Planning a Newborn Session Rochester, NY Newborn Photography

I now have two seasons…wedding season, and baby season.  Or at least, I feel as though that's how my world is operating these days.  Many families in my life are expanding this winter. It's so exciting to watch not only my family members, but my friends and wonderful wedding couples as they begin their families together.

And what's even more exciting-is being asked to capture these newborn moments. 

Recently, I was asked to photograph the little doll below. As I was leaving the session, her mommy said "wow, you weren't kidding when you said it'd take 3 hours, I didn't believe you." 

This caught my attention, as it's honestly not the first time I'd heard it. It is fun to look at dreamy baby images and think "how hard could it be?"  I've learned that there is much more to it, than there appears to be. It's also beautiful and rewarding-and I wouldn't trade opportunities to document these little miracles.

A newborn session takes planning, time, patience, a lot of love…and more time. 

Planning: Let's face it, baby brain happens-and it's ok. I don't expect anything less for new mommies and daddies. There are a million things to think about, all of which you'll likely forget about as soon as you bring your baby home from the hospital.   

And so, much like starting up that all important college savings account, try to get as much done before the baby arrives as you can.  Contact us before your bundle arrives! It's often best to photograph your baby within the first 7-14 days after their birth for those beautiful sleepy baby images. This is because your child will be the most sleepy at this age and have the least amount of skin issues. Once they start to get older, they are more alert, more restless and awake for longer periods of time.

By pre-planning your session, we ensure that we can set aside time around your due date, go over the best location in your home, and prepare you with an arsenal of tips and ideas for as smooth a session as possible. 

Time and Patience:  Babies aren't born ready to be the perfect baby model. I often have moms tell me, "They're usually such a good sleeper!"  It's true, your newborn is a great sleeper, I do believe you. But they're also not used to being handled and positioned this much. It takes extra time, diaper changes, feedings and lulling to sleep.  Be patient, we don't mind, because these moments are important to us also.

Love:  Throughout all of that, we're able to capture you with your baby in those moments. Being with your baby in these photographs is who you are becoming as a family. And while you may be wondering when you'll sleep next, don't forget-these moments are fleeting. So if you're willing, we hope you'll share and enjoy family time with us also. 

These things and more make a newborn session unique. We want to create beautiful photographs of this time in your life, no matter how long it might take.

Let's finish up with some of little Miss M's session. Her mommy and daddy weren't feeling well enough to be photographed, so we focused on her, but included them in small ways, including Daddy's favorite chair.  

I'm already in love with her and can't wait to watch her grow... just not too fast.

A new year, a new team, and a new guide

Wow, it's hard to believe how much changes in the blink of an eye.  

I have some huge announcements to share with you all.

No joke. 

They are BIG.  Like-life changing and incredible type of BIG.
And it's only January. 

Here's the first, with more to come in future blog posts.

Lori A. Coleman & the Snap Cinema Team

Many of you already know, I work with some wonderful people.
Today, I want to officially introduce you to some new/old faces.
First up,  Lori A. Coleman of Light + Ink.

Let's take a quick trip down memory lane... (feel free to insert wiggling fingers and rippling effect here)

Photo by Sue Egan Photography

It all began, at a Greater Rochester Professional Photographers meeting in 2010 where Lori and I met, and together we bonded over a new design for the group logo and our love of puppies.  Since then, she's become one of my closest friends and my favorite second photographer.

So, naturally, I'm excited to share, Lori and I are teaming up, working as co-photographers for each other.  We are two professional photographers, working together to capture beautiful moments and create photographs you will cherish forever. Lori and I work so well together. We are even able to anticipate each other's next steps, knowing right where we each should be next.  This means we can be in two locations, get many different viewpoints, and never miss a moment of your day.

I'm also excited to be joining forces with Lori, and Duprey Video Productions to bring you Snap Cinema. Dave & Darlene Duprey, are great videographers.  They bring the excellence and experience of over 250 weddings to the table.  I highly recommend them and love getting to work with them.

Together, we're a team of hard-working, creative professionals, ready to bring you the best in fusion weddings.  Our photography packages remain as a stand alone option, but if hired together with Duprey Video, we will create something truly wonderful for you to remember your wedding day by.

What is fusion you ask?  I know it's a word you've probably never heard me share before.  But, the easiest way to describe it is: it's the best of both worlds.  It's the merging of video and photography to bring you a great new way to share your wedding with the world.  Have a look at a sample here.

Lastly, I want to share with you our Fusion Wedding Guide (see below).  We have been hard at work for two months, to create an informational guide to introduce ourselves and explain the benefits of Snap Cinema.  I'm so excited to be able to offer this option to my clients. We hope you enjoy reading through it. If you know anyone who might benefit, please pass it along!  Feel free to contact me to talk more about fusion, your photography or anything else that's on your mind.

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