brielle renee | el dorado hills, ca

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten and the future worth living for.  - Author Unknown 

It’s such a blessing to be invited to shoot newborns.  At their tiniest, most innocent, before they stomp their feet at you.  When they smell delicious and gaze at you with wonder.  Well, with me it’s…who are you? Why is that big black thing in my face?

I glanced at these images and hugged my own babies.  Ronin helps me edit and we talk about what the baby is ‘saying’ in each photo.  It’s hilarious. We divided this up into two shorter shoots, one a week earlier than the other to get her as small as possible, and the other when her big sister arrived.  Some at my house, some at hers.  I love them both and hope you do too.  

michaela, 2 weeks | sacramento, ca

You have seen her mom on her wedding day, and now she’s gone and had herself a darling little baby.  Isabel and Niall have been in London and just moved back to the states.

Niall has started his new job, so Isabel and baby came for a short visit. We spent Saturday down by the American River, scooting down a dirt path to eat lunch on the rocks and watch/feed the ducks and geese.  It was lovely.  I’m so sad they will be leaving, but so so happy for them.  As long as they are together, they can take anything on.  Aren’t babies magical like that?

We only shot 10 minutes one day, and 10 the next right before she left.  It was just enough for me to grab images to stare at after they left.  Yes, I may shoot for you, but what you don’t know is all the time I spend staring at the images of your little perfect babies after you go home. (true)

Isabel & I met when we were 2, and the cycle is continuing with our baby girls meeting.  They may not remember each other this early, but the bond has been formed.  And I love that.

 

Some excerpts from the day….Ronin rocking and singing to calm her (she liked it!), and softly petting her head

Nariah also kept post.  And peeked in on her every so often.  Mostly she had to make sure her gold necklace was on before she could tend to other important duties.  Will they become life friends like Iz & I?  I sure hope so.

erin (film) | el dorado hills, ca

If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn’t need to lug around a camera.  ~Lewis Hine

I love this quote.  To shoot a moment, a story, a scene that unfolds as the light changes is quite magical.  I started in school shooting all film and picking it up again.  It’s been a bit of a learning curve, and I’m loving every minute.

I shot along with digital in Erin’s house at the same time as my first shoot and they were all too dark (should have used my tripod!).  We wanted to try again, so one afternoon we hurried out and spent a half hour shooting with my  35mm film camera and my old polaroid land camera as well.  These were much, much better.

What do you think?  Can you tell the difference?

 

color images shot with Fuji 400H, b&w shot with polaroid 664 100 ISO

erin + ben | el dorado hills, ca

I am constantly humbled that people invite me to be a part of something so intimate as pregnancy, birth and babies.  There’s something empowering about being on the final stretch.  You’re creating a little human and your body is curvy and beautiful.  Your skin glows and your hair is thick and shiny.

I kept laughing with Erin and telling her I couldn’t photograph her until she actually looked pregnant!  I’m so excited along with them for the birth of this little girl.

Meet Erin.  You will see her again.  My camera loves her (gorgeous, right?), and the light was perfect.

nariah | 1 year

my baby girl is one today!  and while you are due a full year best of post, i took a quick photo of her every month in her room.  this face lights up my day and fills my heart with love. i was unsure of how i would feel meeting a second baby, i only knew how to love my first.  there’s something magical about having a little girl, and she has taught my heart that there is endless room for baby love.

happy birthday, precious.

- we’re celebrating her one year and korean dol this weekend.  can’t wait to see what she’ll choose! -

day 1, 6 weeks

3 / 4 months

5 / 6 months

7 / 8 months

9 / 10 months

11 months

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