Newborn
Check out this special blog highlighting photos from the newborn session at my Indianapolis studio of little Charlie Joe, a precious rainbow baby boy who was gifted to a mommy and daddy that waited a very long time to meet him!
Read MoreEarly in her pregnancy, Susanne contacted me to discuss booking maternity photos for a very special child she was carrying.
She and her husband Jamie had experienced the heart wrenching loss of a child in July five years previously. After this very difficult journey, she was now expecting and anticipating the arrival of a sweet baby boy.
She was really hoping to have some special snow maternity photos, but the weather in Indianapolis is not very predictable in the winter time, and you never know if you are going to be able to enjoy a beautiful snowfall or just have to deal with ugly dismal gray days all winter.
We planned for a maternity session as the holidays were approaching, but because of some family emergencies, we had to postpone. This was all in God’s design, because when we were able to reschedule, God gave us a beautiful snowfall and also allowed the temps to be agreeable for the duration of our session!
We started the maternity session showing how beautiful Susanne is in this colorful rainbow gown.
When she saw this gown in my client closet, she was sure she wanted some photos in this maternity gown to celebrate this beautiful rainbow after a difficult storm of loss.
Normally, you don’t think of rainbows and snow going together, but Jamie and Susanne made the rainbow look absolutely stunning in the snow!
We found some of the most unique spots as we walked around at the park on the east side of Indianapolis. Natural elements look quite different in the snow than they do in warmer seasons. And this provided us with some beautiful, unique photos for this sweet couple to cherish for always!
We switched to this beautiful red gown after getting several sweet shots in the rainbow maternity gown.
Susanne looked absolutely stunning in this gown. The contrast of the red maternity gown against the snow really highlighted how beautiful this momma is.
This unique tree not only gave us some gorgeous shots of Susanne, but it gave us the ability to get some sweet shots of Jamie with her.
We walked on a bit further to the creek
and captured some beautiful shots with this unique background. The reflection of the snow and trees in the water created a beautiful backdrop.
It was a blessing to provide these heirlooms for Jamie and Susanne. They will always have these photos to treasure the time they anticipated the arrival of their sweet Charlie Joe.
Check out the next blog post for highlights from his newborn session!
When Jessica first contacted me and told me her dad gifted her with a newborn session to ensure she had a beautiful capture of her precious baby girl, my heart melted.
He UNDERSTOOD. He knew how fleeting that stage is and how important it is to make such an important investment.
Jessica and I started communicating and plans were formed for Violet’s session based on Jessica’s color and theme preferences.
We talked a little about what Jessica should plan to wear, and she chose a beautiful but simple dress for her photos with Violet.
We started the session with shots of Momma and Violet.
Parent shots are always first. We want mommy to be fresh for these special shots with her baby.
After we captured some beautiful shots of Momma and baby, Momma got to relax and settle in. We transitioned to a bucket shot with florals and lace and added a beautiful wreath for Violet to wear. Keep an eye on that wreath - it shows up again later!
Violet settled right in and we were able to get the most beautiful captures of how beautiful she was at this precious newborn stage!
Time went by and Violet was growing! Jessica had such a special relationship with her dad, and they discussed making plans to invest in Violet’s first birthday session. He was planning to help with the investment. They were both excited as they looked ahead to that exciting milestone.
But then tragedy struck, and Jessica lost her dad when Violet was just 9 months old.
Jessica knew that investing in a beautiful capture of Violet’s big first birthday milestone was not only important to her, but that it was important to her dad.
She made this a priority, and contacted me to chat about scheduling the session.
She told me that Violet loved cows and that she thought it would be fun to do something with cows and sunflowers. I got to work with plans for a set up and choosing a cake design that would be a perfect fit for this request.
Every milestone session allows for up to three different outfits!
Jessica chose this gorgeous green jewel toned dress that complimented Violet beautifully! We started her session with this outfit.
Recognize that wreath? That is the same wreath she wore for her newborn photos!
We got several beautiful shots of Miss Violet in her pretty green dress and also in a second outfit with a sunflower top and distressed jeans. I almost couldn’t contain myself at how adorable she was in these outfits! But even more fun was capturing her fun personality and having a variety of sweetness, silliness and just plain cuteness!
Violet was very shy when she first came for her first birthday session
Her momma gave me the heads up that it can take a bit for her to warm up
Because I knew Violet needed some time to warm up to me, I had momma set her down and play a bit with momma right there. I sat down near her so she could see me, but she saw there was comfortable distance. I talked to her and gave her some time. We didn’t rush anything. After about fifteen minutes of letting her play and be close to momma and watch and study me, she began to smile little bits at me and her body language began to show that she was becoming more comfortable. We moved into the studio and I gave instructions for momma to set her down for her first set of photos. This allowed her to become more familiar with being in my studio and seeing me with the camera but still being very close to momma.
Before long, she was warming up enough that I could come closer and touch her just a bit or move her a bit to make sure the light was hitting her in just the right way to ensure we were capturing the most beautiful photos of her.
By the time we got to her second outfit with the sunflower blouse
she was completely warmed up and all of her personality started to shine through!
And then it was finally time for the finale of the session - the cake smash!
Violet is known to not be a fan of getting messy
Jessica wasn’t sure if there would be any smashing of the cake.
Violet was very interested in the ears on her cow cake and eventually figured out how to pull one of them out and use it to play with the top of the cake. It was so entertaining to watch her play in her own way and for her unique personality to be on display.
And by the end, she definitely got messy!
She let her personality shine and she and Jessica will always have this beautiful celebration to remember her first big milestone. Jessica’s dad would be so proud and happy to know that she has these photos - these heirlooms to treasure for always.
Brock and Miriam are a sweet couple that I’ve been privileged to know from the very beginning of their family. Their oldest daughter Anneliese was one of the first newborn babies I ever captured. Anneliese was followed by two little brothers, Charlie and Jacob, and finally with a little sister, Lilly.
It’s amazing how much growth I have seen since 2010 in crafting my art! I am so excited that as I grow and improve my skills, I can better serve you with the most amazing heirlooms of this precious, fleeting newborn stage!
With Lilly’s arrival, Brock and Miriam were sure their family was complete.
Little did they know the adventure still ahead of them! When Lilly was five years old, they were surprised to discover another little Barlow would be joining the family!
We did a special maternity session as we were sure this child would make the family complete.
Little Miss Nora arrived and the whole family was in love with this precious new little family member.
So the Barlow family was complete.
At least, so they thought . . .
God had one more surprise for them, and this time, their little one would take them on a very unexpected and difficult journey that would stretch and challenge them beyond anything they thought possible.
Miriam discovered she was expecting again, and among other complications, was diagnosed with placenta accreta. This condition is incredibly dangerous and life-threatening for the mother.
Baby Theo arrived on October 7, 2021 weighing only 5 lbs., 3 oz.
Immediately after his emergency cesarean section delivery, Miriam immediately underwent a complete hysterectomy.
Many long and difficult days were spent in the hospital as Miriam recovered. She was not able to be with her little baby boy in those first hours and days like she was with her other babies.
Eventually, Miriam was released to go home, but little Theo was still fighting and had a long road ahead of him. Brock and Miriam experienced trauma in many forms during those long, difficult days that Theo spent in the NICU.
But finally, after 64 days, Theo was strong and healthy enough to go home.
Brock and Miriam were able to surprise all of the big brothers and sisters as they brought him home for the very first time.
Shortly after his arrival home from the NICU, I had the wonderful privilege of capturing newborn photos of this precious little life in my studio on the east side of Indianapolis.
This sweet family that was now, without a doubt, COMPLETE.
One year later, Theo came back to my Indianapolis studio for a first birthday cake smash session to celebrate his first year of life!
He is now a healthy, thriving little boy with so much potential!
Wanna know what the theme was for his cake smash? Check out the previous blog post here to find out and learn the story behind the choice of the theme!
Brandon and Kaylee had a strong desire to become parents, but struggled to see this dream become a reality. They waited three long years to finally meet their first little one. Read their story in Kaylee’s own words below:
announcement photos used with permission
““We can’t keep our secret any longer!
This is our story.
It’s been 3 years filled with tears, hope, discouragement, faith, questions, trust and phrases like “will we ever be blessed with a child?” We’ve been asked numerous times “when are you guys going to have a baby?” or “why don’t you have kids yet?”
Looking back on these 3 years we can see how God has worked everything out in His perfect timing. We’ve had these years to encourage, love, and grow in Christ together. We wouldn’t trade this trial for the world because it’s a lesson of patience and trust we’ve needed in our lives. We hope our story can be an encouragement to someone who is still waiting on their precious little one. God truly blesses in His timing!
We are SO thrilled for baby Unruh to join our family in April!”
What a delight it was to capture some beautiful maternity heirlooms for them as Kaylee carried their little one and they anticipated the day they would meet him! We enjoyed a sunrise maternity session at the canal along
the White River in downtown Indianapolis.
And then, before they knew it, he was here.
Their hearts could hardly contain the joy this little one brought and the depth of love they felt for him.
Every time Brandon and Kaylee look at their newborn photos, they are looking upon heirlooms that take their hearts right back to all of those emotions of joy and love.
Fast forward a couple of years…
and Brandon and Kaylee were gifted with another precious miracle! Grayson was now a big brother and Brandon and Kaylee now had a sweet little boy AND a girl!
Little Miss Harper was the sweetest addition to the family and it was an honor for me to capture her in the newborn stage while she was new to the world!
Time passed, and Brandon and Kaylee discovered another little blessing was on the way, but unfortunately, they had to say goodbye to their sweet angel baby before their child ever came earthside. Going through this kind of loss leaves you with such a heartache that is impossible to put into words. It’s a difficult storm to navigate.
In God’s perfect timing, He chose to give them a precious little rainbow
after the storm.
Little Miss Remington arrived . . .
. . . and the Unruh family had now grown to a family of five!
She was the perfect little bright spot that was so needed after such a difficult loss.
Returning to my studio on the east side of Indianapolis as your family grows allows you to have a beautiful consistency to your heirloom photos. Look at the precious growth that has taken place through the past few years!
It truly is an honor to walk with you as the story of your family unfolds, capturing precious heirlooms for you along the way.
Message me HERE to inquire about booking your maternity and newborn heirloom session!
Finding out a little one is on the way brings a huge variety of emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other.
There is a feeling of joy and excitement that is impossible to put into words.
And yet there are so many fears and unknowns surrounding finances, health, and feeling overwhelmed by the amazing responsibility that you are facing.
There are challenges to your body physically that stretch you to a new understanding of what it means to love sacrificially.
There are emotional challenges as you face hormone changes and deal with postpartum.
All of this looks different for every momma and some struggle on deeper levels than others, but ALL mommas (and daddies too in their own unique ways) will face some of the hardest challenges you’ve ever experienced.
Sometimes, those challenges can crowd out the indescribable joy and delight of this new little person that has completely changed your life for the better.
Choosing to invest in heirloom quality newborn photos is therapy for your soul.
When you have nights of very little sleep and baby is extra fussy and your body is tired and sore, that can often be all that you see in front of you.
When you are struggling with postpartum emotions and have those hard moments and hard days, it is so hard to remember the positive side.
But when you catch a glance at any one of your beautiful heirloom newborn photos, it will instantly lift your spirits and remind you of this beautiful gift you’ve been given and the treasure that she is.
As your body heals and your baby grows and quickly changes, those difficult pieces of the first days and weeks of having a newborn will become blurred. Your memory of how beautiful and precious your little one was at this stage will be blurred as well, unless you invest in heirloom quality newborn photos. You want the memory of the tough pieces to blur and not be remembered, but you do NOT want the memory of your little one to be blurred along with the hard stuff. Choosing to invest in heirloom quality photos of your newborn baby will definitely be THERAPY FOR YOUR SOUL.
Enjoy these highlights from little Miss Chikamsi’s newborn photo session at my studio on the east side of Indianapolis. Every time her mommy and daddy see these photos they will recall with fresh remembrance how tiny and beautiful she was at this delicate stage!
Watching your family grow and being blessed with all boys is a unique blessing! Check out this story of a family's journey from their first baby boy and beyond and enjoy seeing the beautiful heirloom photos from each of their newborn sessions at my studio in Indianapolis.
Read MoreTreasure the very beginning of your journey as new parents by starting with a special session creating unique heirloom photos celebrating that you are expecting! These are fun and special photos that you can use to share your exciting news with your family and friends! Serving families in the Indianapolis and surrounding area!
Read MoreFall is a beautiful season that brings cooler temperatures, beautiful fall foliage on the trees, apple orchards, campfires and hay rides!
If you are expecting a baby in the months of September or October (and even November!), it is fun to incorporate a fall theme into your newborn session at my studio on the east side of Indianapolis!
Sunflowers have a way of telling us that summer is ending and transitioning into fall. Adding sunflowers to your newborn baby’s fall session is s special way to remember the season you met this little piece of your heart for the very first time.
Pumpkins are such a fun part of the fall season!
Sitting around a campfire and making s’mores is a fun fall activity
If you enjoy this element of the fall season, it is special to incorporate your family’s love for this fun piece of the fall season into your newborn session!
Fall is a time of harvest - especially here in Indiana!
Your newborn session can include colors and textures that accent the season of harvest.
Fall is a time when school is starting back up.
If you happen to be a teacher like this little guy’s mommy and daddy, incorporating a school theme can be a fun way to celebrate your baby’s fall arrival!
Maybe you love hunting or just being in the outdoors and hiking in the fall. Choosing forest animal themes and backdrops make for some fun fall newborn photos.
These are just a few ideas of ways to highlight your baby’s arrival during the fall season!
Your newborn session is always curated specifically to your requests and any visions you have. If you have any requests that are different from what you see here, we will make it happen!
After being a newborn photographer for over twelve years, I have been amazed at how much variety there has been in the names of each little one that comes to visit me at my Indianapolis studio! Some of the names were chosen simply because the parents loved the name, and some because of a family or cultural background.
Here is a highlight of babies I have captured from A to Z!
I am only missing two letters of the alphabet - take a look and find out which letters are missing!
A is for Asher
Asher can be a beautiful name for a boy or a girl!
Here are two little Ashers I’ve had in my studio!
B is for Beau
C is for Caiya
D is for Denton
E is for Esther
F is for Fionnlagh
G is for Georgia
H is for Haddon
I is for Irena
J is for Jude
K is for Koah
L is for Laela
M is for Margot
N is for Nolan
O is for Owen
P is for Piper
Q is for Quinn
R is for Rhett
S is for Sebastian
T is for Taya
V is for Violet
W is for Weyland
X is for Ximena
Z is for Zeke
