Rachel's Newborn Session
This job never gets old.
Seriously. Every night before a newborn session, I'm giddy with excitement as I pull together the sets and colours to use, and I just can't wait to meet the family who will be joining me in the studio the next morning.
It's like when you're so excited that you feel the butterflies in your tummy, and you can almost hardly sleep. My alarm goes off the next morning, and instead of dragging myself out of bed for "another day of work", my eyes spring open and I jump out of bed to get my kids out the door and finish up the final little details in the studio before I get to indulge in all the baby-snuggle-goodness.
Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.
I was booked for Rachel's newborn session months in advance, which, to me, is always a huge compliment. It means a lot to me when families feel the urgency to book well in advance to ensure they get a spot. And it's smart on their behalf, too! I sometimes have last-minute spots open, but I rarely do and that, again, is a huge and very flattering compliment to know that while I am capturing memories for families to treasure for a lifetime, I am comfortably able to provide for my own family doing exactly what I love to do.
Having worked jobs that sucked the joy out of my life made it very difficult to keep a positive outlook in life and find the motivation to further pursue anything in that job. But, I am so happy and absolutely ecstatic that I found photography. It enables me to be the creative, artsy-fartsy type of personality that I am. It's so rewarding, it's so fulfilling, and I absolutely love every single minute of it. I am capable of investing hours of work into my business without it feeling like much work at all (okay, so some jobs are a little more boring than others, but it all works together like a well-oiled machine) and at the end of the day, I know that I am happy, my kids are happy, and my clients are happy. It comes full circle, and it's truly a blessing in my life.
All The Sweetest Poses!
This sweet baby girl brought me back to when my own girls were tiny little newborns. Her dainty little facial features and her fluffy little hair (although my babies were completely bald) just had my ovaries aching. People often say, "Ya, but this job must make the baby fever easier, doesn't it?"
Oh, but no. I mean, I get my baby-fix, for sure. But with each little baby I snuggle, the urge to want one of my own just grows. My husband reminds me of how much I love sleeping through the night and not having to haul half of the house with me everywhere I go anymore, but those baby snuggles make it so worth it. Let this be a reminder to anyone with a baby right now - yes. It's hard to have a tiny human dependent on you for absolutely everything. But, not long from now, when that baby is toddling and talking and becoming their own little person each and every day, you'll find yourself yearning for just one. more. snuggle.
Always Be Yourself. Unless You Can Be A Mermaid. Then Always Be A Mermaid.
When Rachel's Mom booked her newborn session, she right away mentioned that baby's nursery was sea-themed. We had discussed some outfit ideas, along the lines of mermaids, so I had been turning ideas over in my head for months. Here and there, during my frequent trips to different craft stores, I gathered some cute bits and pieces. I pictured something simple, but very clearly "mermaid" themed and on the day of Rachel's session I was so excited to finally put what I saw in my head into a photo!
The resulting image turned out exactly the way I pictured it, if not better, and I am so thrilled with the response it has received from everyone who has noticed it on my Facebook page, as well! The colours were chosen to match Rachel's nursery, and the subtle little sea-shell features and cute little starfish are the perfect little add-ins to pull the whole set together without losing the focus of the image - the sweetest little mermaid!
This photo would be such an adorable little keepsake and perfect nursery addition as wall art to make it 100% Rachel's custom nursery! I love putting together sets that are entirely unique to each baby. It makes it different, it makes it fun, and it's always great to know that you have a one-of-a-kind piece of art of your own little one-of-a-kind masterpiece: your child!
New Set Up In The Studio!
I have always been a lover of crisp and classic black & white portraits. While I do love the "fancy" side of photography, I also appreciate a simplistic, beautiful photo. Yummy backlight that highlights the details, like the fuzzy hairs on baby's head and the calm expressions on mom and dad's faces just have me sit back in my office chair and hum in satisfaction.
These also NEVER go out of style. As a portrait on the wall or in an album, these beautiful portraits are timeless and breathtaking.
I have a new set up in my studio that now allows me to accomplish these portraits easily and add them into my session workflow seamlessly. While the space in my studio seems to get tighter, the opportunities for gorgeous portraits has expanded - and that's what really matters! It still flows cohesively and it's actually quite amazing how with just a turn of your head, you can see a whole different set up in my studio.
This set up will also help make sibling portraits more easy-going and fun for kiddos, and I'm excited to have this option added into my studio and for families to have something a little extra to pick from in their galleries!
These Family Photos Will Never Get Old, Though.
My heart still turns into a gooey puddle of love during the family portion of each session. Close, cuddly poses and happy expressions all over mom and dad's faces - it's the best!
Embrace The Awake Shots!
Rachel was superbly easy-going for her session, but we did have a good chunk of time where she decided it was time to be awake! I've learned that sometimes it's just best to go with the flow and take advantage of these awake times because these little ones have so many adorable and funny expressions! This way, we still get a TON of variety in your gallery to pick from and capture some moments that will bring a smile to your face every. single. time.
Oh, baby Rachel. You are just the sweetest little peanut!
Once we were finished with the session, I took an extra moment to snuggle this precious baby girl. She was sound asleep and nestled so comfortably in my arm that I just needed that extra moment of quiet newborn bliss and get that baby fix. I could have snuggled her for hours on end, but considering her parents were most likely sleep-deprived and ready to get their own snuggles in at home, I passed baby on to mom, they buckled her into her car seat and they returned home to anxiously await their photos.
I know I sound like a broken record, but I am so thankful for the families who pick Hocus Focus Photography to capture their most precious keepsakes. I use the same phrases over and over. I realize it's rather a cliche. But only because it's so true. And I am so very thankful for everyone who has put their time and energy into booking with me; I take it very seriously, and while we all have a blast during our sessions I am simultaneously making sure that I am doing the absolute best I can to keep families comfortable, to keep families happy, and to keep memories alive.
Thank you for making my dreams a reality, I am genuinely so blessed and humbled each and every time.
& welcome to the world, Baby Rachel. You are so deeply loved and we welcome you with smiles on our faces and warmth in our hearts!
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