Meet the Marshall family! To say that new parents Shannon and Mike were excited for the arrival for their baby girl would be an understatement. When I first met them at the Walled Garden in Mellon Park, the excitement and love for the new little baby that they would be welcoming into the world was absolutely palpable! And they were so loving and comfortable with each other, I knew we were going to have a great session. Shannon had warned me before that both she and Mike did not always feel comfortable in front of the camera (to be fair, not many people do!) but I assured them that we would focus on them snuggling with each other and I would try to make it as easy as possible. The lighting for our sunset session was absolutely stunning and provided the best backdrop for their maternity photos. Shannon had requested a location with lots of texture - bricks, stone, gates - and Mellon Park is the best option for the type of the location they wanted. 

Dressed casually in jeans and simple shirts, both Shannon and Mike stayed true to their laid back personalities. Their outfits really allowed the connection between them and the landscape of the park shine through their photos. I offered simple posing guidance and took a step back to let them interact with each other. I have found this is a great way to capture the true emotion and interaction between a couple or family. I always prefer the natural connections versus a posed photo where everyone is looking at the camera, although we do also get those images too. It was so lovely to spent the hour with the Marshall's and it made me even more excited to capture the arrival of their baby girl!

Oh sweet JJ - he's just perfect! Upon entering their home, Ashley and Matt were both so welcoming and inviting as we took a look around the house to find the best spot to set up for their lifestyle photo session. They shared that they wanted to capture snuggly, candid images with their new son as well as some sweet individual photos of JJ, particularly of him in his crib. 

We started with the family photos in their living room, cuddling together on the couch with their son swaddled in a soft white wrap. Both Matt and Ashley were both relaxed and casual as they snuggled together. I absolutely love seeing how new parents interact with each other and their new baby! Welcoming a new baby home, especially your first child, is such a special experience and I truly love observing how parents interact with their newborn at home.

The family also has a dachshund, which we have in common as a fellow dachshund owner, and are big fans of dogs. JJ's nursery was even decorated with adorable puppy sheets and a dachshund print over his crib! Capturing photos of him in his nursery was important to the family so I focused on little details in the room as well as photographing JJ all wrapped up in his crib. Babies always look so tiny in their big crib but I love taking photos of baby in their crib because one day they'll be jumping around in (or out) of there and it'll be hard to remember baby being that small!! For some of his individual photos, mom and dad requested that we use a baseball for a small prop. Dad used to play college and minor league baseball, so the sport is very important to him and his family. I loved being able to use a prop in JJ's photos that is so sentimental and special to his family!

It was such a pleasure to photograph the Iannazzo family and their new baby boy James!

I was so excited to learn that the Sabey family would be welcoming a baby boy to their family. I first met them for big brother Luca's newborn session and couldn't wait to take newborn photos of baby Vincent! With an active 2 year old big brother, we focused on lifestyle family photos with lots of playtime for Luca. Toddlers can be tricky to photograph and I find that it's best to embrace their playfulness and offer lots of breaks when taking their photos. So, whenever Luca wanted to run off and play with something else, we shifted our focus to taking pictures of mom and dad with baby brother. And when Luca was ready to sit near mom or dad and play, we captured those candid moments! It is so important to be flexible and patient when photographing children, especially toddlers!

After capturing some family photos, we started to set up for Vincent's posed newborn photos. In their pre-session questionnaire, mom stated that she would like to use dark blues and neutral tones for his photos. Also, she had a custom knit hat made with his name on it, just like one she had made for Luca's photos, and would like to incorporate the hat into his photos. Vincent loved to be wrapped and snuggled for his photos and slept so well during each wrapped set up. He did wake up for a few photos, which gave the perfect opportunity to photograph his beautiful blue eyes and facial expressions. He was also very comfortable being posed on his belly, which allowed for several backdrops and poses. Not all babies like to be posed on their belly and I find that it's incredibly important to follow the baby's lead in which pose works best for them. Sometimes parents have certain poses in mind that they would like to photograph, but their baby may not tolerate a certain position. I will do my best to attempt a pose that the parent requests, but ultimately it's up to baby about what will work best for them. Vincent did really well in various poses, so we were able to capture a variety of images for his family to cherish for years to come! 

Welcome to the world, baby Madalyn Elizabeth! She is the fourth baby for the Peglowski family and it was truly beautiful to see just how much her big sister and brothers love her already! They were calm and attentive to her during the photos of Madalyn with her siblings. It was really sweet to watch!

For her posed photos, mom requested that I use pink tones, neutral colors and simple set ups. She also wanted to try and use a basket for Madalyn to snuggle into for a few photos. When I arrived, I helped mom narrow down the choices of props we would use in the posed photos. I absolutely loved the dusty rose wrap and matching headband we selected to coordinate with the neutral fur blanket. She was just so comfy and snuggly in that soft wrap! Mom also chose a light pink rose lace backdrop with a neutral wrap and dainty bow headband. When I am working with parents on selecting materials for the posed photos, I love to mix textures. Texture adds such a beautiful and interesting element to the photo! It is so much fun to mix a variety of textures and colors while keeping with a coordinated style. But mom also wanted to use simple set ups, which is what we did with a soft cream blanket, cream pillow and pink felt headband. Sweet and simple to bring the focus back onto beautiful baby Madalyn!! 

With the Morgan family, I was able to incorporate so many of my favorite aspects of photography into their sessions - lifestyle images, maternity photos with first time parents, pictures of their dogs and of course posed newborn images of their sweet new son, Hudson!! When they contacted me about photography, they knew that they wanted to book my Belly to Baby photography package which includes both maternity and newborn sessions. In the anticipation of welcoming their first born son to their family, they wanted to be able to capture these important milestones! 

I first met Kim and Andrew at their home for a lifestyle maternity session. It was a cold but sunny January morning and I immediately felt welcomed into their home. We first discussed different areas of the house that they wanted to set up for photos, including the baby's nursery and their living room which had large windows, full of natural light. The nursery was decorated in an adorable woodland animal and nature theme, perfectly cozy for their new little boy to grow up! Kim and Andrew are definite animal lovers and had two beautiful dogs that they wanted to try and include in some of their photos. Kim is also a veterinarian so obviously animals are an important part of her life! 

Once Hudson arrived, Kim contacted me to schedule his newborn session. I could not get over just how adorable he is with his dark hair, button nose and gorgeous smile! We captured lots of snuggly pictures of Hudson with his mama and daddy. He was swaddled and comfy held in their arms! In planning for their session, mom decided that she wanted to use dark blue, green and neutral colors that would coordinate with his woodland nursery theme. Mom had also purchased a rainbow wrap and matching hat for photograph Hudson as he was their rainbow baby and she wanted to celebrate her babies. Hudson slept so well during his session that we were able to move through several prop set ups and poses. I absolutely loved the dark navy blue color coordinated with his skin tone and hair color. He'll definitely be a stunner in blue!! 

Fresh 48 hospital session vs Newborn session? Have you ever wondered the difference between the two? You're not alone! Many people have heard the phrase "Fresh 48" but do not really know what that includes and what is different than a traditional newborn photo session.

First, a Fresh 48 session is a unique experience offered to families within the first 48 hours after baby's birth and are held in the hospital room prior to being sent home with their new little baby. Typically a stay in the hospital lasts around 1-3 days and as anyone who has delivered a baby will understand, those first few days with baby go by so fast, it's really hard to keep up! The Fresh 48 session is meant to freeze time and to capture those little details of baby that you don't want to forget. The super wrinkly fingers and toes, their clamped umbilical cord, even those tiny hospital bracelets! It's also a really great chance to photograph those first milestones including their first bath or the first time they meet big brother or big sister. These sessions truly capture the early moments of the rest of your life together as a family!

A posed newborn session is typically scheduled within 6-14 days after baby's birth and is provided in your home. This is a styled session and I bring a wide range of props, blankets, wraps, headbands/bonnets with me to use while posing baby. The in-home newborn session is more structured and posed than a Fresh 48, but I do offer lifestyle newborn sessions that are unposed and similar to the Fresh 48, without the props and individual newborn poses. With both the Fresh 48 and in-home newborn sessions, the focus is on your new, or growing, family and the immense amount of love you all share in welcoming this new little person to your life! 

So, what should you expect from your Fresh 48 session? I'll ask that either you or your partner contact me soon after delivering baby so that we can schedule a time for your photos. Usually the session will take place between 24-48 hours after delivery and lasts for up to 1 hour. After you book a session with me, I can provide guidance on clothing to wear or suggestions for anything special you would like to include in the photos, like a special wrap or blanket. During the session, I will offer a few prompts to capture those sweet connections, but for the most part, I let you interact together. Overall I want to provide a relaxing and enjoyable experience for the entire family!

Fresh 48 sessions can be booked as their own session or as an add-on to another package, such as the 'Belly to Baby' or 'Watch Me Grow' photo packages. You can check out details about all of the package options on the newborn page and contact me at beccabakerphotography@gmail.com with any questions or to book your own Fresh 48 newborn photo session!

Welcome to the world, Ava!! When mom, Janelle, contacted me about scheduling a newborn session for her first born daughter, I was super excited as I had photographed her sister's family over the past few years and I love photographing families and friends through referrals! When I arrived to their home, I first noticed just how beautiful the space in their home would be for photographs and there was plenty of light to capture more natural photos. I always start with family photos during newborn sessions and we were able to use several rooms in the home including the living room, Ava's gorgeous nursery and their bedroom. Starting with family photos gives the parents, and siblings if there are older children, a chance to relax after their time in front of the camera and enjoy watching me pose their sweet babe for the newborn images. I absolutely loved Ava's nursery - it was sweet and simple decor with beautiful feminine touches including an adorable set of bow sheets in her crib. The perfect little room for Ava to grow up and play! 

In selecting the props for Ava's individual posed newborn photos, mom wanted to stick with simple set ups and delicate, feminine touches. Beautiful light pinks, neutral wraps and floral headbands were perfect accents for Ava's photos. Since I began photographing newborns in 2013, I have cultivated quite a collection of newborn photography props. There are so many options that I would love to use in each session, it is helpful to know the parent's preferences. This is why I started using a newborn session questionnaire for my clients to complete so that I know their color preferences and what they are looking for in their session. It is a great chance for the parent to explain their family style and provide examples of the images they want to prioritize during our session. When preparing for your own newborn session, it is always a good idea to think about what you would like with the final product of your photos, how you will use the photos whether you hang them in your home or use in a book, and what poses you would like to use. Understanding what the family likes is helpful to fully prepare for our session together. And mom, Janelle, shared details about their color choices and Ava's nursery decor that helped me narrow down the props I brought with me to their home. During the session, Janelle and dad, Josh, helped me narrow down the choices even further, which really helped customize the session to their family!

I'm so excited to add the Winkler family to the blog! Michelle and Mark booked the Belly to Baby photography package which includes both maternity and newborn photo sessions. Not only does this offer a great way to ensure that your major milestones are photographed, but booking both sessions allow me to get to know you and your style better! And not only do I get to meet you as a couple first, during the maternity session, but then I get to capture those special moments as new parents during the newborn session! 

Michelle decided on an outdoor maternity session and we settled on the beautiful grounds of Hartwood Acres Mansion. This is such a gorgeous location and is a great option year round, so it was perfect for their late December maternity session. Michelle and her husband Mark also decided that they wanted to include their pup, Lady. I always love to include family pets in portrait sessions - they are part of your family too!! Lady is still a pretty active pup, so Michelle's brother came to help watch her while we took photos of Michelle and Mark together. This really allowed them to focus on each other and enjoy their time in front of the camera without the stress of handling their pup. The afternoon of our session was beautiful with a stunning winter sunset. And Michelle showed up with the cutest outfit, including leather leggings and amazing heels! She totally rocked her maternity fashion!

In February, Michelle contacted me to let me know that their son Miles was born and it was time to set up their newborn session. I was so excited to meet the new little man in their life! They asked to incorporate neutral tones with some hunter green to go with the forest theme in his nursery. Michelle also explained that she preferred more natural poses for Miles instead of being super swaddled. In my pre-session questionnaire, I always ask parents about their style preferences not only for colors and props, but also if they have any specific ideas or poses in mind. Michelle gave several examples of what she was looking for, which was super helpful to make sure I provided the sort of session she envisioned with her son. My goal is provide a custom session for each family so that everyone is happy with the end result and I capture the sort of images they will love and treasure for a lifetime! 

Lifestyle photography is such a fun way to capture images of a family! When mom contacted me about booking a lifestyle newborn session for her twin baby boys, I was excited because I do not often get requests for twin sessions. The Sylvester family was really excited to welcome Rowan and Rory to their family and to join big brother Camden!

When I arrived to their home, I immediately felt welcome as we walked around the house looking for the best spot to set up for photos. Mom wanted to use the twin's nursery, which was adorably decorated in a blue and gray dinosaur theme! The room had lots of great natural light, which was just what we needed for their lifestyle session. As Camden is just around 1 1/2 years old, he was a little shy so I took time playing with him and letting him get used to me being in his home. ​I encouraged Mom and Dad to sit on the floor with the boys and asked them to just play and engage with Camden and the babies so I could capture some of those real moments among the family. Camden, typical toddler, did not want to sit down on the floor so we let him roam around the room and play silly games. This was the perfect chance to capture those playful, silly expressions that I'm sure his parents love!

Next we moved into the parent's bedroom where once settled into their Mom and Dads's laps, the twins fell asleep. But by this point, Camden was definitely more comfortable with me and my camera so he ran around the room and crawled on the bed, giving the best smiles and expressions! As the twins were asleep, we decided to go downstairs to let Camden play with some of his toys. He played with his trucks on the floor while his parents looked on lovingly and Rowan and Rory slept soundly. The boys were napping well, so Mom placed them on a beanbag chair in the playroom while Camden showed off his golfing skills. Rowan and Rory were so cute together, sleeping and cuddling next to each other. I took this opportunity to capture little details, such as their hands together and their little toes peeking out of their denim overalls. 

It was so wonderful capturing this time with Rowan and Rory at home with their family. Big brother Camden was so much fun and I loved how playful he was during the session. And lifestyle photography was the perfect type of session to capture life with a busy toddler and twin baby boys!

I first met Sarah and Rich in October for their fall mini session to celebrate their pregnancy. Maternity sessions are so much fun to photograph but portraits of first time parents are something really special. Their excitement for the arrival of their new little baby is remarkable! They were so loving with each other and Rich was very attentive to his sweet wife, Sarah. Watching them together during the maternity session was so beautiful so when Sarah asked me to book a newborn session for them, I was really excited to see them again with their new baby!

Sarah contacted me after delivery and let me know they had had a beautiful baby girl, Evelyn! We settled on details for their session, including the style and preferences they had for Evelyn's individual newborn photos. They had decorated her nursery in a woodland and bohemian theme and mom had a handmade quilt that she wanted to incorporate into one of the setups. She loved natural and neutral colors with little floral and feminine details that perfectly complimented Evelyn's features. Evelyn was a perfect little sleeper and we were able to work through several poses and set ups. She was the perfect little model and I believe we were able to capture adorable images that her parents can cherish for a lifetime!