Meet 9 day old Kellan.  I met his mommy and grandma at Greenfield Corporate Center for some outdoor portraits.    This little guy arrived very wide awake and curious about the outdoors.    And, who could blame him – it was a gorgeous evening!  You would never have guessed that 4 hours earlier there was a storm severe enough to cause many tornado warnings!

We didn’t get all the poses I was hoping for because little Kellan was just not sleepy, and then it started getting cool and the light was fading fast.  But, he was such a cute little guy, and we definitely got some good ones!

I just LOVE newborn sessions.    As parents arrive and unwrap their baby and I peek inside the blanket, it almost takes my breath away.  To know that this is a brand new little miracle, one that has never before been seen by the world…. is just amazing.   And it feels like such a privilege to be the first to capture such a perfect new life.  Those things such as how they can curl as if they were still in their mother’s womb, their smooth creamy skin, tiny little peeling toes and fingers, wispy hair, and little  rosebud mouth.  All these things that are so fleeting as they change so quickly in the first few weeks of life.

This little sweet pea was born with an infection and had to stay in the hospital for a while.  She had a rough start to life, but was such a little trooper!  She wasn’t too sleepy during the session, so we spent a good amount of time trying to get her to fall asleep.  But, when we did, she was just a little angel!

I was so glad to be able to photograph this precious little guy!  Little Luke was so sleepy and calm – he was a perfect little model!  His family is friends of ours, but they are overseas missionaries, so we don’t see them very often.   I’m so glad they are able to spend the summer back here in Lancaster!

Meet sweet little Brayden.  He was such a sleepy little guy.   His poor mommy and daddy were exhausted though.  My noise machine has a tendency to put daddies to sleep.  I always feel bad when I have to wake them up for a shot! :)

This little doll is baby number three for this sweet family.  I was talking to mom about what life is like with three kids.  I distinctly remember when I had Ellie, my third, about 10 months ago – I kept thinking, “What did we do?!  I can’t handle this!”  It’s funny that this mommy had those same thoughts.  There is something about baby number three that is harder than the first two.  Maybe it is because you are finally outnumbered?  :) Thankfully, that feeling doesn’t last very long, and soon you are thinking – “I can’t imagine life without you!”

Meet the adorable Miss Analeisa.  She was 9 days old and a super sleepy, perfect little model.   I had this little bed made (thanks Bill!) and couldn’t wait to use it!  Little Analeisa couldn’t have made it a more perfect picture!  Oh, she was just so cute; I could have played with her all day!

I was so looking forward to meeting this precious little baby boy!   His mommy has been a good friend of mine since we were little girls.  He joins such an amazing family, and they just love him so much!   It has been a while since I last photographed a newborn, but he was just so sweet – sleeping peacefully for most of the session.   I just hope he starts to sleep a little bit better for his mommy and daddy – that’s the one thing you just can’t prepare yourself for as new parents!   Congratulations S & C – he is a perfect little blessing and I am honored to have been able to capture him in his first few days of life.

So, how about all of this snow?!  I have to admit – I like the snow!  I’m not the one shoveling and Brian gets to stay home from work.  :)

Well, I was sitting here going through all my client folders, trying to get more organized and I realized I never posted any of Courtney’s infant pictures.  Here are the maternity pictures I did of her a few months ago.   I had the honor of photographing little Zaya’s birth.  It was first for me – and such a neat experience.  She is an adorable little chunk who surprised everyone by tipping the scales at 9 lbs!  We did several sessions with Zaya in the first few weeks she was born; here are a couple of my favorites.

Here’s little Josiah, or J-man as he is lovingly called by his parents.   I could not have asked for a sweeter, sleepier, more laid back little guy.  His parents warned me when they came that he constantly pees and poops.  Well, little Josiah didn’t have a single accident!  And, what a sleeper!  We did pose after pose and he just slept right through it.   I do feel bad though for mom and dad who groggily laughed about their nocturnal baby.   So, J-man – your reversed sleeping habits were very helpful for your photo session, but please start to sleep better for your mommy and daddy!

Mommy indirectly paid me one of the highest compliments when, describing to her husband what it was like to watch me pose her baby, she said “It’s like watching art.”   That really is my goal with each precious little baby I photograph.  I want  to create very personal art that families can proudly display in their homes.   So, here is is – the adorable J-man.

I had the pleasure of meeting an 8 week old infant with the coolest name a few days ago – little Jacobi.  Don’t you love it?   :)  He was such a handsome little guy, with pretty blue eyes and a very nice mommy & daddy.   He did a fantastic job, although he wasn’t too impressed with my hats. When I put a hat on him while awake, his squirms and wiggles went into overdrive until I took it off.   Oh well – I guess everyone can’t be a hat fan. :)  Here’s a few pictures of the adorable Mr. J.

And, here is Mr. Cutie Pie at the end of our session, telling me he’s had enough of the paparazzi stuff.  :)