in a positive light. I was so hung up on the perfectly posed, peaches-n-cream skin tone, Anne Geddes-style photos that other photographers produced.
The reality is I debated whether or not to even publish these to my website! I can tell you everything that I see wrong with these pictures: There’s ugly, prickly grass poking through the back of the teepee because I didn’t choose a big enough blanket. Her face isn’t 100% sharp and in-focus in one of the photos, because I’m still learning my new lens. You can even tell my camera wasn’t exactly level in another. Oh, and there’s wrinkles on the teepee fabric!
However, there are many things that are perfect about these pictures: Her tiny toes. Her bright, blue eyes. Her very in-the-moment, genuine expressions. And the lighting is pretty spectacular. Oh, and this other photo of her and her daddy…
All this to say, I am proud to finally be offering baby photo sessions. I don’t have an official package just yet and spots are limited, but I won’t charge $800 like many other photographers in town. So give me a shout right now, while I’m still “practicing,” and we’ll get you and your little on my schedule this spring!
