Craig contacted me back in March while I was in Ireland.  He told me his wife Beth was in her 35th week and they wanted to book both a maternity and infant photo session, opting for the package.  He told me they’d been in Ireland last year and really loved it, and hoped I was having a good time.  What a sweet way to make an introduction!

When they arrived to shoot the maternity portraits, my assistant Deirdre and I had everything ready for them.  They’d opted to take my advice and stick to black and white solid shirts, and a couple tank tops for Beth which make it easy to expose the beautiful belly.  She informed me that she’s not comfortable taking pictures.  I hear this a lot, and I wasn’t worried in the slightest.  The way I work is I let people be themselves, interact with one another and I never rush them.  The music I play is very soothing as well with songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman and Etta James.  

The session went wonderfully, with Deirdre and I completely moved by the obvious love Craig has for his wife. He was so proud and his love and attention helped her relax completely.  I heard from them later that they were really happy with their shots, especially because Beth looked so - well - herself, in them!  And that’s what I love to do best.

In the beginning of May I got the email that Perrin Skylar was born.  We set up the date for a couple weeks from then and arranged it so I would come to them.  On the appointed day I packed my gear, background support system, cameras, lens, seamlesses et. all, into my car and headed west.  After I arrived we took a tour of their home to decide where best to set up my portable photo studio to take the baby photos.  Because of the large windows their living room enjoys, I didn’t even need to set up my lights.  I simply used the natural light available and placed my backdrops accordingly.  

Perrin was snuggled up in a swaddling blanket when I arrived.  I’d not seen one of these yet.  I want one for myself, she looked so comfy!!  She really is a beautiful little girl, too.  I took quite a few pics of her sleeping away, as peaceful as can be.  

Infant and baby photo sessions are always dictated by the baby’s needs.  Whatever lets them be their most comfortable is what we do.  

It was Craig’s idea to hold her as you see in the shot to the left.  It is my favorite shot of the whole session, because after a few shutter releases, her head rested into this pose.  It just makes me melt, how sweet and tiny and trusting she is in this shot.  And I love the images where the father is holding his child.  It touches me very much.  

When clients order the 2 session package they also get 2 8×10s and this was one of their choices.  The other is the one to the right, of the two of them, when Perrin was not yet brought into the world.  Both of these were already on my site before they ordered them, that’s how much I loved them too.  They also ordered the CD with all the images and with the 2 session package I don’t charge twice for the CD, instead including both sessions for the one CD price.  I always archive all the photo sessions so when people decide later they want prints retouched or coffee table books to give their children when they grow up, I’m able to give them that.
When we’d gotten all the images we wanted, I packed up my gear and said goodbye.  I’m always a little sad when a session is over.  I guess I love my job that much