Baby "O" | Kingsport newborn lifestyle photography

 This awesome mom is a good friend of mine.  And our kids are all good friends.  When she told me she'd never had maternity photos done I just about DIED.  These photos are so meaningful because it's like they're symbolizing the end of an era.  This was most likely her last pregnancy.  She didn't necessarily want portraiture.  She wanted to remember what it's like to be expecting a child and the joy that a new baby brings into your home.  I just KNEW that we had to do a lifestyle shoot.  A "day in the life" type of thing. 

 She's been working on this blanket for a long time.  We set up the shot and just as I was about to take it, the two-year-old climbed on the bed and started doing cannon balls.  Awesome.  Is this real life or what?

 These boys adore their mom! 

 I convinced her to do a few portraits and we stepped out into their backyard to snap these beauties. 

 Doesn't she look amazing?  Anyone who knows her knows that she actually felt awful.  Like, really bad.  Like, "I-can't-move-and-hate-being-pregnant" bad.  Which is what makes her so amazing to me.  As much as he hates being pregnant, she makes the sacrifice so her family can feel complete. 

And look how happy big sister is!  They LOVE him!

 And look at these lip!  Aren't they squishy!

 

 Grandma Rita has come to Tennessee for each of these little babies.  I think her hands contrasted with a tiny new baby is so beautiful.  And symbolic. 

 See?  Being pregnant is totally worth it once you meet your baby. 

 I think these next two photos are my favorites!

 They converted a corner of their bedroom into a nursery.  Isn't it awesome? 

We were going to do a family photo shoot in the fall, but it got really cold really fast.  So we decided to do one shot for the Christmas card and then do a session in the Spring.  They call this photo their "Christmas miracle."

10 month lifestyle shoot // Kingsport baby photographer

I am so in love with lifestyle photography.  I hate that I am currently limited with what I can do with it.  My best indoor lens doesn't allow me enough room to set up a good shot in tight spaces.  A more wide-angled lens is on my list of things to purchase (in fact, it's NEXT on the list, I'm halfway there).  If you're interested in lifestyle and have a home with ample space, I may be able to pull a shoot together for you (if we try it and it doesn't work, we can either change location or postpone the shoot until I get my new lens).  In the meantime, I've been getting lots of practice with my own family.  This is my daughter at 10 months old.  Lifestyle is all about telling the story.  Very little is posed.  I may provide with you some direction so the shoot is flattering, but it's very much about celebrating the every day. Note the different feel to this than traditional portraiture. 

 I wanted to tell my daughter's story.  I wanted to capture exactly what it was like to be "L" at 10 months old.  I love this photo because she is always headed down the hallway to see what the "big girls" are doing in their room and to see if she can join in. 

 Watching her tiny fingers learn how to grasp food is just precious. 

 I have a husband who adores his kids.  And they adore him. 

 Okay, so this is portraiture, but I couldn't resist throwing it in.  (This was her 11 month photo).

 

 

 
 Again, those tiny fingers....Now that she's 13 months and all grown up, I really cherish these shots. 

 She loves looking out the window.  It's like a whole new world of discovery.

 

 Peek a boo behind the curtains is still her favorite game.  I love the mischief in her eyes on this one.  I have this one framed in my front room. 

And then she was done.  I actually love photos of my kids crying.  Especially if it's something they do a lot.  We have lots of photos of my 6 year old crying when she was a baby.  We like to tease her that she hated her dad because every time he took her, she screamed and screamed and wouldn't stop...unless he gave her back to me.  Now she'll say funny things like, "Mom, I like dad, but I just love you more."  She is so sweet and so sincere about it.  My husband is good natured about it and says, "We know.  You've always loved your mom the most."  And then we show her all the photos of her dad holding her while she's wails at the top of her lungs.  We all get a good laugh out of it now. 

 

Lifestyle

 Are you familiar with lifestyle photography?  I'm currently taking a class from Brooke Snow about how to really capture the "story" in your images and be able to portray emotion better.  This week, my homework assignment was to choose a character (my son) and take "detail" pictures of him that give us some information about who he is and his personality.  He just finished up first grade and has developed a true love for reading...ESPECIALLY Calvin and Hobbes.  His books are tattered and worn, missing pages, and one is even missing the cover. As a mother, I often overlook moments like this to photograph.  He's been reading well for over a year now and this is the first time I've taken out the camera and really tried to capture the details of this amazing time in my son's life right now.  I snapped many more pictures that what you see on the blog (the assignment limited me to 4), and every one of them makes my heart melt.  I will always treasure these images.