Handsome Little Guy

Jack, my five-year-old at his preschool graduation.

My first maternity shoot: Jonna

This pregnant belly belongs to my friend, Jonna.  Let me tell you, Jonna is amazing.  She is due in a month and is still doing wheels in yoga class.  THAT is impressive.  This is also her second baby, gender still to be determined.  

We did the pictures out at her house on the farm and I loved the setting.  It totally represents her life.  We had waited and waited for a wind-free evening and when we thought we had one, we jumped at the chance.  Of course, by the time I hung up the phone with her and then got out to her house, the wind had started up again.  I also wasn’t quite sure what time of day was best.  It turns out that the later shots were the best.

I had to throw this shot in, just for fun.  I giggle every time I look at it. 

Baby Johnson

I was lucky enough last week to get to do another newborn shoot.  This baby belongs to my friend, Jaelyn.  She was 20 days old, and while that’s still a newborn, it’s just a tad too old to be doing the sleeping baby poses.  She wouldn’t sleep and needed the pacifier for about half of the pictures.   I am thankful that Jaelyn put up with me messing with her baby.

I was still using the 50mm lens and natural lighting.  We did the shoot in Jaelyn’s office and I didn’t have much room to move around.  It was a new challenge and I think I got some good ones.



This is a different basket than I used in my first shoot.  I found it at the Nazarene Thrift Store for $5.  It is the perfect size and is closer to the ground, which makes it easier for me to look down on it.  I love it!  This baby is a pretty good size already, about nine pounds, and she filled up the basket!

My first newborn

I’m not talking about MY first newborn, but my first newborn shoot.  This beautiful baby belongs to my friend, Kellyn.  He was nine days old (I think) and the perfect subject!  The shoot took place in Kellyn’s living room, where she had big windows that made for perfect natural lighting.

I’ll admit to being a little overwhelmed.  Since it was my very first newborn shoot, I didn’t really have any idea what I was doing!  I had read a bunch of blogs to kind of get an idea, but it is completely different when you are right there doing it yourself.  I shoot with a Canon Rebel xSI.  I only have the kit lens, so I borrowed my sister-in-law’s 50mm 1.8 lens for this shoot.  I am still learning how work with the f-stops and shutter speed to get what I want in focus and still have the right light.  I was pretty disappointed when I uploaded these pictures and found a ton that would’ve been great if only they were in better focus.  Live and learn, right?

So without further ado, here are my favorites.  Feel free to leave me constructive criticism, but please remember that I am new to both the picture taking and the editing!