Elkhart + South Bend Fresh 48 Photographer - Newborn R Meets Her Siblings

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Baby R was the long awaited girl in a family of boys. She was loved beyond measure before she even arrived and I was so blessed to be a part of her first hours on earth. When I got the text from mom (also one of my best friends), that said "Surprise!" alongside a family photo of mom, dad and baby, I was shocked. We had spent the prior morning together on a play date and while mom had felt very ready for baby to make her arrival, she wasn't having any signs that she would be earthside just twelve hours later! 

When I arrived at the hospital, it was a truly beautiful moment as the family's friend and pastor, along with his wife, were there cuddling and praying over the new baby girl. It was such a great start to a session. The first half hour, I got to take some really soft and beautiful documentary portraits of Miss R, all while she stared quietly around the room. She was so alert! In fact, she was awake the entire session. She was so intent on exploring her new world in her own quiet way. It was one of the most laid back and calm Fresh 48's I had been to. 

Then, in came her brothers. End the tranquil calm! These boys are the sweetest and cutest little guys and they are all boy. They rushed into the room, thrilled to see their mom and more than a little curious about their new baby sister. They were so inquisitive and patient around her...but when they weren't around her, well, they were still all boy. Just take a look at the last photo in this post and you will get a good feel for what this amazing family's new normal looks like!

Thank you Mom and Dad S, for letting me be a part of this amazing sibling meeting. Little Miss R is so lucky to have such fantastic parents and loving big brothers. 

Birth Photography in South Bend - Why You Should ALWAYS Interview Your Birth Photographer

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The birth space is a truly personal space; one that is often only shared with loved ones and medical professionals. Therefore, making the decision to invite a birth photographer into this space is a huge step to take. You scour the web for birth photographers in your area; you study their work and decide what style you are drawn to. You reach out for package inquiries and share email correspondence back and forth. Now what? Do you take that leap and invite this person into your birth story? 

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Here are 3 reasons your next step should be interviewing your birth photographer:

1). First impressions matter.

Apply the old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." In this case, an online portfolio and emails are the cover. Do yourself a favor and read a little further! No matter how great someone seems behind a keyboard and computer screen, sometimes you just do or don't "click" with a person. I have yet to do a birth session without meeting with the client at least once before the actual delivery and, speaking from experience, I can truthfully say that every client I have had the pleasure of working with, I clicked with the moment we met. If we hadn't, it would have been in both of our best interests to say a simple, "Thanks, but no thanks." Your birth space is sacred and making sure you are comfortable with everyone in the room is so important!

2). You see their passion.

Birth photography is something that takes passion and commitment. When you meet with someone who is a birth professional (doulas, midwives, OB's, nurses, etc), you can tell right away that these people genuinely love birth and the birthing experience. It resonates from their voices and stories; they don't hide it and are unashamedly excited about it. No matter how eloquent you are at writing, you just can't convey that through text. If you meet with your birth photographer and don't feel their passion, this may not be the right photographer for you. 

Just look at this lovely doula, Rachel, of Enlightened Labors. Tell me that her face doesn't say it all about her passion for birth. Here's what Rachel had to say about being a part of the same birth team: "As a birth doula, presence in the birth sp…

Just look at this lovely doula, Rachel, of Enlightened Labors. Tell me that her face doesn't say it all about her passion for birth. Here's what Rachel had to say about being a part of the same birth team: "As a birth doula, presence in the birth space is so very important. I had the pleasure of working with Cara professionally and she brought a calm and uplifting air in to the client's birth. Not only are her images stunning (and I mean STUNNING) but she added great energy to the space. I can't wait to work with Cara again and will recommend her to all my clients!

3). The conversation is revealing.

No matter how many emails I share with folks who inquire with BBP, its just not the same as face-to-face conversation. So many times, when we are conversing, we end up going completely off topic somehow...and that's great! I very clearly remember meeting with my August birth client (I only take on one birth a month so that I can give that mom-to-be my full attention and time) and suddenly glancing at my phone only to see it had been almost an hour and we were laughing and sharing funny aspects of being the mom of sassy toddler girls. Was it relevant to the consultation? Nope. Did it assure both of us that this was a good fit? Absolutely. 

So once you have decided that you do indeed want to invest in birth photography (and you totally should because, well, just look at these beautiful moments below), take that extra time to meet with a few of us. See beyond the price differences and choose the person whose work you love and whose personality you love even more.

Plymouth + South Bend Family Photographer - The H Family

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With documentary photography being a new style to the Michiana area, its always so amazing to meet a family that just "gets it." And that was the case with the H family! From our very first email, it was obvious that we were on the same page: we both value real, honest moments as a family. When we set up our session, I knew this would be a great one!

This family of three was so fun and light hearted and completely natural. We started the session with one of their favorite family activities which was a walk to the river from their home. During the walk, I was able to snag some fun moments and document some silly toddler habits. When we got to the water, they sat and played together in the grass and talked about the non-existent fish in the water.

When we got back to the house, the family decided to decorate pumpkins. They had everything from feathers to sequins to puff paint. It turned into one of those hilariously relatable endeavors where the toddler enjoys it but the parents REALLY enjoy it. After pumpkins came a quick snack before they headed out to a Halloween party. The sweet, quiet moments in the family room were a perfect representation of a normal day in their household. Hearing mom's rave reviews of her gallery and knowing that I was able to document her family just as it is in a way that will make her smile in the days and years to come is truly a joy. 

South Bend + Michiana Birth Photographer - Birth Photography Can Be PG

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It's funny because when it comes to birth photography, people seem to be totally for it or absolutely weirded out by it. Most of the folks I meet who do the "You're a WHAT photographer?!" double take think of all of the raw and unfiltered moments of birth and wonder why anyone would want that documented. And I get it! I really do. (But trust me when I say that even the raw unfiltered stuff can be documented tastefully and beautifully.) However, I'm not here to change anyone's mind or opinion, but I would like to explain how birth photography can be completely PG. Nothing "raw'. Nothing "embarrassing". Nothing you wouldn't want your kids to see. 

Birth photography doesn't have to be "shocking."

Mainstream media has taught us to believe that birth is traumatic and "gross." However, your photos will reflect differently. There are so many moments during labor, delivery and postpartum that are soft, calm and beautiful. A mother laying eyes on her baby for the first time is breath taking; a moment that you can't get back. It's also a moment that we, as mothers, can't see for ourselves. Having photos to look back on and see the joy and relief and pride on our own faces as we meet our children is priceless.

BBP's packages are totally customized long before the delivery.

I realize that birth photography is a big investment, both monetarily and in trust, which is why I want you to feel comfortable and in control every step of the way. At our first consultation, I will answer any questions you have before booking a session and make sure that I am someone you feel comfortable with including in your birth story. Then, at the beginning of your third trimester, we can meet in person, talk on the phone or communicate via email (your discretion) to customize your session. You dictate what moments you want documented and which you don't. For example, one previous birth client wanted minimal labor photos, no delivery images and mainly wanted immediate bonding moments, dad's reaction to seeing baby and all of the little details like weight, footprints and first latch. It was a PG session through and through and the images were refined and beautiful. But don't take my word for it...

"She [Cara] photographed our second son's birth ... and we are completely in love with the photos. She was professional and courteous and like a "fly on the wall" during labor and delivery -- I didn't even know she was there! She asked plenty of questions about what type of photos we wanted to have as a result of her photographing his birth and just made sure she knew what we were looking for."

This is your baby's first milestone. It deserves to be documented.

We document our children's first steps, first words, first everything. Yet somehow, we often don't document their first moments on earth. Babies are born perfect and beautiful and they also change day to day. By waiting to document your baby until the traditional newborn sessions lets days slip by that are filled with changes! Make sure you don't miss your baby's true newborn moments.

South Bend Wedding Photographer - Lexi + Austin's Engagement Session

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So in case you haven't picked up on this...I am officially booking weddings in 2018! And I seriously couldn't be more excited about it. I love telling stories through photographs and lets face it, we all love a great love story. When Lexi reached out to me about photographing her wedding, I was so thrilled. Prior to being a mom and a photographer, I was a high school teacher and Lexi just happened to be one of my [favorite] students from back then. In fact, I had her in class for all four years and I got to know her beyond just a student; I saw that she was a truly beautiful person inside and out. So to have the privilege of documenting her love story was really quite the honor.

When we met for her engagement session, it was obvious that she and her fiance, Austin, were completely made for each other. Their personalities balanced one another and it was pretty clear that they kind of liked each other...just a little. She had told me from the get-go that neither of them were big "look and smile" people when it comes to pictures (which obviously was right up my alley) but you'd never tell they were anything less than fun and relaxed throughout their session. We had such a great time just walking around outside on a beautiful fall day and I loved hearing about their love story and helping to tell it. I absolutely can't wait to capture their boho wedding next summer!

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South Bend Family Photographer - Lyra's In-Home Newborn Session

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This family session had it all: amazing parents, adorable girl babies and the coolest house packed with character. I immediately felt comfortable when I walked in to Dad snuggling his newest daughter while big sister played in the living room. His love for his girls was so obvious that I knew it would transfer into photos that were fun and beautiful!

Throughout this session, both mom and dad were so relaxed and just reveling in parenthood and doting on their newborn that my job was suddenly quite easy. From nursing on the couch while reading to their toddler to cuddling with each other and bonding over baby Lyra, this session was what dreams are made of. Not only was the immediate family there and so incredibly welcoming, but two super supportive grandmas were also there to observe and add to the laughter. There was no shortage of love for these two beautiful girls, that's for sure. The new big sister (who was only one and a half) was so patient and kind towards the new baby and she definitely loved getting her snuggles in with mom and sister. I also loved how incredibly understanding and comfortable these parents were about keeping this session completely documentary. They were more than willing to let me capture the beauty of their family in a totally candid, unscripted way and the results speak for themselves.

I'm so grateful to this family for inviting me into their home and letting me capture these sweet memories of them as they adjust to life as a family of four.

Niles Michigan Birth Photographer - Baby C's Birth Story

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When I first met Momma T, I was so excited for two reasons: 1) she was a super awesome human and 2) she was having a home birth! For some reason, in our area, birth photography largely happens in the hospital (which is kind of backwards from many other areas). So when I found out I was going to be shooting a home birth, I was incredibly excited! As I got to know this sweet family, it became obvious that this was going to be an amazing birth.

The family of four was team green, meaning they didn't know what gender baby #3 would be. Big sister was pretty set on having a little sister but little brother...well, I don't think he cared much. When I arrived, it seemed that everyone felt confident that we would be welcoming a girl into the world soon. I was so impressed with mom's concentration and calm throughout her long early labor and I loved watching her breathe through contractions as her kids played around her, like nothing exciting was even going on. These thoughtful parents also gave their oldest daughter a camera for her to document the birth from her perspective (can I admit that I geeked out over this a little?). Once early labor passed into active and transition, stuff got real pretty quickly. Once mom got into the birth pool, it was just a matter of time! Momma T's doula and midwife was so supportive and amazing and helped talk her through her sunny-side-up baby who took a little extra effort to bring into the world.

And guess what? It was a BOY! Just scroll through this beautiful gallery below and see if you can pick out which image showcases mom finding out she was holding her new son. I am so grateful for this family inviting me into their home and into this intimate and emotional experience as they welcomed a baby boy, also their rainbow baby, into this world. What an incredible moment!

In-home First Birthday Milestone Session - Niles, Michigan

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People don't alway associate lifestyle photography with milestone sessions but I'm SO glad that Momma K did! I had such a good time hanging out with this sweet little guy right before his first birthday to capture all of his fun milestones and silly habits. Baby S had a double ear infection but you'd never know it based on how happy and laid back he was the entire time I was there. I love capturing the simple things like his favorite toys, story time and bath time for his parents to look back on in the years to come so that they can remember everything about this fleeting moment in time. Happy Birthday big guy!

Notre Dame Family Photo Session - Go Irish!

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While I have my documentary style, I never mind dabbling into lifestyle, especially when it's for an amazing family like this in a nearly equally amazing setting! This sweet family is here in the area for Dad's job and as he finishes up his Notre Dame project and they get ready to move out of state (sob), they wanted some commemorative photos of their time living on Eddy Street Commons and frequenting the amazing university. It was a super hot day and we were fighting the midday sun, but when your family is this fantastic, your photos demonstrate it...

Before and After - South Bend Michiana Family & Wedding Photographer

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I have a confession: one of my guilty pleasures is before and after photos. It doesn't matter what of, I just love looking at them! I couldn't even begin to tell you why, but it's just satisfying. And I'm willing to bet that many folks out there feel the same way so I'm going to double dip here and give you the satisfaction of many before and afters as well as explaining why it is so important to hire a photographer who knows what they are doing beyond just pressing a shutter button...

Mixed Lighting. It happens.

One of the biggest challenges of being a photographer who shoots a good portion of their sessions indoors (no matter if it is a church, reception hall, hospital room or family room) is that you frequently have to deal with mixed lighting. This may not sound like a big deal; how hard is it to balance out warm lightbulb light and cool window light. Um, it's hard. Like super hard. Like lets-just-throw-everything-in-black-and-white-and-call-it-a-day hard. This is when having extensive knowledge in post processing becomes so immensely important! It can save an otherwise asethetically unappealing photo.

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Just look at the photo above. There is really soft, yellow light on the left and really hard, blue light on the right. There is no way I would provide a client with a photo that was so unbalanced as that left image! And so off to Lightroom and Photoshop we go and after some [really obsessive] editing, I felt comfortable and even pretty pleased with the outcome of this lovely family photo.

Its gives the photographer a voice and it lets you connect to specific style.

The fact of the matter is very simple: editing is a way for a photographer to stand out (or blend in) and give their work some personality. This also lets you as the consumer, find an editing style that you really connect with and then choose a photographer that most appeals to you.

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Some people like the matte and airy look and while I find those images truly beautiful and soft, I lean more towards the clear, vibrant and even sometimes moodier edits. It is just like a clothing style; what works for some doesn't work for others!

Sometimes, it changes just enough.

So many times, photographers take a photo that SOOC (straight out of camera) is barely sub par and it takes some post processing to give it that little bump into being interesting and artistic.

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Knowing how to manipulate a photo just enough that it still tells an honest story but looks even more powerful and beautiful is essential to great photos.

Sometimes, it changes everything.

And just like that, a lovely but very flat image suddenly jumps off the screen with it's breathtaking drama. The emotion is intensified with the colors and balance. The setting can truly be appreciated for its simplistic beauty. Everything suddenly comes together.

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So there you have it! Hopefully, even if you didn't read the text, the before and afters told the story well enough to convince you that photography is more than just the good camera and artistic eye. Its all about balance and understanding and patience (oh, so much patience). I encourage every reader and viewer out there to find a photographer whose style speaks to you and let them tell your story! 

Fresh 48 Newborn Session at Memorial Hospital - South Bend, Indiana

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I am so behind on my session shares! So lets flash back allllll the way back to Baby B whose birth I was so blessed to be able to capture. I also got to come back and capture the meeting of his big brother and what a sweet moment that was. I have no doubt that these two boys are going to grow up to be the best of friends...and cause lots of anxiety for their momma ;) #boymom

Why You Should Choose a Fresh 48 or In-Home Newborn Session - South Bend Michiana Newborn Photographer

If you've ever read any of my other blog posts or follow my FB, you know how I feel about real vs. ideal. I truly believe that our current world has been swallowed up by this constant need to live the "ideal" life and that has crept into our photography trends. When we get all dressed up in our nicest, most color coordinated outfits and snuggle closely and give our best smiles (even though, in all reality, our kids are likely antsy and annoyed not to mention the husbands who do this out of obligation only) and then post those photos all over social media and hang them on our walls, we are placing our value in appearing to have the "ideal" life. And there's nothing wrong with that; I am one of the weird documentary photographers who believe that there is absolutely a place for portraits in a session. But here's the truth: its not real. And this is especially true when it comes to newborn photography. Here are some reasons I feel a Fresh 48 or in-home newborn session trumps traditional newborn portraits:

- There is nothing more beautiful than a newborn baby.

A fresh, perfect baby is completely, well, perfect! They don't need to be swaddled in crazy positions, wearing giant bows or themed caps. They don't need to be carefully positioned for hours to get the right pose while under studio lighting. These sweet tiny humans were crafted by a much higher power than we can fathom and they are born exactly as they should be. This is what should be captured in photos. The simple perfection that nature created. Babies don't need to be retouched and smoothed over in post processing; they need to be celebrated and admired for the amazing beings they are. Fresh 48 and in-home sessions let this happen and place the value in the real. 

- No added stress.

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Lets face it, having a newborn can be terrifying, especially if it's your first baby. The very thought of packing this tiny human into a carseat, packing a bag for tiny human (careful not to forget anything), transporting tiny human to an unfamiliar location and then keeping tiny human happy and content for 1-3 hours invokes stress. Your photography experience should not add discomfort to your life! Fresh 48's and in-home sessions don't require you to do anything beyond get dressed (and if you're doing a Fresh 48, a hospital gown or comfy pair of sweats is more than sufficient). You simply go about your new-normal routine and let the photographer capture the beauty in that. 

- The images are unique and beautiful.

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Your normal is not everyone else's normal. Your baby is not the same as anyone else's baby. Your images should reflect that. You should never look back at your pictures and simply see a beautiful baby; you should look back and see your beautiful baby. If you scan through BBP's galleries or Facebook page, you wont see two images that are alike. You wont see the same poses in each session. You wont see forced smiles. You will see genuine love and excitement and contentment found in each individual family. 

- Future you will cherish these images.

So often, moms hesitate to do a Fresh 48 or in-home session because they don't feel they look "up to it" or their homes are not "photo ready." I assure you, this is just not true. First, lets talk about the fact that you just grew and birthed a human being. No matter what you look like afterwards, you look strong and capable. If your house has some dust bunnies and newborn clutter, its unlikely to even show up in an image. And here's the real kicker: future you Does. Not. Care. Have you ever had a picture taken of you and in the moment, you feel mortified because you felt fat/disheveled/tired/[insert any insecurity] and then years later, you see the same image and see a beautiful version of yourself enjoying a moment in time? I do that allllll of the time, so I assume I'm not the only one! And future you will feel the same way. Future you will not notice the postpartum belly or the clutter, they will just see an amazing mom who brought a new life into the world and remember what a truly fantastic journey it has been.

 

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