I recently had to opportunity to photograph a beautiful baby girl during her first 48 hours of life. She was so perfectly tiny and pink, I instantly got baby fever. Even having years of experience with infants from past jobs in nurseries, having children of my own, and now photographing them, I still get a little nervous during these sessions. The newborn phase of life is so important because these moments never last long enough. The pressure is on to capture all of the tiny fingers and toes and squishy faced expressions because one day, they aren't this little anymore. Capturing these moments allows for my clients to reminisce over the images while watching their once tiny infant run and climb, or graduate from high school ready to take on the world.
Going into a newborn or Fresh 48 session, I always have ideas, make mental lists and go in with a plan of the moments I want to capture. And I will say that every single time, the plan gets thrown right out the window. Why you may ask? Because, infants rule the world. These sessions are always lead by baby. We do whatever baby likes and quickly realize what he or she does not. Sometimes baby is quiet and sleeps through the entire process allowing for multiple poses, wrapping and unwrapping, and constant movement and shuffling. Then other times, baby will cry at the sound of your camera shutter and protest to feeling the cold elements. As a photographer in a session such as this, it is important to adapt and to always begin with the understanding that we may get some of the poses we wanted, but most of them, we will not. This is okay because we are trained to adapt in this manner, take our time, and still be able to capture brilliant and priceless moments.
This little princess made her grand entrance and immediately found her comfort in her mother's arms. She was not pleased when we tried to pull her away for a couple of photographs in the hospital bassinet. Dad was a champ and able to swoop in and calm her right down. Watch out momma, she may be a future daddy's girl. While I did have to adapt to this little ones reluctance to be photographed, I am so happy and pleased at the images we were still able to get. Documenting such a momentous occasion is why I do what I do.
Being a photographer allows me to capture these rare moments in life and freeze them so they can be revisited and reminisced for years to come. These pictures can be passed down through generations and clients are able to compare baby pictures of their children to that of their grandchildren. Newborn and infant photographs are truly priceless. Photography is not just an investment in life, it's an investment in your future as well.
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