I think…

I will let the picture speak for itself. Stare at it for a while. So much to see and feel.

Would you like you to discuss Family Portraits?

This is a bear…

This past weekend I was invited to be part of something pretty cool. An event, Growing Green Babies, sponsored by Welcome Baby Care.

The event was focused on being Green, in particular, cloth diapers opposed to the disposable. Very cool! We need this planet and every bit helps.

So not only was this just a solid idea to promote, it was tied to the Guinness Book of World Records – The Great Cloth Diaper Change. What does all of this have to do with Bear Hugs? Good question.

During the last hour of the event, I set my portable studio for some impromptu Family or Children’s Portraits. Special thanks need to go to Lynn Ramsey of Village Cleaners for her donation of the most amazing prop… a larger-than-me stuffed bear! You are awesome Lynn!!!

No better way to say thanks than a baby portrait.

Welcome Baby Care and I are teaming up to bring you this slick promotion. You can find it on my Facebook Fan Page but if you do not visit that (???) here it is in snapshot.

Take a stroll over to my Fan Page and check out all the other great promotions if you have a second. Also, if you are a client of Welcome Baby Care, be sure to sign up for your session!

Here is a wonderful opportunity that was shared with me by my friends at Welcome Baby Care. Have look and be sure to register. If you do, feel free to share your story here!

Contact Jen here to Schedule. Thanks for reading and don’t be shy! Be social and share.

It is a time of magic and wonderment, love and joy. The birth of your child is a celebration like no other. We promise ourselves that each moment will be cherished and preserved. From gleaming Grandparent to hourly Facebook updates, we share with the world our exuberance and the precious gift before us.

Today, Professional Baby Portraits have become an exploration of baby and family, love and uniqueness. Creativity has reached new levels unlike those ever seen before. Creativity, by nature, insists that we approach boundaries and take chance by exploring what is unknown. A common synonym for chance is Risk.

As I discuss portrait sessions with my clients and their newborns, we invariably reach the subject of slings, hammocks and other various “props.” I immediately turn this topic to safety. I feel keeping your newborn’s safety close at hand requires a greater understanding of holding techniques and your baby’s limitations. To aid in this, I have enlisted the guidance of my dear friends at Welcome Baby Care. The sage advice below is practical and written with one thing in mind, the wellness of your baby. Thank you Jen for the words of wisdom.

Baby Handling Safety Tips for Photographers (From a Professional Postpartum Doula)

By Jen Wittes

Newborn photography is not what it used to be.  Even seven years ago, when my daughter was an infant, the standard practice for new parents seeking baby photos was to head to the mall to book a session at either JC Penny or The Picture People.

Now, parents undoubtedly favor individual photographers, who bring something personal to the experience and approach their subject with a wildly imaginative eye.

When my clients excitedly tell me that they hired an artistic newborn photographer, and proudly pull out their new portfolio to share, I can pretty much count on seeing at least one of the following:  babies with props, babies propped up against props, or babies seemingly dangling in mid air.

The pictures are always amazing, but often make me bristle a bit.  I can’t help but wonder about newborn safety.  As someone who handles babies for a living, I think back to my extensive training and I think about the constant continuing education required to keep on top of the latest health and safety recommendations.

I am certain that most professional photographers are extremely careful, valuing the child’s safety over the ultra-cool shot.  That said, I thought I’d offer a few tips and reminders, both for seasoned baby photographers and those just starting out.

1. Babies need to be warm, warm, warm.  About 75 degrees would be the low end of the recommended range.  I’d go with 78 if baby will be naked.  Have blankets on hand.
2. Newborns do not like their backs arched. Their natural position is curled inward, as in utero.  Keep this in mind when using props and devices. A baby’s spine, neck, and head do not have the proper strength to sustain certain poses.
3. Many slings sold by big companies are extremely dangerous.  I can’t imagine that a home-made hammock would be better.  The risks you most likely have considered include the sling untying or dropping, as well as the baby toppling out all together. You might not know that another important health risk here is positioning inside the sling.  When a baby’s chin presses too close to the chest, they may suffocate…even if the nose and mouth seem free and open. This is because a newborn’s airways are extremely small, shallow, and thin. Please take care to make sure that the baby isn’t so bunched up that they can breathe.  In fact, as you are positioning the child, you should always place a finger in front of the nose and mouth periodically to make sure that you feel breathing.
4. Ever heard of hip dysplasia?  Better Google it.  Many devices, carriers, and seats designed for babies and sold to families daily are not developmentally appropriate for the supposed recommended age range.  Babies naturally splay their hips, in an almost frog-like bowlegged fashion. It is unnatural to force the legs together and it can be harmful to place them in a contraption that demands that the legs drop straight down. This places too much pressure on the hips, too early.
5. When carrying/holding a baby, always support the head and neck gently with at least one hand.
6. If you have positioned the infant on a prop in such a way that a fall is even      remotely possible, a parent’s hand should be right there—just an inch      away.  Pillows should be present as well so that if the worst actually happens, baby will land on a soft surface.
7. Photoshop is your friend.  Think about what kind of crazy reality you can create without actually putting the baby in a dangerous situation. If you feel nervous or uncertain about what you are trying to achieve, stop.  Listen to your instincts.
8. Know that babies are individuals.  What worked with one child may not work with another.  Furthermore, the same baby can change dramatically—day to day, hour to hour, even minute to minute.  If a content, sleepy, and still infant  suddenly becomes wiggly, change direction or call it a day.

Welcome Baby Care is a wonderful source of information and assistance for Mom, Dad and Baby. I strongly encourage you to pay them a visit. Let them know you read this article on SMHerrick Photography’s website.

Please note that this creative and beautiful portraiture can be safely attained. It is your and your photographer’s responsibility to ensure safety. I am not bold enough to educate photographers, or parents, on the proper methods of this type of portraiture, at least within a blog post. Please use caution and good judgment when taking portraits of a newborn.

Newborn portraiture can be a challenge… if you plan on it.

Let’s face it, kids rule. Not just in the sense that they are awesome and amazing, but as in they are in control, or at least want to be.  I guess it depends on the age. Before I digress down the road of parenting, adolescence and teens, I will refocus.

Your baby is a miracle.  The pocket camera is getting a thorough workout and you cannot seem to empty your flash cards fast enough. Let alone sit at the computer and see if there are any more pics you should add to an already burgeoning Facebook Gallery. This about the time you decide to get some Professional Baby Portraits.

Being a new parent for the first time, or again, takes a lot out of you. It takes a lot out of baby.  Getting that perfect portrait can be easy. It can also be really difficult.

I like to photograph newborns somewhere between five and fifteen days after entering the world.  Somewhere in the middle is perfect. It gives them a few days to get acclimated to this wide open, intrusive, noisy, bright, big place they will call home for the rest of their lives. Those last few adjectives really have a negative implication, which is not far from the truth. If we take a few moments and see things from baby’s perspective, the last few days have been rather shocking.

Life was warm and confined. It was dark and rather quiet. Baby did not have to ask for food and never needed to worry about modest attire.  See where I am going with all of this? The more we think and feel like baby, the better the results.

Keep it close to home…

So let’s talk about some elements. Environment is a good one to start with. Take a deep breath.  What do you smell? Listen closely. What do you hear? Look around. What do you see?  Simple answer to all the above is probably, nothing. Or at least nothing out of the ordinary. But let’s pretend we a few days old. Smelling is new. Hearing is new. Vision is new. All of it overwhelming, exciting and perhaps a little scary.

My studio is portable. Home is safe and becoming more and more familiar.  I recommend keeping the photo shoot on baby’s turf. Good planning and a little resourcefulness goes a long way. Props are small and there is no reason an in home shoot should look any different from studio shoots.

Let’s talk about timing…

Your baby gets to make this call. How is she doing for a schedule? Probably all over the place with little or no warning one way or the other. Perfect. So let’s block off a couple of hours and let her call the shots. Again, a little pre-planning will yield a lot of success. We need to discuss props, backgrounds and poses well before the shoot. Perhaps a handful looks that we want to try to capture. Of these looks, we should have a good mix that consider baby may be wanting to sleep or wanting to be awake.

My top ten list…

Aside from the all the above, here are some quick key points:

1. It is all about Baby, his want and needs first.
2. Keep it comfortable. Home is where everyone will feel at ease. Mom, Dad and Baby.  Nursing considerations are great example.
3. Throw away the clocks. I am in no hurry. The sitting fee is based on results, not the time.
4. Full baby is a happy baby. Be ready for meal breaks.
5. Nap time is the perfect time. Once she is crashed out and in a deep slumber, posing is a lot easier.
6. Wardrobe.  Nobody likes getting dressed six times a day. Keep it simple and easy. This is about baby.
7. Warm.  98.6 is what she is used to. Turn up that thermostat and we adults can dress down.  Naked baby shoots are awesome but the room needs to be really warm. Really, really warm.
8. Plan on a redo. If timing is off, do not force it. I offer a reschedule with every baby portrait session.
9. Look for props. Etsy has tons of great items. Knit hats, hammocks, throws and more. Plan ahead though.  A lot of items are handmade to order.
10. Schedule well in advance.  Few weeks before due date is a great time to start looking at potential sitting dates, ordering knits and discussing the look and feel you would like from your sitting.

Thanks for reading!  Be sure to let me know what you think.  And while you are browsing, take a second and check out this great site… Welcome Baby Care, tons or great info for new moms and moms to be!