Julianna’s mom wrote last week to schedule her daughter’s one year pictures. ONE YEAR?!?!? She’s one already???? How did that happen? Seeing as I hadn’t yet blogged her newborn session, I decided I had better get on that!

Her mom and I have talked about this – so I am not sharing anything she doesn’t know – but Julianna was one of my more challenging newborns of 2012. We sailed through the “lifestyle” photos in the beginning without issue. However once it was time for her to fall asleep and let me pose her, that’s when difficulty started.

It took a couple of hours and me coming back the next day for us to realize that I was only going to get one pose out of Julianna per nursing. So it went a little like this – mom nursed her to sleep, we would get her on the beanbag, bowl, etc in a pose, I would snap the picture, I would try to move her to the next pose, she would wake and cry. Repeat.

Despite the difficulties, the pictures from the session were beautiful. I couldn’t be happier to have worked with such a lovely family. And I am happy to say that mom reports that Julianna is a much happier babe.

Baby William’s mom was so sweet in writing me at 39 weeks wanting a maternity session. She joked it was a nesting thing! Sadly I was about to board a plane to go to a workshop to sharpen my skills in newborn posing/photography followed by a family vacation. By the time I got back, this little one was almost two weeks old, so I had the pleasure of taking his newborn photos.

I still remember the morning. It was cold and slick from a snowfall. I questioned why it was that I do on location newborn shoots as I lugged all my gear up the steps to their home. Being in the city, in St. Paul, the plows hadn’t quite been through to clear everything away.

However once inside I was reminded why I do what I do. Baby William was all snuggled up with his mom. It was nice and toasty in the house – perfect for a newborn shoot. Grandma was there too loving on her new grandson. Having just returned from my workshop, I got to use my new skills. I simply love the results!

In the wee hours of the night I received the call to come to the hospital. I was excited for several reasons. Mom was a nurse and knew the birthing process well. It was likely to be a water birth – my first captured in a hospital setting. The couple were very down to earth and kind. I was excited to be able to capture the birth of their third child and first son.

Side note – when the midwife walked in I swore I knew her from somewhere, but couldn’t instantly place her. When I was about to leave, it hit me. She had been the midwife at my second birth seven years earlier. Small world!