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

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

Fantasy Photoshoot | Haunted Overload at DeMerritt Hill Farm in Lee, NH

It’s no secret that I love to “play photography”, pushing the envelope, trying new lighting, lenses, posing, and editing techniques is just the type of good clean fun I like to have in our off-season.  What’s the saying, “Champions are made in the off-season”? ..well that’s how I feel about photography – our creative pursuits makes us better photographers in every possible way.  Even if we never ask you to flip upside-down and walk down the stairs of a creepy haunted house, we would know how to shoot it if you requested such a photo.

I have some friends who have been trying to get me to go to Haunted Overload for years. However, there is a teeny tiny problem with their plan, 1) I’m afraid of my own shadow. I’m literally a baby when it comes to all things scary. Like I run up the stairs from the basement, not for the cardio (like I tell the kids), but because there’s an invisible zombie behind me.  2) I’m out flat all fall. There is no time in my schedule for fun and games – which is also the prime creep season.

But my friends are clever and resourceful. This winter they wrote with “an idea” that I couldn’t resist. A photoshoot at Haunted Overload. Sure it was closed and boarded up, but they had permission for us to use the location as well as props and outfits. I was in.

The only actual problem was that it was 2 degrees outside. I told them I was in once the weather warmed up. Then I checked the weather forecast, and miraculously I saw a 55 degree day in the extended forecast. We all circled that day on our calendars. It was ON.

Then a thing happened. I was struck with bronchitis. I mean, it hurt to breathe. I’m not exaggerating, breathing felt like I was swallowing knives. Very sharp knives. But I knew my friends had put so much effort into the shoot, even taking the day off of work, and it’s not like 60 degree days come along often in February. So I drank some tea, warned them that I had no voice, and wrapped a scarf around my mouth and nose to buffer the cool air and somewhat contain my germs.

What happened next was pure magic. Maybe dark magic, if I believed in such things. I got through the 2+ hour shoot without any knives in my throat. I believe the adrenaline of shooting heals all things. I felt nothing but pure bliss while we shot.

The location was absolutely freaking amazing. I have never seen anything quite so glorious. Creepy? Yes. Even boarded up. Even without the “characters”. Even with snow on the ground. Even in broad daylight.

But also gloriously cinematic.

And our models were perfect. I have photographed Marina and Emalee many times before, so I knew they were going to bring the magic. Plus THEY LOVE SCARY CREEPINESS, it’s like their thing.  They didn’t need my non-existent voice telling them to do creepy poses and expressions, they just brought it.

Then for the rest of the week while I was recovering I had these images to play with in Photoshop.

Creating different scenes and giving each picture it’s own story and vibe was such fun.

Thank you Obycs for such a fun day. I love you ladies.

Erin

 

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

A Peek Into Your Livingroom

Via our livingroom.

When we families to sit on the sofa and pretend we’re not there for a few minutes, we get a glimpse into their livingrooms at home.

That was the vision behind the studio livingroom set – that we could peek into our client’s sofas at home, and capture those candid moments …only at our studio.

Having posed family pictures is great, but having those fleeting moments of laughter, play, and snuggles are even better. As time passes these are the things you’ll long to look back on.

For most families, the sofa is where they hang out, watch tv, laugh, play, snuggle, tickle, and gather at the end of each day together.

Families being families is one of our favorite things ever.

-EM