Posts Tagged ‘Newborn pictures’

Chapter 134~ More of my head trash…

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Guilty!  I’m guilty, I admit it, I’m not proud, but I compare my work to that of other artisits.  Sometimes I think I’m better, sometimes I know they’re better.  It’s such a natural human thing to do. I try really hard to compete only with myself, but we’re surrounded with amazing photography, it’s everywhere.  The digital camera has taken some of the novelty out of photography.  So I like need to get to the point, right?

My point.

Tuesday I took the day to hang with Cara at the pool.  Her last day of summer before the start of school, and I’ll admit I needed a day off.  Anyway, she saw in my bag a professional photography magazine and said “oh that’s a creepy picture”.  I immediately grabbed the magazine, curious.  I really value Cara’s opinion. To my surprise it was a picture of a newborn.  Now I hate to pull this exact cover up because this photographer in my opinion is amazing.  But Cara thought it looked unnatural, awkward, and well creepy.  It’s kinda the style right now to take beautiful, sleepy, little newborns and put them in weird settings, and poses.  This particular baby was folded over itself with it’s hands under it’s head and it was smiling.  Now you know it wasn’t really smiling, but the photographer was good and captured a moment.  So the point…I really need to focus on my style.  Get back to feeling the moment and capturing it.  Here I was trying to recreate that style, the “in” style, when I really needed to focus on what I’m good at. Capturing the emotion.  Mostly between parents and their newborns.  Mostly love.  So if everyday has a lesson, today mine would be to love my work with the understanding that photography really is an art and everyone has a style.

Check out these pics and you’ll see what I mean.  If these don’t make you feel something you might need to go the ER right away for CPR.

I just can’t stop looking at this pic!  It’s hilarious and awesome.

Newborn Photography~ Kansas City

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Baby Hunter at just a week old.  I know newbies can’t smile on purpose, but I swear this little guy is.

The newborn “style”  is the sleepy baby all curled up in a basket with their eyes closed.  I love that look, and I know that most the time newborn have googly eyes because their muscles have not yet developed, but I like pictures of newborns with their eyes open, and closed.  Especially when we can get them both looking the same direction.

Just notice the sock fuzz on his itty bitty toes.

You may be thinking Hunter looks like a peaceful little guy, but I have a feeling he’s going to be a tough guy someday.  His dad Travis competes in strong man competitions and he’s no little guy.  But, holding Hunter he melted like butter.

I love the hammock shot but a lot of people out there seem to think I just hang the little tike in midair.  Not the case, for you worried mommas out there.  Actually Sarah is holding the bottom of the hammock and Travis is holding the top and his back.  Jon is the backup.  Safety with the newborns is always my first concern.

Don’t forget to notice the little monkey toes.

I love this last shot, and I love that I got to work with such an awesome family.  I feel like I’ve known Sarah forever, I look forward to many more photo sessions.

Belly Pictures, and a little bit about lighting~ Kansas City Photographer

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

This is Tyra and Nathan.  They were pregnant, but now their life’s are changed forever.  It started with a belly.

When Tyra originally contacted me she was interested in newborn pics.  The belly thing was not something she thought was for her.  I always gently  encourage women to do the maternity pictures because I know in the end they are going to love them, but I also understand it’s not for everyone.  After I showed the pics to Tyra she decided to give it a go and I’m so happy she did because she’s a beautiful pregnant woman!

And yes she always has her fingers painted a rockin color  for photos!

How to light this shot?

Easy, have the subject stand relatively close to the background.  Aim two strobes with softboxes on each side of her at the background.  In my case it was seamless white paper.  The light will magically wrap around the subject giving this awesome effect.

Below is a picture of baby Jackson just before he was born.  He has the prettiest eyes, can’t you tell?  Haha he really does, keep reading.

I heart this picture!  The lighting is very similar to that above.  Just get the light to hug the subject!

Tyra and Nathan are a very happy couple.  They are both teachers so they get to enjoy lots of time off together.  I know for some couples that would be a bad thing, but I can tell they really like being around eachother.  They are going to make amazing parents, I’ve already gotten to witness their gentle parenting techniques because just last week we had Jackson’s shoot.  Here is just a few pics of the little guy from our shoot last week.

I told you he had nice eyes.  Even looking the same direction.  Pefection!

And it’s not easy for new mommas to bring their week old babies in to have their pictures taken.  Sometiems they’re exhausted, sometimes they’re worried, sometimes they’re overwhelmed, and sometimes they’re all those things.  Tyra was relaxed, and made the very difficult job of being a new mom look easy.

Nathan was also obsessed!

Two big long legs coming your way!  Just look at those feet!

Get ready for some cuteness that hurts.

Jackson you are so perfect, but you did not want to go to sleep during your shoot.  I’m so happy you finally did!

Want to know how I did something or lit something just ask, I’d love to help all my photog followers out there.