WHICH TO CHOOSE: FRESH 48 OR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY? - South Bend, Indiana Newborn Baby Photographer

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Ah, the tricky question: do you choose a Fresh 48 or Newborn session? Which one is right for you? It's a great question and I hope that this post might lend some thought points that may help you make the best decision for your baby! Here are some questions to ponder:

1. DO PHOTOS OF YOUR NEW FAMILY DYNAMIC MATTER MORE THAN PHOTOS IN YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT?

When you think about what you want documented, one of the main things to consider is whether you want to remember those very first moments with your baby and as a parent to this tiny human or if you want to remember those first days in your home with the newest addition. It's a tough choice but one that is usually pretty clear in our minds when we stop to think about it.

2. WILL FRESH 48 "IMPERFECTIONS" BOTHER YOU?

As much as it pains me to put this one out here, it is worth considering. Some people prefer to give baby a few days to move beyond the brand-new-baby blemishes, head molding and their own appearance after having just brought a new life into the world. At the same time, many people love these factors and find them honest and endearing (this is me, just FYI). So stop and consider whether you find all of the tiny "imperfections," a beautiful and priceless thing to be remembered or something you'd prefer to skip and have the time to refresh and recover. 

3. DOES YOUR HOME AND BABY'S NURSERY HOLD SPECIAL MEANING TO YOU?

If you are one of those people who painstakingly choose every detail of their child's nursery (cough cough, me again) and strive to make it a place that they will immediately feel loved, cherished and calm, then a newborn session may be the best option for you. Hospitals and birth centers offer little to no control over your environment so you may end up with a bright orange wall in the background of your photos whether you like it or not. If this is something that gives you the shudders just thinking about that lack of control, a newborn session may be more fitting since you can document your own home and preferences that more accurately reflect you.

4. ARE THERE FIRST MEETINGS YOU WANT DOCUMENTED?

Often, there are specific family members or siblings who you can't wait to introduce to your new baby. If this is the case, a Fresh 48 session is the way to go. These are moments that you cannot recreate and are often so beautiful and priceless. Not to mention, documenting your own reactions as a parent seeing your other babies meeting their new sibling or to your parents holding their newest grandchild is a truly momentous moment that make a wonderful keepsake.

5. OR...JUST DO BOTH!

This is obviously my suggestion since I'm a crazy picture lady! It may not seem logical to have both Fresh 48 AND newborn photos taken because they usually take place within 10-14 days of each other. But hear me out first! If you have already had a baby, you know what I'm about to say is true and if you're a first time parent, take my word that this statement is accurate: your baby changes DAILY. In those first few months, you will wake up and smile down at your new baby and be amazed because somehow, they truly changed overnight. You blinked and they're a little bit bigger, a little bit more mature. It's uncanny (and slightly heartbreaking) but its true. Having both Fresh 48 and newborn photos allows you to see those changes and also lets you document those first sweet moments and also gives you the control of photographing your child in their own environment. It's a win win and totally worth it. 

 

KRISTYN & CHRISTIAN'S BERRY FARM WEDDING - South Bend, Indiana Wedding Photographer

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This wedding had it all: perfect weather, a gorgeous venue, a beautiful and loving couple and so many unique and diverse elements! 

When I first met Kristyn, it was at The Bridal Spectacular at the Century Center. While I meet many brides there, Kristyn was actually there as a vendor, too! She is a manager at the amazing Granger boutique Simply Yours Bridal and Formalwear. I was flattered and excited that out of all of the photographers there, she was drawn to my humble booth and work. After chatting and then meeting up with the couple a few weeks later, it was pretty obvious that we were a great fit! 

Kristyn and Christian had chosen to get married at The Blue Barn Berry Farm in Syracuse, Indiana. This venue is stunning on its own but with Kristyn's simple rustic touches, she transformed it even beyond it's original beauty. Another thing that added to the truly unique nature of this wedding was Christian's family, many of whom traveled from outside the country to attend! The ceremony was even translated into Spanish as it was happening. Oh, and they also shared two first dances: one in English and one in Spanish. How cool is that? 

Needless to say, this was a wedding to remember. The genuine smiles and love that was shared between families made the night fly by and watching everyone dance together to a wide array of music was just the cherry on top!

Congratulations to Kristyn and Christian. You are a beautiful couple with a beautiful life ahead of you. Thank you sincerely for letting me document your day.

See bottom of post for vendor lists!

 

Photographer: Borne Back Photography

Venue: Blue Barn Berry Farm in Syracuse, Indiana

Bridal Hair: Alaina from The Cutting Edge Salon

Makeup: McKenna from The Cutting Edge Salon

Dress: Simply Yours Bridal and Formalwear

Groom's Attire: Jim's Formalwear

Manicures/Pedicures: Creative Touch

Flowers: Martin's Super Market and South Bend Farmer's Market

DJ: Connor Beckwith

South Bend + Michiana Family Photographer - Gushing Over Documentary Family Photography

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As 2018 hit and I got to organizing my catalogs and organizing last year's client work, I started oggling all of the family documentary and lifestyle sessions I got to do this year. Documentary family photography is still something that is widely unappreciated in this region, but I see it slowly creeping its way onto people's radars. And for that, I am thrilled. I genuinely can't begin to try and explain with words the true level of pricelessness these types of photos provide. But, I'm going to try anyway:

- We live in a world of ideal but we need to start embracing the real.

Every day, we go on our social media accounts and we see the best of everyone. Because lets face it, no one posts the bad parts, the hard parts or the less-than-pretty parts. And we start to think that this is their reality and somehow, ours is less-than. I think we need to change that mentality...and fast! Documentary family photography places the emphasis on the real moments. Our kids change and grow so, so fast and when we look at the posed, "ideal" kids in the photos that traditionally grace our walls, are we really remembering them as they were? Is this an accurate representation of who they are in the here and now? 

I think that photos should capture the essence of it's subject. I want to look at a photo of my daughter and not remember how adorable she was (how could I ever forget?) but I want to remember how, at one year old, she was obsessed with books and at two, she loved animals more than anything and at three, she had the sass and intelligence of a teenager. I want to remember how my guys-guy husband would paint nails, play baker and pretend to be a unicorn just to make her smile. These are the moments that our kids will want to remember. Which brings me to the next point...

- Our kids won't look back at the baby in a bucket pictures or posed portraits and gain anything.

Sorry. I do believe there is a place for portrait work and I completely respect the beauty of it and the skill it takes to create it. However, lets think into the future. Lets pretend our children are now grown adults (sob). When you sit down with them one day and start going through those old photos, which do you think will make them stop and smile? The photo of them wearing their best outfit in a studio chair or the one with their sibling tickling them to tears or when they baked cookies with Grandma? 

Documentary photography captures real moments that tell real stories about your family's life. They document real moments and real relationships. They're a gift that your child doesn't know they want but will be so incredibly grateful for in the future.

- They show our real relationships with those who matter the most.

Some of the people who are currently a big part of our children's lives may not be here to reminisce with them when they're older. People move, relationships shift, life happens. But none of this changes the fact that these relationships and memories existed at one point in time. Having real, raw photos that show what a big part these people play and how much love was shared are truly invaluable. There are few things that mean more to us than the people in our lives and having photos of them will never be out of style. Its a ceaseless gift we can give to our children...and ourselves. 

- And the places that matter the most.

I think this one gets lost in the shuffle sometimes but lets not discount the place. The place we call home. The place we love to take our kids to. The place where you made your favorite memories. Whether you are living in your starter home, your dream home or you choose to do your photos at a spot that your family adores (like the beach, or your favorite park or bowling alley), these places all mean something to you. It doesn't matter if they are old, cluttered or messy because it's all part of your story. Even the stuff you can't stand now will bring a smile to your face later. Don't believe me? Just the other day, we were looking at photos from my childhood home complete with the lime green linoleum that graced our kitchen and my mom burst into laughter and commented how much she hated that floor. That ugly floor that bugged her so much at the time, made her laugh out loud and smile now. 

So you see, photos are so much more than pretty smiles and beautiful backdrops. They're a priceless peak into your past. They're a relationship you never want to forget. They're everything that makes your heart smile. Document your moments; you'll never regret it. 

  

Plymouth + South Bend Family and Newborn Photographer - A Glance at 2017

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2017 was a great year. I mean really, truly great on both a professional and personal level and I think it can be summed up in one word: growth.

 I absolutely loved seeing my business grow, documenting my first births and meeting so many new amazing clients. I think that's my favorite part about photographing families and births: for some reason, documentary photography just seems to attract the most fantastic humans! Being invited into people's intimate, personal moments and asked to capture them in a beautiful way is nothing short of humbling. And that fact that it allows me to set my own schedule and also be the one there to raise my daughter...well that's just like the cherry on top. 

Not only have I gotten to watch my business grow, but I've also gotten to see my work grow. The wonderful thing about photography is it's not a "master-able" art form. It's something you continue to evolve and learn and expand upon forever. I love the challenge that this presents! Looking back at my photos from early 2017 and comparing them to my more recent work is so exciting because I see that I have found my editing style (something that, trust me, is not easy) and that I have grown in my confidence and started taking deliberate photos instead of safe photos. I can't wait to see how my work continues to change and evolve in 2018!

Finally, I've also had the opportunity to watch my daughter grow through my photos. When you're with a tiny human (or multiple tiny humans) every single day, it's easy to overlook all of the changes that happen in one short year. But by completing my second 365 project, I get an exclusive look at the huge changes that has happened and how much she has grown in her skills, personality and physical appearance. I absolutely love doing these 365 projects and plan to do another one in 2018. (Note: I don't do a calendar year 365 project but rather one by my Miss F's age...so I won't be sharing that project until it is completed in February!)

So in celebration of this amazing year, I wanted to take some time to share some of my very favorite client photos from this year. Some are favorites for obvious reasons (like they're just completely stunning and epic moments) and some are favorites for more personal or sentimental moments but no matter the reason, I hope that all of my clients love these shots as much as I do and that maybe in 2018, I can document some of your family's growth again! Happy end of 2017, everyone!