Newborn Session, Baby Olivia

So, those of you who know me, are aware I have never marketed heavily toward the baby & kids end of photography. Why? Well, back when I was in college earning my diploma to be a professional photographer I took a job at the Wal-Mart store that was close to the college. I had not been there very long, when a mom & dad brought in their baby for pictures. I had baby on the posing table, I was back by the camera & down falls baby. I felt terrible, and Mom hollered at me & was so upset that it has haunted me. Now, I know it was not my fault, I explained it to this mom to keep her hand on baby until told her to move it out of the frame, and there were large signs posted all around the studio to watch your child... but I still felt terrible. Years later now that I am now a Mother of 3... I "get" it. I am sure that mom was so panicked that her child fell she simply reacted. None the less I have thought about that for years. I have been in business for over 13 years now, and that happened while I was in college. Needless to say I did not work at the Wal-Mart Portrait Studio for very long after that.
So anyway... I am trying to broaden my options now. I figure with how many newbie amature photographers that are out there now taking weddings away I will have to do other sessions just to keep my studio space. I'd NEVER want to move it back to my home again that is for sure.
So my latest I is a newborn session in March, a 5-year-old on April and now another newborn last weekend. This session was fun, because the baby's Mom & Dad were once one of my Bride & Grooms from when I did their wedding in 2008. Now I have been doing babies and kids here & there throughout the years, and my favorite are those who come in that were once a wedding couple of mine to now I am taking pics of their new baby. Those to me are fun since I already know the Mom & Dad, and they already trust in what I do and they themselves are also more relaxed.
This baby, little Olivia amazed me! At a week old she was already lifting her head and scooting across my sets. Once she had a full tummy she did get into a deeper sleep & I was able to get the angel wing pose, the hat, and a few others. We even tried having her lay in some netting fabric & had Dad hold her way up so she dangled inside the fabric. This pose alone I have had SEVERAL great comments on... the funny thing is it did not turn out quite how I had in in my mind's eye, but still turned out. I hope to get Miss Olivia back in for her 3 month portraits as well.

Here at the studio, we are not real busy for May, but have a lot going on in June. This June I have a new gal starting. She does her own photography on the side, and should be a great addition to our team!

PROM PICS!

This past weekend, a friend of mine asked if she could hire me to come to her house to take some photos of her youngest son as he & his friends headed to their Junior Prom. Of course I could do this for her, yet I felt BAD she paid me because I had so much fun. Part of me kicks myself for not choosing my 2nd choice of becoming a teacher, as I enjoy being around high school kids. However when I was 18 heading to college I was no interested in being in college for 4 years... and my photography college was a 2-year program.
Anyway, I get over there, and her son came down & I could hardly believe it! When I first met this boy, he was no more than 6 years old! Now he looked so grown up! I instantly felt OLD!
I started to take a few shots of him, and as his friends arrived just kept adding kids ot the poses. It was only suppose to be a few couples, which ended up being MANY couples. It was like taking pics at a wedding. I am in front taking pic, and I have moms, dads, aunts all behind me shooting as well. It was a lot of fun! The dresses were all so beautiful, and each so different. One girl had gotten hers from Las Vegas, and reminded me of the fancy dress Kate Winslet had worn in the Titanic movie. I even got to see one of my former cheerleaders as well! I used to be the Cheerleading Coach at the Rockford School, and recently chose to not continue with coaching. (way too much time commitment when I have such young kids of my own). So to see Sabrina it was great, and she looked AMAZING! He dress was so pretty!
The "icing on the cake" is that all thse kids are JUNIORS, and will be seeking SENIOR PHOTOS this summer, so I offered them all a great offer in hopes to have them come see me this summer as well.
Thanks to all of you allowing me to take your prom pics! You all were GREAT!