New Year’s Eve Cutie|Maine & NH Newborn Photography

I’m a mom of two so it’s been forever and a day since I had and kind of late night new year celebration.  I wouldn’t have it any other way!  This is all the excitement I need.  What better way to ring in the new year than spending it photographing this adorable little guy and his wonderful parents!

His sweet parents are new to the Northeast.  They searched around and found our studio.  I’m so glad that they did! 

It is not lost on me that it is a big decision who our clients chose to trust to handle and photograph their precious new baby.  It also never stops feeling like an honor and privilege to be trusted with such a task. 

I hadn’t even realized that this sweet boy smiled while his dad was holding him until I was going through the images in post processing.  What a gift.

I do it for the snuggles  ~Sarah

York Hospital & Fresh F8 Photography

Yesterday we announced some very exciting news, for us, and for parents delivering at York Hospital; we will be providing their in-room photography services. Amazing. Since we made the announcement we’ve received lots of questions about what this means and if it’s too good to be true.

Well, we’re pleased to confirm that it’s not too good to be true. We will be at York Hospital on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10am to take pictures of the fresh new faces (and probably some tired-but-excited-and-utterly-in-love-parent-faces).

If you are delivering at York Hospital and would like to have us photograph your new addition you simply need to notify your nurse. That’s it. You don’t have to tell us, you don’t have to fill out a form, sound a trumpet, or send a stork to drop your room number down our chimney for us to wake up to in the morning. Simply notify your nurse.

Our process is to call the charge nurse on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays at 8am to see if there are any families who need photography at 10am that day.

We will pop by and photograph your family in a “fresh 48 style” – capturing your baby, and your family’s first moments together – those precious details that will soon fade into the depths of our memories.

The sessions will be approximately 15 minutes and you do not have to prepare for them. These are documentary-style photos; no need to think about coordinating outfits or even combing your hair. The focus is on the baby and the soon forgotten details – like how they fit into your hands.

We have teamed up with York Hospital to offer this service with no up-front cost and very competitive print and digital image pricing (based on a volume discount in partnership with the hospital). This pricing plan is available only to York Hospital patients who are able to be photographed when we are scheduled to be there.

We still offer our traditional Fresh 48 photography to clients who wish to have a more personal experience: us being “on call” for your baby, delivering at home or any hospital, a full hour session with larger gallery of images, or would like the session to take place at a time that is convenient for them. Our Fresh 48 photography session fee is $195 and then prints and digital images are purchased at our regular studio pricing.

FAQs

I am delivering at York Hospital, can I get on your schedule?

We do not schedule in-room sessions at York Hospital, we show up to patient rooms who have indicated to the nurses that they would like an in-room photo session. For the most part, all sessions will take place on Mon, Wed, Fri at around 10am.

However, if you would like us to schedule you for a full Fresh 48 session, and be “on call” for your session, we are certainly still able to do that, but the pricing structure would be in accordance with our normal studio fee structure, not the York Hospital rate.

What happens if I deliver on a Friday night and get discharged before Monday?

Our normal photography days are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We will do our best to get to the hospital over the weekend if we are notified that a family would like pictures, but there may be cases where it is not possible.

If you would like us to be “on call” for your session, you would need to book a full Fresh 48 session through our studio.

I would really love a photo of my baby with her sibling, but her sibling is in school until 3pm, can you come later in the day?

Unfortunately we are not be able to accommodate each patient’s individual schedule preferences under the York Hospital pricing structure. However, if you would like to schedule a full Fresh 48 session with our studio, you can contact us and we can arrange for a scheduled session for your family (a session fee would apply).

What is the difference between the in room photography at York Hospital and a full Fresh 48 session?

1. In-room photography is “Fresh-48 style” (also known as “documentary style” or “lifestyle”) photography that takes place at York Hospital on certain dates at a specific time. These are not scheduled around each family’s needs. Our studio’s Fresh 48 sessions are scheduled individually with each family when it’s convenient for them.
2. Our in-room sessions are about 15 minutes long with a gallery of 15+ images. A Fresh 48 session can take up to an hour with a gallery of 35+ images.
3. In-room photography sessions take place at York Hospital. Fresh 48 sessions can take place at any hospital, birthing center, or home.
4. There is no up front cost for in-room photography sessions at York Hospital. Our Fresh 48 sessions have a session fee of $195.
5. The print and digital pricing for in-room photography sessions at York Hospital is based on a volume discount rate, while there is no discounted rate for our full Fresh 48 sessions.
6. Both in-room sessions and full Fresh 48 sessions receive the same award-winning photography our studio is known for. Both types of sessions view and purchase their images via a password protected online gallery.

Will you be using props like you do in your studio?

No. The in-room sessions are very “documentary style”. If you would like to have your baby photographed with props at our studio, please contact us to schedule a session with the studio within 7-14 days of birth.

However, if you would like to include personal items, such as a special blanket or hat in your in-room session, you certainly may do so.

I would like my baby photographed but I don’t want to be in the pictures, is that possible?

Yes, just let us know your preferences when we arrive.

Can I get both the in-room photography at the hospital and a newborn photoshoot at your studio?

Yes! Of course you can! The photography is so very different, it makes sense to have both.

I’m delivering at a different hospital, can you still do our Fresh 48 photography?

Yes, we would love to! We have provided Fresh 48 photography for patients at Wentworth Douglass Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, and at home for several years and will continue to do so. Lynn is our resident Fresh 48 photographer and is passionate about providing this type of beautiful imagery for families. She loves being “on call” for our families and getting those “we’re heading to the hospital” texts.

Do you offer birth photography?

Yes, we love capturing “the big moment” for families. At this time we only offer birth photography for scheduled c-section deliveries. Pricing would fall under our normal studio pricing regardless of where you deliver.

More questions? Feel free to contact us!

 

 

 

NH Birth Photographer | Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Maybe it’s because I am a Mom myself. Maybe its because it’s such a emotionally charged event. Or perhaps it’s just because I am a giant softie, but photographing a birth is one of the most special things for me to be a part of.  Being asked to be present for what is very likely one of the most exciting and highly anticipated moments in a parents life means a lot to me.  I take it seriously; I cant sleep the night before; I usually cry at some point during the birth…its just how it goes for me! 🙂

The first birth I ever photographed holds an extra special place in my heart, and when I just saw his Mom post on Facebook that he turned 2, (wait, what?! where did time go?!) I knew I needed to go back through my archived photos and take a walk down memory lane.

When I arrived at the hospital at OHMYGOODNESSITSEARLY o’clock, I got to share in the excitement that was palpable in the room. I am not sure Mom loves looking back and reminiscing about having an IV placed but its part of the day! And the smiles of relief when it was finally properly placed and she got a break from being a pin cushion is a happy sight!

If you’ve never had a caesarean, I will tell you there is a STREAM of people that you are visited by prior to heading to the OR; 4 million nurses, the delivering Doctor(s), the anesthesiologist, a lab tech to draw blood…it feels endless. But before you know it…its just you and your support person, and its time.

Sometimes at a birth nerves are high. Some people prefer quiet and I am happy to just fade into a wall, but sometimes people want someone to talk to, either to pass the time or release the nervous energy. After Michelle was taken into the OR for prep, Marcus and I started chatting. I was able to learn a little more about what brought Michelle to the situation of having a planned c-section, and how her first labor had progressed (or more accurately NOT progressed) during the birth of their first child. Hearing the pride in his voice when recalling how strong she was during her first delivery, and the excitement over what was about to happen, gave me a glimpse into how strong the bond in this family was.

After what felt like forever the OR nurses came out to get Marcus, and we went in to join Michelle who was fully prepped to meet their little man! Marcus sat next to Michelle and they chatted quietly. Having been in her spot 3 times myself I remember how much better it felt once I was joined by my husband; waiting for the familiar face to sit beside you can be a hard few minutes ‘alone’.

The hospital staff was phenomenal at keeping Michelle and Marcus up to date about what they were doing, and how much longer it would be. Even the anesthesiologist said to me ‘ok its almost time and its going to happen fast, are you ready?’.  OH I WAS READY!I’ve given birth to three beautiful children via c-section, and so while I never really saw what was happening behind the screen, I knew that once it got a little quiet, and the Doctors started leaning in a little closer to Michelle, that baby was about to make his entrance into the world.And in one of the most surreal moments I’ve been blessed to witness, suddenly this new little life was here, and we heard a cry.

The smile under Dads mask at hearing that cry went right up to his eyes…it was a moment to remember.Again if you’ve not ever had a c-section birth, you get a quick peek of the baby, and then the baby is scooted across the room for a little cleaning, and some vital sign evaluation, footprints etc. And while Dad escorted the new baby, I was SO happy to be there to take those photos so later Michelle could see those moments she wasn’t directly involved in.

The baby definitely enjoyed testing out his lungs during some of these moments…until Dad held his tiny hand…and then silence. Babies know their Moms and Dads the instant they are born, I just know it.It was finally time to make his way back to his Momma for a snuggle!Being a spectator and not the patient was so incredibly different. Seeing how much is going on constantly while you are in there was amazing. The team working together to take care of Michelle was busy keeping her comfortable while Marcus and I were ooh-ing and ahh-ing over Baby…and it was such a beautiful moment to see Michelle have her son finally resting on her chest so she could fully take him in.After a few moments of snuggling Marcus, and the baby (and I 🙂 went to the recovery area for the rest of the ‘baby review’. Weight, measurements, first visit from the pediatrician all happened in there, and again I was SO happy to capture these things for Michelle while she was in her final stages of being cared for in the OR.

The pediatrician came by for the very first Doctors ‘appointment’ 🙂 Spoiler alert: she said he was PERFECT! (and he was!)And finally…some alone time with Dad. I left the room for a few moments so that these two could bond while they waited for Mom to be brought back into the recovery room with them. When I popped back in a few moments later, Michelle had made her way back to her room and she was already snuggled up holding her new baby. Being a part of this day for this family is something I will never forget.  No matter how many births I am lucky enough to photograph I will always remember this first one!

Big Brother | Maine & NH Newborn Photography

This little guys big brother won my heart from the minute he walked in.  From his beautiful blond curls to his sweet giggle.  He was such a good listener and such a sweet big bro.  I have no doubt these two have years of friendship ahead.

And this sweet little guy was pretty perfect for his session as well.

And how about his stunning mother!?

I do it for the snuggles  ~Sarah

Introducing Newborn Mini Sessions!|Maine, NH Newborn Photographer

I wasn’t sure it could be done.  A Newborn MINI-session, that is.  But I had enough experience under my belt and an idea, that if I did it the right way, it could work… and, by golly, (as my grandpa would say) I believe it does!!!  Every single image in this post is from one of my Newborn Mini-Sessions!I think it’s important to answer the question, “How does a newborn mini session differ from a newborn full session?”.

A Newborn Mini-Session is 30 minutes long and one set price which includes 12 digital images.  Your baby will ideally be between 5 days and 6 WEEKS old.  You will receive 6 unique color images carefully chosen by us along with their skillfully crafted black and white conversions.  The images will be of your sweet baby.  There is simply not enough time to incorporate family or siblings into this type of shoot.  Your little one will be snugly swaddled in one of our many wraps specifically designed for posed newborn photography.  This makes for a smooth session and a sleepy baby!  This also means that it’s not essential for your baby to be VERY young.  This is why Mini-Sessions can work for babies anywhere from 5 days old to around 6 weeks old.  We’ve successfully and beautifully captured a few 8 week-olds as well!!   We will artfully compose two different set ups and photograph your baby in each one.  The resulting images are simply stunning.

Some of the aspects our clients are loving about these mini-session are that the investment is very affordable.  They’re loving that it comes with 12 images, which seems more manageable for some who have a hard time deciding which ones to frame and hang!  And they are loving that they are so quick and easy.  It’s a very small time commitment in a phase of life where sleep is in short supply, and you’re adjusting to life with baby!  We remember how hard and overwhelming it can be in those first weeks after giving birth to even THINK about gathering yourself and your little one to leave the house!  It is our hope that these mini-session can make quality, posed newborn portraits a reality for anyone!

A Full Newborn Session is 2-3 hours long.  A session fee is paid on the day of the shoot.  A gallery of at least 25 unique images is delivered for to you to choose from and images are purchased separately.  Your baby will ideally be 5-10 days old.  However, we have successfully and beautifully photographed many babies that are 2-3 weeks old as well as the anomaly of a few that were 5, 6 or even 8 weeks old! There are many more set ups and transitions in a full session and there may also be a number of breaks to nurse and soothe baby.  We all work around the newborns comfort and needs.  They determine the pace and the poses in a no pressure environment!  Siblings, fur-siblings, parents, and grandparents may all be included in the session.  Sentimental or creative items or your own (such as blankets, bonnets, jewelry, military uniforms etc) will be beautifully worked into images at your request.  We will do images on our “posing bag and fabric” where your baby is safely and gently placed in a variety of adorable poses, some unclothed with no props for pure simplicity and others with wraps or headbands and bonnets for adorable variety.  We will also then do 2-3 “prop” set ups using one of the many furs, buckets, beds, crates, baskets and/or bowls that we constantly accumulate 🙂

Some of the things our clients love about Full Newborn Photography Sessions are the variety of images, poses and angles we can capture in that time frame.  They like that there is plenty of time for feeding and soothing breaks and also plenty of time where they get to relax… yes even nap! … on our comfy couch living room area.  They like the ability to truly personalize the session by incorporating family, pets and personal items as well as having input into color schemes and accessories.  They enjoy the large amount of digital images delivered in the gallery and the ability to peruse and choose… or just have them all!

We have prayerfully tried to create Newborn Photography Sessions that cater to a variety of personal preferences and lifestyles.  I truly consider it a privilege to be trusted to safely and expertly capture these delicate and fleeting moments in you and your baby’s lives!  I do hope to see you or someone you know in the studio very soon!

We’ve sort of quietly kept this Mini-Session thing under wraps for a bit.  But now we’re ready to launch it and shout it from the roof tops!  Remember, your baby can be between 5 days old and 6 weeks old!

I do it for the snuggles ~Sarah