Maternity Photoshoot | Shaw Orchards, Mason-Dixon LineI had the pleasure of photographing this growing family. Mom is expecting a boy this winter! While my husband and I were in Maryland to visit family and friends, I was able to arrange to take these maternity photos while there. We drove just over the state line of Maryland into Pennsylvania to take the photos at a local apple orchard - Shaw Orchards. I had been wanting to take photos at an apple orchard and the time finally presented itself. It was a beautiful, cool morning and we had a great time. I can't wait to go back and photograph their baby! Ready to have your maternity session? Drop me a line here. I'd love to hear from you.
Baby Planning Timeline
When I first started my photography business, I wanted and thought everything had to be perfect with regard to posing babies. I thought they had to lay a certain way, wear certain things, be wrapped, be placed in some type of prop, and be posed in usually unnatural type of poses. Even though, I never perfectly posed in a way that would bring harm to them as safety was and still is always my number one concern when photographing babies. However, earlier this year I started seeing more and more natural, lifestyle type of photography that really opened my eyes and thoughts that photography doesn't have to be perfect to create beautiful, lifelong memories for families. What really turned me around was when I purchased an online lifestyle newborn photography workshop. After watching and studying that lifestyle type of photography, I absolutely fell in love with it and began to totally change my way of thinking and realizing it was okay to photograph babies and families in their own natural, real-life environment capturing true raw emotion through connecting with each other, with very little guidance from me. What an overwhelming burden that was lifted from me. No more cumbersome and sometimes heavy props to pack up, unload, set up and then load back in. No more "perfect" posing. It was such a release and a freeing feeling. Now, all I need to take with me is my camera. Since making the change to lifestyle photography, I have been updating my website and have been removing most of my previous posed images and replaced them with a mom looking down on her newborn or children making muffins in the kitchen or playing cards or just babies just as they are. I am a proponent of baby-led posing now. Photographing lifestyle in the home is just so easy, natural, relaxing and fun. The switch from posed to lifestyle was really a no-brainer. It's the best decision I have made in my photography business. It just opens up many more doors, for example, adding families. Previously, I was only shooting maternity and newborns and sometimes the mom and dad with the baby, but not really the entire immediate family. Now, it's just so much more comfortable knowing no one has to look perfect, no one has to be put in stiff poses and no more staring straight into the camera and saying, "cheese." In fact, it will be rare if I ask you to look at the camera. If I am just photographing the baby at the time and your toddler comes running and jumps on the bed, that's great! I'll capture it. That is real life, raw emotion and, most importantly, connecting with one another. Lifestyle is more like a storybook rather than a book of stiff poses. Are you ready to create your own storybook? Great! Click on the button below now so we can get started on telling your story and creating an heirloom of your visual history that will be passed down from generation to generation. Baby J is in the house! I photographed this beautiful babe back in January. It's hard to believe I get to photograph babies for a living. Each one is so different and unique. This baby girl makes her mama proud and look at those blue eyes! Just gorgeous! This is my next to last posed newborn photography client. If you read my blog from last week, you know DreamWorld Photography now offers lifestyle newborn photography. I can't wait to begin photographing babies and families in the more relaxed, natural state of lifestyle photography. Love, love, love it! You will, too. Patti specializes in Maternity, Fresh 48 and Newborn custom lifestyle photography. If you are ready to book your maternity, fresh 48 and/or newborn session with Patti at DreamWorld Photography, click here or call Patti directly at 941.405.3309. DreamWorld Photography is currently booking for now through May 2019. Due to the timing and nature of maternity, fresh 48 and newborn photography, we only take a limited number of clients each month. Will you be one of them? We hope so. We look forward to hearing from you soon. You know how mamas-to-be get pampered before having a baby. They get all the goodies for the baby, gift baskets, spa days, manis-pedis, etc. before the big day arrives. But, what about the dads? They may feel left out in all the excitement of preparing for his baby's arrival. Now, your guy may be just fine with that and that's great. But, for those that may be feeling a little left out, there is something you can do. I have always been a big proponent of making the guy feel just as special as the girl. For example, when my husband and I got married, I wanted him, the groom, to feel just as important as me, the bride. We always hear it's the "bride's day," but the groom is just as important. So, I asked/wanted my fiancé to walk down the aisle; not just walk out the front with all of his groomsmen as usually is the tradition. He, at first, was't too thrilled about it, but after making a deal with him, he agreed and it was a hit. All the guests loved it. All of this to say, I feel the dad expecting his first or even his second, third, fourth, baby should feel just as important as the mom. Therefore, what better time to show him some love, appreciation and support than "pampering" him for Valentine's Day, especially if your baby is due or nearly due around this special "love" time. You could put together a box of his favorite goodies, such as soap, cologne, candy, books about being a daddy he can read to the baby, sports onesie he will enjoy dressing the baby with, earplugs, etc. and other little personal items you know he will enjoy. Be creative. Search Pinterest. I found several ideas when I searched under "New dad goody basket." You could make your own tags with special messages, i.e. "#1 Dad," "World's Best Daddy," "We love you," - you get the idea, and attach to various items you include in the box and don't forget a special love note. After all, it is for Valentine's Day! He could even take some of these items to the hospital with him just like you take your hospital bag. If you decide to do this, please share. I would love to see what you create! Have fun! Patti specializes in Maternity, Fresh 48 and Newborn custom photography. If you are ready to book your maternity, fresh 48 and/or newborn session with Patti at DreamWorld Photography, click here or call Patti directly at 941.405.3309. DreamWorld Photography is currently booking for February - March 2019. As maternity, fresh 48 and newborn photography are customized sessions, we only take a limited number of clients each month. Will you be one of them? We hope so. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Maternity Photography | Digital Photography Your family's legacy begins with your maternity session. Your pregnancy is such a natural, meaningful special time of your life; it should be celebrated! To get the most out of your maternity session, here are a few things you should know: When should I schedule my maternity session? I like to schedule maternity sessions when you are between 32 - 36 weeks. What should I wear? Neutral colors work best. Loose maternity wear is comfortable, but does not always photograph well, so wear something that is tight. We want to show off that beautiful baby bump! However, please do not wear anything that will leave a mark such as anything elastic, i.e. wristbands, socks, hairbands, etc. I want your skin to look as smooth as possible. Show that Skin Semi-nude maternity photos are one of my favorites. I love showing off that belly bump au naturel. You will be photographed tastefully and in a beautiful way. If you are not comfortable with this type of style, no problem. I will only shoot in this style if you are completely comfortable. Can my husband and other children be included? Most definitely YES! I love including your immediate family as these portraits are your own and will make wonderful memories to cherish forever. Patti specializes in Maternity, Fresh 48 and Newborn custom photography. If you are ready to book your maternity, fresh 48 and/or newborn session with Patti at DreamWorld Photography, click here or call Patti directly at 941.405.3309. DreamWorld Photography is currently booking for February - March 2019. As maternity, fresh 48 and newborn photography are customized sessions, we only take a limited number of clients each month. Will you be one of them? We hope so. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Happy 2019! A new year; a new beginning for DreamWorld Photography. If you have been following me and read my last post, you will remember I took a hiatus because of one my granddaughters being diagnosed with cancer last June. Her chemo treatments have finished and she is well on her way to recovery. Thank the good Lord! Therefore, I am ready to get back into the swing of things with photographing beautiful mamas and their newborns. I am also in the process of adding something new to my photography business to cater to other newborn photographers, but could also be used by newborn moms for their own personal use. Look for that announcement later. Hopefully, it will be finalized in the first quarter of this year. So, right now I am in the process of catching up with posting my last session before I took the hiatus. Look for that posting next week. I wish everyone a healthy, prosperous and very Happy New Year! As this new year of 2019 begins, I just want to say how grateful I am for all the wonderful babies I had the privilege of photographing in 2018. The below images showcases my Top Nine on my Instagram.
I am truly blessed to have been able to photograph and capture these precious, fleeting moments of these babies in the first couple of weeks of their lives. My 2019 goals are to grow my business, increase my photography education (learning is always an ongoing process) and keep improving with every photo shoot I will have the privilege of photographing this year. What are your goals for 2019? Had the pleasure of photographing this maternity session "down on the farm." We did a combination of mom only and family maternity session. Aren't they a good-looking family?
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