CATEGORY baby’s first year

We’ve been following Baby McD and his family since his mommy’s maternity session, and he is now almost 3 years old (I can’t believe it, but I have a daughter the same age, so I guess I have to). He just welcomed a baby brother into the world! It’s uncanny how much they look alike, I felt like I stepped into a little time warp at first glance of this new little one. The mood of a first-time mom and a seasoned pro was very different this time around, as big brother kept us company playing and laughing most of the time. When his dad distracted him by inviting him to watch the drag race on TV, he bid us farewell saying, “I have to go watch the dragons racing!” This baby was also exceptionally calm, spending long periods of wakefulness just chilling out. I stayed after a bit to teach mommy how to use her various baby slings, and the duck in water saying comes to mind. What an adorable little fellow!

This sweet 6-month-old is the cutest perfectly chubby little girl I’ve seen in awhile. She is the classic little beauty, very happy and fun to photograph. Her mom had some great outfits and accessories picked out to enhance what nature already gave her. Capturing this age can be difficult if they’re not sitting up yet, but she was strong and happy to lay on her chest and smile away at us.

A year goes by so quickly, and it’s incredible to watch baby McD grow from a wriggling newborn to a laughing, running toddler! Babies grow so fast, it’s like watching mold in a petrie dish (except a lot cuter!) This family shoot was the culmination of a year’s portfolio from maternity, newborn, holiday card, 6 month, to 1 yr. Happy first birthday little man!

A 4×6 holiday card custom designed from scratch. 150 of these babies and some envelopes, and Christmas couldn’t be merrier!

When will I learn that newborn shoots are a painful marathon with the sweetest moments at the end? The general pattern seems to be arrive to a sleeping baby whom I promptly wake up while trying to photograph sleeping while mom gets her make up on because I forgot again to warn her that she’d likely be in the the photos. Then the wriggly baby gives me some weird faces and postures before turning into screaming baby who nurses despite not really being hungry. For just a bit, I get active baby who makes great eye contact with the camera, or at least the appearance of it, for the “money shot” for the birth announcement. Then wriggly baby returns and swaps place on and off with screaming baby, who finally gets very hungry, and while stressed mom lamenting that her newborn won’t “cooperate” settles in for a long nursing saying, “We should have something decent by now, maybe we should call it a day?” But I persevere and assure her this is where it finally gets good, hours 2-3. Nursed and relaxed baby falls asleep and allows all sorts of prodding and repositioning. Finally, we’re shooting nothing but net! Thanks for putting up with me hanging at your house, even if we nurse and talk as much as shoot!

The McD family has 12 months of photo shoots to commemorate their baby’s first year. Starting with a maternity session, they have a few last days of only one child. Becca the dog is certainly excited to be getting a new baby brother!