Michiana Family Photographer - 50 Beautiful Moms Campaign Sneak Peek

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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 Family and Newborn Photography - What to Expect from a Documentary Newborn Session

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There are a few specific life events that trigger the "I need pictures" area of your brain and probably the most common one is the birth of a baby. Newborn baby photography started becoming more and more popular in the last decade and now, it's almost more uncommon NOT to get them than it is to get them. There are few things more beautiful than a brand new baby and portrait photographers have showcased that through posed, swaddled, accessorized and propped babies. The images are adorable, undoubtably. However, the issue falls with this: they all look the same! I don't want to look at my newborn's pictures and have them look just like the session before hers. I want to see how peaceful she was in her new home, how little she looked in her crib, how curious our dogs were about this squishly little human and how utterly in love with her we were (still are). Doesn't that just pain a sweeter picture?

So now you're on board. You see the value in documentary newborn sessions. But what happens next? Here's the breakdown:

Choose your time frame.

When photographing newborns, often portrait photographers suggest getting them done between days x-y because the babe's are still pliable and sleepy (i.e. easier to pose). Your documentary newborn session can essentially take place as quickly or leisurely as your prefer. Some people want that immediate session within a day or two of getting home to truly get that newborn feel and to commemorate those first days as new parents. Others want to get settled in or let the newborn blemishes pass before the photo day. This is one of the great things; you choose whatever fits your needs.

Photos where you're most comfortable.

This is a big one for me. I am a homebody, and this was emphasized when I had a newborn. The last thing I wanted to do was pack up my baby and alllllll of her things (because, come on first time moms, we all know we overpacked every time we went out) and sit in front of a camera in a studio I'd never been to. The beauty of a documentary session is that you get to be in your own environment, doing what you'd be doing anyway. Fallen into the habit of nursing in your favorite chair? Perfect. Love putting baby in their bouncer while you prepare food in the kitchen? Great. Enjoy putting baby on your bed and just marveling that you created this tiny person? Lovely. Not only will these moments generate amazingly beautiful pictures, but will also help you remember what life looked like in this new chapter of your life.

It's more than "just" the baby.

When we think of newborn pictures, we usually think of just that: the baby. But documentary newborn sessions let everyone else get in on the moment. You get to choose the focus of your session. If you want solely baby focused images, no problem. We can do that! But often, we have other people (and even pets) that are a huge part of our newborn's story. Grandparents stop by with food, aunts and uncles come to get their baby fix, siblings patiently (or not) wait for cluster feeding to be done (see above haha), and furbabies learn to love the new addition. All of these things can be incorporated into your session and will be priceless additions to the photos.

Variety.

Life is rarely (if ever) stagnant. Inviting a documentary photographer into your home ensures that no two pictures will be the same. Each moment changes the scene and you will end up with a gallery of images that are unique and beautiful. 

Interested in a newborn session? CONTACT ME.

Granger Birth, Newborn and Family Photographer - The Specialist

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When you have a cold, do you go to the dermatologist? When you want a perfectly prepared steak, do you go to a baker? When you want to learn about literature, do you go to a science teacher? The answer to all of these questions is simply: no. 

In almost every field of work, there are specialists.

These are the people who focus their training and attention on a specified area of work or interest in order to be the best in that field. Yet for some reason, this just doesn't seem to be the case in photography. Many times, photographers market themselves as a "jack of all trades"; they do weddings, engagements, newborns, families, events. You want it, they'll make it happen. And while this may seem appealing, I just can't get on board with it. 

I don't want to be "pretty good" at everything, I want to be exceptional at something I love.

My passion lies in families. I love families. I love their dynamics, their complete and total uniqueness. I love the story of life. I think that families are often under-appreciated and overlooked and I strive to put a stop to that and showcase the absolute beauty of families. This is why I specialize in birth photography and family photography. 

To me, the growth of a family is a new chapter and often one of the most important ones. Birth, fresh 48's and in-home family sessions allow me to focus entirely on what I love and offer skills and experience to you that maybe a "jack of all trades" doesn't have. When I spend every single session out of studio, in unique homes, with unique families, I am constantly learning how to better capture the lives in front of me. This constant practice lets me grow continuously which in turn, means stronger and more priceless images for you. You don't deserve pictures that are "pretty good." You deserve pictures that are captured by a specialist whose love, passion and practice is right where you are: in the heart of your family. 

South Bend Family Photography - It's a Special Day

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I wrote this last night, right after putting my not-so-baby baby to bed:

"Tonight I went to bed with stickers on my hands. She carefully placed them there and counted them happily only to announce I needed more and scampered off to retreive them. I could have taken them off. I could have put her straight to bed without rocking her. I could have. But the thing is, tomorrow she may not decorate me with stickers or even fit in my arms comfortably enough to fall asleep. So tonight, I sleep with stickers and tomorrow my baby turns two."

Michiana Newborn and Birth Photographer -

borne back photography
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It's sneak peek time again! Baby Leila's in-home newborn pictures turned out so gorgeous with all of the soft whites and lovely, bright window light. Once again, this family made my job easy because they were so willing to just hang out and be together in a totally effortless, beautiful way. These are the sneaks focused on Miss Leila but gosh, I can't wait to share the full gallery complete including the documentation of a well-earned chocolate milk party...

Granger Family Photographer - Getting in the Frame

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Since this is the LAST WEEK  to nominate someone for the 50 Beautiful Moms Campaign, today's post is for the moms! Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you are a mom. You are a mom who sees the value in documentary photography (or you're at least intrigued by it). You are a mom with kids who adore you. With kids who will one day crave photos that have you in them. Cringe.

I get it, moms! I really do. There are bad hair days, extra baby  or holiday fluff, haven't-seen-the-sun-in-months skin tones and 101 other reasons that you don't want to get in front of that camera. It is incredibly hard to look beyond the present and see that the beauty isn't in your appearance but in the moment. So let me put your mind at ease and break down some of these barriers for you:

Misconception: Extra "Fluff"

This is frequently a concern of moms who schedule sessions; it also hits home personally. Ever since having a baby, I haven't bothered to get myself back to those "before baby" days. I never blame this on the baby, I am completely to blame for the extra fluff. I love sugar and carbs, ok? I constantly have that conversation with myself about starting that diet next week, THEN I will feel better in my photos. But what about the moments that take place during that day? The day before the diet? Those moments count, too. Think about how you feel when you look at photos from high school or college. I remember taking those pictures and thinking ugh, I look so heavy/frumpy/insert any concern with vanity. Now I look at them and think, "Wow, what a fun moment that was." Chances are, our future self is not going to look and think, "If only I had lost those 10lbs before I took this picture." Nope, not going to happen. Take the picture. Forget the fluff.

Misconception: The Moment is About Your Kids, Not You

Wrong. Just wrong. You are MOM. You are like the sun of your family's solar system: you keep everyone alive and thriving. If your kiddos are having a great moment and making an awesome memory, it is most likely because you or Dad created it for them. You set the stage and made this moment possible! Get in there and live it with them. Hand the phone or camera to your significant other, set the self-timer, hire a documentary photographer (hint hint) and capture that memory with your kids. You will never regret that you did.

Misconception: You Can Get in the Frame Tomorrow

 Just like anything else you procrastinate doing, when you say, "I'll do it tomorrow," you rarely do it tomorrow. As hard as it is, take a deep breath and get in the picture today. Tomorrow is never a guarantee  and we all know that life can throw us unexpected curve balls. Make sure your children remember the good days, the laughs and the love - all of which include you. Documentary photography shows your future adult children how amazing you were when they were kids and how much you loved being their mom. They will always think you look beautiful and seeing you happy and joyful in pictures from the past are going to make their hearts happy one day.

Like what you see? CONTACT ME.

Plymouth Indiana Family, Event and Birth Photographer - Baby R's First Birthday

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This blog post is so awesome to me for so many reasons, but the main one is the fact that Baby R, whose birthday party I got to document, was my very first Fresh 48 baby! I can't even wrap my head around the fact that she is ONE! 

I was so grateful one year ago when Momma K put her trust in me, then a total novice in the world of hospital sessions, and let me be a part of their intimate moments as a new family of three. Now, I am again grateful that she invited me to document Baby R's first birthday. The amount of love and adoration for this littler girl was evident. The smiles, hugs and genuine happiness that graced this party was so heartwarming and I think that is obvious in her images. I can't wait to share the whole gallery and the new product (VIDEO! Stay tuned to Facebook on Saturday) but until then, here's a quick sneak peek:

Like what you see? CONTACT ME!

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South Bend Indiana Birth, Newborn and Family Photography - The Image vs. the Pull Back

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So many times in family documentary photography, I hear the common concern that the house just isn't a good setting. It's too "old," too cluttered, too small, too dark, {insert any common qualm we all have about our own homes}. Many people genuinely feel like this will inhibit their images but I am here to tell you: they're wrong. Maybe not wrong, but misinformed. 

Your house is part of your story.

Empty walls, couch clutter, bummy clothes. None of that matters when I see this photo. All I see is my awesome husband bonding with our adorable baby.

I like to start by pointing that out. So many times, we get caught up in the "ideal" and this includes our homes. I'm absolutely guilty of this; I love decorating my home and it drives me absolutely crazy when there is clutter. And all of those concerns I listed above about homes (old, small, dark) - my house could be put into all of those. But when I look at pictures of my family a year ago and see the pillows, blankets and unhung clocks laying around our then un-renovated living room, it brings a true and honest smile to my face. This was our story a year ago and the plain walls and clutter doesn't bother me in the slightest. I can promise that it will be the same for you when you look back at your images in years to come. You wont even notice the clutter and if you do, it will likely just bring back all the feels that come with reminiscing about your younger children. 

The image can be great because there's the composition of the photo vs. the "pullback."

The pullback is what photographers refer to when describing the full setting of an image or the "wide shot." Often, the pull back is shockingly different than the actual image. Part of what makes an in-home photographer "good" at their job is being able to find the best layout and composition for an image within the setting they are presented. Just take a look at these images and then their pullback counterparts:

Final Image.

Final Image.

Pullback 

Pullback 

Final Image

Final Image

Pullback

Pullback

Final Image

Final Image

Pullback

So if you have been holding back from booking a documentary in-home session because you felt like your house wasn't up to par for a photo shoot: DON'T! Just do it! Your future self will thank you as will your children when they get a glimpse into their everyday when they're older.

Like what you see? CONTACT ME.

South Bend Birth, Newborn and Family Photographer - Fusion Film from "Boy Mom" Session

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In case you missed the announcement: In 2017 I will be offering fusion films to my product menu! In order to sharpen my skills, the next few bookings I get will have the option to add this to their session for free.

Fushion Video - Boy Mom

Granger Birth, Newborn and Family Photographer - Stanger "Boy Mom" Session

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While I love full family sessions, I also have a soft spot for mommy and mini's sessions! As moms, we are so frequently the ones behind the camera and rarely in the frame. Then, when we do get in the frame, we are so self critical that we instantly delete the images or let them be buried at the bottom of our hard drives, never to be seen again. What a shame that is! Think of our own mothers now that we are adults; don't you love seeing images of yourself as a child with your mom? Don't you want the chance to give that to your children down the road? Trust me, they won't notice your messy hair or extra holiday fluff, they will just notice how much you loved them and remember what a great mom you were (and are). Ok, rant over. 

So when Momma S scheduled this awesome session with her and her two adorable boys, I was thrilled! I was lucky enough to meet this sweet family through church and our kiddos ended up befriending each other (in fact, we decided to betroth them - we joke about this frequently). Anyway, Momma S is "that mom." The one that makes you want to be a better mom because she just rocks at momming so much. She balances her two boys, who are just over a year apart in age, with grace and poise and unlimited smiles. During this session, it was so fun to watch her interact with her sons and to see them absolutely adore her in return. Their bright, welcoming home was just the frosting on an already great cake. I am so excited to share this session with you and hope that this inspires any of you moms who have never considered a mom and minis session!  

Like what you see? CONTACT ME!

Michiana Birth, Fresh 48 and Family Documentary Photographer - Introducing a New Product for 2017!

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I fell in love with photography about two years ago. Having the ability to freeze moments in time and instantly bring back all the feels of that exact second is just an awesome power to have. During this time of falling in love, I joined about 101 online groups and forums so that I could learn from all of the amazing documentary photographers out there and that is when I stumbled across something so unique and special. It was a total accident that I found this amazing woman and her business but after reading a blog post she wrote and then spending entirely too long drooling over her work, I was hooked. Francesca Russell Photography opened my eyes to documentary films.

Since then, I have been toying around with video and films through "One Second a Day" personal projects and then secretly taking some footage during a few of my more recent family sessions. In 2017, I plan to add fusion films to my product list! 

"Huh?"

A fusion film is a compilation video that includes both stills and video to tell your story. I am head over heals in love with them and can't wait to offer them to my future families. For the first few months, upon a signed film model release, I will be working on building my video skills and so, if you book soon, you will essentially get a bonus fusion film for no extra cost. These films are truly priceless and both families that I presented fusion films to so far have ended up in happy tears and big smiles. Just check out this awesome tea party - 

Please note: Most videos presented to clients are approximately 2+ minutes. This film has been condensed for your viewing convenience. 

 

Like what you see? CONTACT ME!

Granger Newborn Baby and Family Documentary Photographer - Why Storytelling and Documentary Photography?

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HAPPY 2017 EVERYONE!!! I hope that you all had a safe and great end to 2016 and are looking forward to the new year as much as I am. So, lets start the year off right and answer the ever nagging question...

"Why documentary photography???"

This is a question that I am certain crosses just about everyone's mind. When we are surrounded by beautiful portraits and stylized lifestyle images, it is very hard, maybe even uncomfortable, to think about stepping away from this genre. Especially when most of it is so beautifully done! So let me share my own personal experience that flipped the switch for me:

When my daughter was about 7 months old, we decided to do a family shoot. The photographer picked a beautiful location at a state park and we headed out for our session. Right when we got there, while carrying Baby F to the woods, I tripped and we both fell. Thankfully, neither of us were hurt, but we were both REALLY shaken. My normally happy, never-cries baby would not stop crying and wanted nothing to do with anyone except me. I wanted to just reschedule and call it quits, but at the encouragement of our photographer, we pressed on. I was sure we wouldn't get any usable images through the sobs and tears!

But we did. The images turned out adorable. Because the photographer was just that good.

Not a single one of those photos hangs on my walls.

 Why? Because it was a horrible experience! It was unnatural. It was uncomfortable. It was, well, fake. None of those images represented what I wanted to remember about my daughter! Where was her sweet personality? Our REAL baby smiles? Where was OUR honest story?

I started to think back on previous sessions and while all of the images were great, they just weren't real. I mean, I don't know about you, but I rarely put my baby in a bucket with a bow as big as her head at home! I realized that what I loved about photography is the ability to freeze reality; in my mind, there was nothing more beautiful than our every day, messy hair, baby spit up, chaotic days. That is what I wanted on my walls. That is what I wanted on my social media. That is what I wanted for our albums. And THAT is why I decided to offer that to you. I want you to have the every day beauty at your fingertips, to look back on whenever your heart aches for those moments and milestones. Real is so much better than ideal.

Storytelling and documentary photography is so much more than just pictures. It is a direct representation of your story; of the steps you're taking to get where you're going. Whether that means a messy house, or a pony tail and no makeup, or a baby in a t-shirt and diaper, if that's your story then that is what I want to capture for you! 

Like what you see? CONTACT ME.

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