Newborn Photography in South Bend and Michiana - Leila's Newborn Session

in , , ,

I had a blogging fail. After scrolling through my old blog posts, I realized that while I released a sneak peek for Baby Leila's newborn session, I never posted the full gallery!!! And seriously, what a total shame that would be to let it go unseen because this baby girl and her family are simply gorgeous.

And so, even thought baby Leila is coming up on her 6 month milestone session (what?!), here is her completely lovely newborn session...

Michiana Birth Photographer / Michiana Birth Photographer - Fresh 48 Sneak Peek

memorial hospital
in , ,

I am so lucky to be supported by our amazing midwifery in South Bend! Not only do they value the services that I offer to their patients, but I've also grown to know some of these ladies on a more personal level which has now resulted in me having the opportunity to document the first 48 hours of TWO of the nurse and office manager's grandchildren! And lucky me, they were both the cutest babies with heads full of hair and amazing siblings and parents to go with.

Here is a sneak peek from last weekend's Fresh 48 session with baby Avery...

South Bend Birth Photographer / South Bend Birth Photography - Baby A's Birth Story

in , , ,

I am always, and I mean always, astounded at the strength and determination of women giving birth. The absolute strength and determination; the vulnerability and surrender. It's so incredibly humbling to be included in these moments for these mothers.

This particular mom had a birth plan in mind and I was impressed from day one at how determined she was to accomplish it. Thankfully, the stars all aligned and allowed for that to happen! After nine hours of labor, this woman became a mom at 10:26am, welcoming her very first daughter into this world with exhausted grace and excitement. Watching her push through all of the struggles of an all natural childbirth was so amazing! What strength that took.

With a room full of support from her midwife, doula, nurse, mom, sister and partner (it was crowded in there, yes), there was absolutely no way that this mom-to-be could fail. Her support system wouldn't let her! To see a mom surrounded by so much love and support from those around her was something truly unique and beautiful; not to mention that she was bringing a baby girl into this world surrounded by so much love. 

I am so excited to share these amazing birth photos with you and to help tell the story of Baby A's birth...

South Bend Family Photographer / South Bend Family Photography - A Personal Project: My Tiny Equestrian

in , , , , ,

In case you missed it on my Facebook page, we have added a new member to our family: Knox. Knox is a 24 year old Quarter Horse. 

Some back story: I grew up riding horses from around 8 years old into adulthood. It was one of those things where the first time I rode, it just clicked. It was natural, it was fun and I was really, really good at it. What started off as a hobby turned quickly into an obsession and I pretty much lived at the barn. Throughout junior high and high school, I owned three horses, trained others, showed all over the country at a National level and found peace and love at the barn.

Flash forward: My daughter is two. I haven't owned a horse in several years (sniff). For about six months, Miss F is just drawn to horses; she plays pretend horses, we have plastic horses everywhere, she begs to see her friend's pony. My husband says I'm nuts, she's just two, she loves everything. I reach out to an old horse show friend who is now a trainer and she mentions she has a client with a perfect old gelding who would love some extra affection and treats. Despite some dragging of the feet from my hubs, Knox was suddenly a part of our crazy family! 

I wasn't totally convinced myself, that I wasn't wishful thinking Miss F's love for horses. That is, until we started going to the barn and riding. Then it all became abundantly clear (even to my skeptical hubby). I will just let the pictures speak for themselves...

Clearly, this love is not imagined. The bond between these two is undeniable. This docile old giant perks right up when he sees her (and no, not just because she frequently comes baring treats). He snuffles her hair and teases her; he's infinitely patient and calm. She is enthusiastic and eager to learn and she adores her big gelding. I can't wait to continue the "My Tiny Equestrian" project and document the journey of Miss F and Knox!

Indiana Birth Photographer / Indiana Birth Photography - Taking Your Own Amazing Newborn Pictures

in , , ,

I am the first to admit that I literally had to go out and buy a new iPhone with more storage when my daughter was first born. Why? Because I took approximately 236 pictures of her a day. When you first bring baby home and you're SO excited and SO proud that you created this beautiful, perfect little creature, there is no stopping a momma's shutter finger! With that in mind, we also want to get the best pictures we can with our limited camera phones so here are some tips...

Don't Skip the Professional Newborn Images

michigan birth photography

If it is in the budget, I still encourage you to get these done professionally. Whether it is a Fresh 48 (pick me! pick me!) or an in-home newborn session, invest in it. You will never regret having those professional photos of your beautiful new baby.

Get the Details

indiana birth photography

I would venture to say that there are few things more beautiful than the tiny, intricate details of a newborn. From their squishy cheeks, to dimpled chins (just look at that little guy above), to their perfect little toes, don't miss those shots! Make sure to get creative here and notice your light and your perspective when taking these images. Don't take 12 pictures from the same exact spot, use some variety and move your phone around then delete the ones that are less than favorable (or just upgrade to a larger storage plan on the cloud and keep them all...like me...sigh).

Tell Your Story

indiana birth photography

Use your surroundings to tell your baby's story. Even the newest of babies has their quirks and habits and you never want to forget about those. Make sure to reach beyond the beautiful details of your baby's face, fingers and toes and tell the story of your life as it is right now (messy house and all).

Use Your Light

indiana birth photography

Unless you are catching that amazing first smile or some other fleeting moment, use all of this newborn sleepiness and down time to make sure you get the best picture possible. Natural window light is your best option so make sure baby is placed somewhere that the soft light hits their sweet faces just right. Embrace the shadows and use it to play up some of those features! Don't be afraid to move yourself or baby to get the most flattering angle.

And probably the most important tip...

Get. In. The. Frame.

michigan birth photograph

I get it, ladies, I do. You just had a baby. You may not be feeling your most attractive (although you totally should because there is nothing more radiant than a powerful woman who just spent nine months growing a human and then battled for hours to bring said human into the world but I digress...). At this point in time, you are quite literally the sun to this newborn's world. You provide safety, comfort, companionship, food and never-ending love. Capture that. Don't let these moments slip away. Because let me assure you, you will blink and suddenly this tiny baby who once fit in the palms of your hands will have to fold themselves into impossible positions to fit in your lap...if they even let you cuddle them for that long anymore! This time with your baby is irreplaceable and both you and your baby will want these pictures to exist years down the road. So hand the phone over to dad and tell him to click away, because you are the friggin' sun! 

South Bend Family Photography / Granger Family Photography - Leila's 3 Month Sneak Peek

in , ,

For this session, I wasn't in my element. I have documented just about every milestone except a three month milestone. So going into Miss Leila's session, I was a little less confident than I am in some of my other sessions. But the moment I peeked at my memory card and saw some of the images, I knew this had potential to produce some of my favorite images to date! I just love this family and baby Leila and I can't wait to finish editing the entire session...

Michiana Birth Photography / Michiana Birth Photographer - Why Birth Photography?

in , , ,

"Why birth photography?"

It's a common question I hear, often with different inflections behind it, depending on the source. I usually give a short, simple answer and move on but this last time someone asked me, it really started to stir in my mind. Why do I concentrate on birth photography? What are my reasons? I've written many blog posts about why YOU should choose birth photography (like all of these), but I've never spelled out exactly why I do it. So, here it goes...

Its Beautiful

I think this is the most obvious answer but rightly so. Birth. Is. Beautiful. There is absolutely nothing in this world more amazing than watching parents meet their new creation. It is so insanely humbling to watch a baby placed in their parent's arms and know that this baby is a direct result of love. Whether it is the first baby or the eighth, a long awaited result of a plan or complete surprise, this baby is here because their parents loved each other. I mean, wow. It's the most beautiful love story ever told.

south bend birth photography south bend birth photographer

It Needs to be Normalized

Now don't overthink this one: I'm not a super crunchy granola momtog (nothing against those folks, I'm just not one of them). However, it boggles my brain how something so normal as birth can be considered so tabu. I mean, we were all born. Most of us give birth. It happens daily. Its literally the creation of a person. How is this not considered the most normal thing in the world?! Birth photography allows me to play a small role in nudging birth in the right direction, into the normal zone.

granger birth photography granger birth photographer

I Meet Amazing People

I am a people person. Before I was a photographer, I was a high school teacher. In college I worked in retail sales. In high school I taught horseback riding lessons. I love people and I love meeting new people and honestly, some of the most amazing people I have had the privilege of meeting were a direct result of a birth. The parents I have met make me want to be a better mom myself. They are always so loving and open and fun to be around. The birth team members are also some truly wonderful people who put their own needs and ideas aside to give mom the attention she deserves. What a blessing it is, having a job that brings so many lovely people into my life!

plymouth birth photographer plymouth birth photography

Its Intense and Fun

I love the feeling of excitement. I am that person who shows their excitement, sometimes even too much so. This means anything that can give me that "can't wait" feeling, I'm hooked. The entire labor, delivery and bonding experience is just flat out thrilling! Pretty much nothing can compare to watching a new life join the world, take his/her first breath, finally meet the mom and dad they've been listening to for the past nine months. It gives me all of the feels and makes my heart so happy.

plymouth birth photography plymouth birth photographer

I'm Selfishly Intrigued

My own birth was not what I had planned (read about it here) and I honestly feel like I somehow missed some of it, even though I was there. Being at other women's births gives me a peak into what I missed! In some ways, I missed out on a vaginal birth so watching other mom's deliver this way allows me to see what its all about. Watching another mom's c-section (something I'm yet to do but hoping to experience) will undoubtedly be equally as amazing because I will see exactly what I went through from an entirely new perspective. 

Those are my reasons for wanting to being a birth photographer. I'm sure I could list about 15 more but for your sanity, I will keep it brief. If you are considering birth photography, please don't hesitate to contact me. We can chat (totally noncommittally) about your birth journey and if that includes birth photos. 

Michiana Family Photography - Finding the Beauty in the Ordinary

in , ,

As I was writing my bi-monthly newsletter, I found myself typing out the phrase, "Find beauty in the ordinary." I closed my lap top and went about my evening but then the weight of that phrase really started to set in for me. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it completely embodies what I do as a documentary photographer and what my clients do when they book sessions. 

In todays world, we are constantly bogged down with media: both large scale and small scale, like social media. We see everyone's extravagant vacations, their brand new cars, their perfectly choreographed parties and internally, we start to feel a little less good about our lives. But the thing is, your life is beautiful because its yours. Your daily happenings are beautiful! Whether that means a birth or a newborn or just a day in the life of your family, there is true and cherished beauty there that deserves to be preserved. 

Want proof? Here are some of my very favorite images that perfectly embody finding beauty in the ordinary...

south bend family photography

This image is so relatable to anyone with multiple kiddos. Its such a simple moment. A moment that probably happens a few dozen times a day. But when time is stopped and the moment is captured in a photograph, the beauty just jumps out at you and tells so much about this family.

If you follow my Facebook, you know how much I adore documentary style portraits! This picture was from a mini-milestone session. It took place at a park. Not the scenic, peaceful ponds type of park. The 101 kids climbing all over some crazy playground equipment (no, seriously, a bus showed up about five minutes into the session and dropped off no less than 40 kids). Yet the simple, beautiful portrait was still captured during all of this chaos and it means even more to mom because it is at a park that they frequent and that Sophie adores!

Coloring. I think its safe to say that most families do this on a daily basis. Its a great filler for those down times when we want our kiddos to be content yet intrigued. Rarely would you run for your camera to snap a picture, yet in this in-home family photography session, the vibrant crayon colors, the careful selection by Mr. Cain along with his concentrated face and little sis in the background observing while savoring a sucker all tell an adorable story in a beautiful way.

(I had to sneak a personal image in here). My own home is where I truly learned to see the beauty in the ordinary! I love capturing the fun quirks and habits of my girl as she grows. Since she was very, very young, she has loved to take my books and pretend to read them. Its a simple habit that, in words, doesn't sound like anything special. But in this picture, its truly gorgeous.

See? Its not just the big moments that need to be captured. It doesn't have to be a major milestone or epic event to deserve to be preserved. Our every day lives offer infinite opportunities to capture their beauty. Contact me to schedule your session and capture your family's beauty!

Granger Newborn Photographer + Family Photographer: Family of Five

in , , , , , ,

When a family grows and a new baby is brought into the equation, everything suddenly changes. Sometimes this looks like loving chaos. And sometimes, every now and then, it just look meant to be. That is how this newborn/family session with the N family went. Their family grew to a total of five, with the oldest sibling being only five. What should, in theory, be utter craziness was just so loving, comfortable and fun. 

From the minute I got there, the kids were excited to show what great big siblings they were to their new baby brother. Between helping mom feed baby to taking turns holding him, they were absolute naturals. Once Baby was settled and in full blown momma-milk coma, it was upstairs for story time with Dad. I loved how into the story both the older kiddos got; complete with singing and shaking their booties (and yes, I got that on video - which I can't wait to share down the road! Stay tuned.). 

After stories was crafts. Mom wanted to do a fun family canvas with little hand and feet prints to go underneath. This ended up as such a fun project for the kids, and even though Mr. Toddler decided to taste some paint and also decorate his jeans and feet, the final product was super cute. This was such a fun session and I feel so lucky to have been a part of their morning!

Michiana Family Photographer - 50 Beautiful Moms Campaign Sneak Peek

in , ,

Beauty Revived's 50 Beautiful Moms Campaign was such a blessing to be included in. When I found out I was selected as one of the photographers, I was so honored and humbled. Then, I started getting the nominations and that took things to an entirely different level. To read about some of the amazing moms in our community was simply beautiful and I truly wished I could have donated a session to each one of them. However, in the end, only one mom could be selected and so, I'd like to introduce Katie Van Tornhout.

Katie's story is nothing short of amazing and I can NOT wait to share it with everyone in depth when the campaign is officially published. Until then, here are some sneak peeks form her sweet in-home family session:

Michiana Birth and Newborn Photographer - Leila's Fresh 48 Fusion Film

in , , , ,

(Siiiigh). I could watch this every single day - and it's not even my family! I am so in love with fusion films! Obviously, I'm crazy about what photographs offer in terms of capturing and saving memories but fusion films truly take it to another level. Having video to help document your life's moments will bring a smile to your face instantly. No matter how little the moment may seem (like this little gal's sneeze half way through, or Dad marveling at her holding his finger), having that to look back on forever is amazing. Thanks again to Leila's family for allowing me to be a part of these next 11 months!

South Bend Birth Photographer - Birth is a Milestone

in , , ,

Birth photography is something that many are intrigued by but are also uncomfortably with. Until recently, as in the last 20-30 years recently, birth was something that was "private." So private that fathers were often kept out of the birthing space. This has made it very taboo, even in our progressive society. So I am here today, to share some common concerns and responses to those concerns.

You don't need photos. You will remember this very private moment.

Let me start by saying that I, too, wanted my birth to be private. I wanted it to be between my husband and I. I wanted it to be a memory only the two of us shared (well, us and our midwife and nurses). How could I ever forget the most important moment of my life??? But the fact of the matter is that the human brain is just not equipped to deal with hormones, pain, chaos and elation and be expected to make detailed, beautiful memories in the process. So much of my labor and delivery are lost and blurry and uncertain. Even the days that followed are a mess of memories! After 22 hours of labor, one c-section and four days in the hospital, this is what I have to remember it by:

That's it. I am so insanely grateful that my amazing labor nurse got someone to cover her other patients and came into the OR with me and had the good sense to grab my camera and snap a few pictures or I'd be left with TWO images. 

Birth doesn't have to be raw and unfiltered.

When we think of birth, we often picture what we see on TV. Lots of screaming, lots of misery and lots of blood. If you have been through a birth, you know that this isn't an accurate representation and at best is a hugely exaggerated portrayal. Birth photography doesn't strive for a "shock factor." It is meant to capture the relationship and support between everyone involved. It is meant to capture the amazing strength shown by mom as she literally creates a new life. It is meant to freeze that one amazing moment when mom sees her baby, touches her baby, holds her baby for the first time. The ins and out like how filtered or unfiltered, what angles and what details are included in your session is all customized and planned by you. It is your birth. You control the session.  

Birth is a milestone.

Think about it. As parents, we are constantly photographing every tiny milestone of our children's lives. Every time they change, develop, learn, accomplish - we are there to document it. So why is birth any different? Isn't birth the most important milestone of all? Birth is the milestone where they enter our world, take their first breath of air and turn us into parents. There is no bigger or more important milestone and just like the others, it deserves to be preserved. 

So don't let modesty, fear or discomfort stop you from hiring a birth photographer to be there to provide endless memories of the most important day of your life. 

Like what you see? CONTACT ME!