Newborn Safety | Northwest Indiana Newborn Photographer

I’ve seen this article done many times before, but honestly, even 1000 times just isn’t enough.  The topic is newborn/baby safety in the field of photography.

I had to go back into my files to see just when I started shooting newborns… I can’t believe it’s been almost 2 years!!  In all that time, I’ve done much to educate myself on the proper way to photograph a baby.  I started easy… wrapping baby comfortably, placing him or her gently in a basket, using Mom or Dad’s hands in a shot or two.  All of these things can produce amazing images!  This particular pose, though, has been calling me… for a VERY long time.  I mean, honestly… it’s so ridiculously cute!!  HOWEVER, having done the research and KNOWING how it should best be completed, I never felt comfortable attempting it, until last week.  I had someone to assist me and the baby was wonderfully peaceful and cooperative.  I don’t think it should ever be done any other way!  So, how was it completed?

If you’ve never heard this word before, you’ll know exactly what it means now…. the word is “composite.”  A composite is a compilation of 2 or more images put together to produce the final result.  If you see an image of a baby hanging in a stork sack from a tree branch… or resting on an interesting object like a helmet or guitar… chances are, that photographer used multiple shots to create that one amazing image.  Baby’s safety should ALWAYS come first.  A note to parents… if you don’t feel comfortable with what your photographer is doing to your baby, SAY SOMETHING.  No professional photographer should be putting a child in a precarious situation.  Period.  Babies startle easily… they can fall in a split second.  A cute picture is not worth it if your photographer is not taking into consideration the safety of your newborn.  I just can’t stress that enough!

This is how I accomplished my “head in hands” pose with precious Baby B… There are two images.

In the first, I had an assistant gently support the baby’s wrists under her chin.

In the second, the assistant carefully transitioned to holding the baby’s head in place.

Using Photoshop, I was able to drag one image over the other, erase the assistant’s hands, and make any other alterations I normally would as I edit and perfect the photo to produce the final product that will end up in the parents’ gallery.

I adore shooting newborns… they are probably my most favorite subject!  And I am very dedicated to always protecting the children placed in my care.  Please, if you are considering photographing newborns, educate yourself.  Some of these photographs you see and love and think you can reproduce yourself take careful planning, constructing, creating.  Safety first.  Always.

Thank you for letting me share my heart!  And to Princess B’s parents for trusting me with their most precious gift!

Until Next Time,
Shelly

Babies, babies, babies!! | Northwest Indiana Newborn & Baby Photographer

Oh my!  It’s been way too long since my last post on this blog.  I thought I’d take a moment to play “catch up.”  (And please excuse the variety of watermarks… I’m being lazy by leaving them as they were when I edited the first go-round, but I’m working on simplifying down to the last one you will see here.  For now, anyway. )  But enough silly talk, I’ve got babies to share!!  I’ve had two of the little ones I had the pleasure of photographing as newborns turn one recently!  Princess R and Prince E…

And then there was this sweet little one who will be photographed every three months for her first year!  Baby A as a newborn…

Again at 3 months (with one in the same outfit she wore as a newborn!)…

And this sweet, sweet newborn… Mr. J…

And as a bonus… I wanted to share a little something fun I put together.  In my last post, I mentioned some mini-sessions I had coming up.  Well, that happened this past weekend and it was truly a lot of fun! But, as kids will be, they didn’t always cooperate as willingly as we would have liked them to.  There was more than one occasion where I had to employ a little Photoshop magic in the form I like to call “Head Swapping.”  In professional terms, this would be called a composite… putting more than one photo together to create the final image.  It’s often a very challenging process, but the results speak for themselves!

I’m hoping to have more mini-session images to share soon enough, so stay tuned!  I also have to catch up on that Let’s Do 52 project I’ve been working on (and YIKES, I am behind 2 weeks now… maybe sharing this with you will be my motivation to work my way to the present week’s assignment ).

As always, thank you so much for letting me share!
Shelly

Easter/Spring Mini-Sessions | Northwest Indiana Children’s Photographer

I’ve never done this before, but I thought it might be fun!!  I’ll be offering a day of Easter or Spring-Themed Mini-Sessions (your choice) at my home on March 24th.  Missed your baby’s birthday photo?  Looking for an image to put in an Easter card for loved ones?  Just haven’t had your child’s photos taken in FOREVER?  A custom photography mini-session is the perfect way to get caught up!  I’ve got all the details in my flyer below.  If you have any questions or want to secure your session, just shoot me an email.  I can’t wait to work with you and your loves!

Shelly

{1/52 All Natural}

Yesterday, I saw that brown truck and knew what was coming… my new macro lens!!  Imagine a screaming school girl, jumping up and down clapping her hands.  Yeah, sadly, that was me.  I knew I needed this lens because every time I looked at something, I would image exactly how I would take a close-up of it.  I LOVE macro photography… seeing just a portion of the big picture and imagining what might be surrounding it.  So anyway, I practically tackled the driver in my eagerness to get that box.  I tore it open, got the lens settled on my camera, and jumped the fence in my backyard.  No really, I did.  There’s a wooded area back there that is prime for this type of thing.  I didn’t have much time, but I got a few pretty cool images.  This one is a sea of mushrooms on a fallen tree.  It’s what I submitted for my “better late than never” week one entry for that “Let’s Do 52″ project.  This theme was “All Natural.”  I honestly can’t wait for week three…

Until Next Time,
Shelly

Happy 2012! | Northwest Indiana Photographer

It’s been a ghost town here on my blog, hasn’t it?  One way I’m hoping to change that this year is by becoming involved in Paint the Moon’s “Let’s Do 52″ Photography Project.  {See button on sidebar —->}  This photographer is one of my very, very favorites… her work is beautiful and inspiring!  I just stumbled upon the project this past weekend, so I missed week 1 (although I’m thinking of doing that theme this week, as well.  You know… so I’m all caught up!).  This week’s theme was “Responsibility” or alternatively “Open.”  I chose “Responsibility.”  And since I was able to get my hands on some of Annie’s Photoshop actions, as well (she’s amazing, I tell you!), I processed this image with a couple of them.  So… here’s my daughter and her “Responsibility” To Practice.

If you’re feeling inspired yourself, “Let’s Do 52″ together!  Click on the Paint the Moon image on the sidebar, join the group, and get to clicking!

Until Next Time,
Shelly

J Family Tea Party | Northwest Indiana Child and Family Photographer

Oh my goodness… where have I been??  Neglecting my blog for certain!  Well, it’s time for an update!

The day of this photo shoot started out quite interesting… I was rear-ended on the way to my session!  Yep, I was the last of the 3 cars involved and my bumper’s a little smashed, but 1) everyone was physically fine and 2) it only took about 30 minutes for the officers to write up the report and let me back on the road!  Gratefully, my clients were awesome and didn’t hold the tardiness against me .  I had a lovely time with the J Family that day, too… it was the first time I actually did a “theme” and I loved it!  I’m especially fond of individual close-ups, though, so I definitely had to capture those, as well.  Here are a few of my favorites…

Thanks so much again to the J Family for being patient with me!  I’m grateful I had the opportunity to work with you.  I hope you truly enjoyed our time together .

Until Next Time,
Shelly

The “G” Family at the Beach | Northwest Indiana Child and Family Photographer

It was a bit toasty this evening… and walking/carrying 3 kids through the sand to get to a semi-remote location along the water’s edge was quite the challenge for Mom and Dad!  (Especially Dad, who dragged the stroller along like a champ!)  We purposely planned the shoot a couple hours from sunset, hoping there would be less people and less heat.  As an interesting twist, there had been so much fog earlier that day, the beach had actually been closed entirely.  By the time we arrived, I will a little nervous, as the air still looked a bit thick.  Looking down the beach in one direction, there were quite a few people lingering, finishing out their visit.  In the other direction… ummmm, some garbage, houses, and a power plant.  Oh yes, the most PERFECT backdrop for your family portraits!  All I have to say is, “Thank goodness for Photoshop!!!”

Anyway, we got busy immediately and time just flew by!  I had a tremendous amount of fun… the kids were such troopers, doing their best to be “formal”, while dying to get in their suits and PLAY! After a while, Mom let them do just that and they were in heaven.  As was I!

Many thanks to the “G” Family for giving me the opportunity to work with them… I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Until Next Time,
Shelly

Twins!!! | Northwest Indiana Newborn Photographer

Am I aware it’s Saturday evening and I’m blogging?  Yes, yes I am.  I was given the green light by Mommy to share these absolutely amazing little ones immediately upon returning home from our 10 day vacation on Monday, but this is the first opportunity I’ve had to do so and I can wait no longer!

K and J made their dramatic entry into the world at about 31 weeks gestation and were a whopping 3 pounds 14 ounces each!  They spent quite a bit of time in the NICU, but improved daily and were soon on their way home to their 2 big sisters who had been waiting patiently for their arrival.  They were about 7 weeks old when we took these photos, but still so tiny at only about 6.5 pounds.  It was so much fun working with them… my first twins!  They’re easy to tell apart, too… J has the little mohawk .  So, so sweet, these two!

Special thanks to Mommy and Daddy for giving me the opportunity to photograph these beautiful babies, along with their sweet sisters. I honestly enjoyed every moment .

Until Next Time,
Shelly

The Inside Scoop | Northwest Indiana Children’s Photographer

Lots of people wonder… how hard can photography be?  You just put some subjects in front of the camera and snap away!  After that, throw them on a CD or upload them to an online gallery and share, share, share!  Easy money!  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  All photographers are different, but let me give you a “behind the scenes” look at how I handle my own business.  This may shed some light for you on why custom photography is an investment and why it is so very worth it! But first, one of those images I had in my last post… honestly, when I got to my computer, I couldn’t exactly figure out why I snapped that image as I did… oh but wait… I was looking at my kids, who were laughing with one another! At that point, it didn’t matter that those houses were in the background or that I was squatting all weird and didn’t get my camera lined up with the horizon just right… I knew it would be worth rescuing once I got to editing! (SOOC means straight off of camera, in case you were curious .)

And here’s a reminder of the rescue:

So, what’s the big deal about custom photography?  Well, my process generally looks like this:  I attempt to develop a relationship with you well before your session, spending much time explaining exactly what you should expect from me.  The day before our appointment, I spend a bit more time going through and choosing appropriate props (particularly if I am shooting newborns or children) and making sure my equipment is ready to go (speaking of which… have you ever priced professional photography equipment?  Wow.).  On our appointment day, I load up the car, sometimes to drive quite a little distance to get to your chosen location for the shoot, spend up to several hours taking photographs (depending on the type of session), drive home from said location, funnel through and back up all the images captured at our session, do a “quick” initial browsing and choosing of photos that have made the first cut of which might be viewed by you.  I’ll stop here for a second because lots of clients wonder why on earth they can’t even see, let alone receive prints of, ALL the images taken at the session!  Let me explain my philosophy… I would rather you see 10-15 AMAZING images, completely representative of myself as your photographer and your beautiful child at this stage in life, than 100 mediocre ones that are not just perfect.  As with any art, every piece does not make it to public viewing… not all paintings, for example, will be hung in a gallery… not all poems will be published.  Photography is the same… lots of rough drafts.  Some will be brought to completion and will be beautiful.  Others will be scrapped.  That said, of the images from our session together that are NOT scrapped in the first round, I will spend many hours in detailed post-processing and editing and if, on closer inspection, I notice anything not satisfactory, even more images will be let go.   As you can see, up to this point, I have spend hours upon hours working for you.  And this doesn’t include an in-home viewing and ordering session (which is the direction I am headed next), sending your detailed order to the lab, going through the order when it arrives to make sure everything is perfect, and packaging it all up for you so that when you receive it, it will be like opening up a valued gift Christmas morning!

I LOVE this long, sometimes tedious, but always amazing process of custom photography.  It’s something that is ever-evolving for me as I learn new things from my research or from my own mistakes… yep, I admitted it! Ultimately, though, this is such a joy for me and I desire nothing less than to make it a joy for you, too.

Since post-processing is so much fun for me, I’ll let you in on another edit I just finished… this little 3 month old guy can’t sit on his own… that’s his mama propping him up.  And isn’t that an amazing outlet off to the side there?  Don’t forget the shag brown rug that is a wee bit small, so the tan carpet is revealed off to the left.  This image is screaming, “HELP ME!”  

Addressing all the above issues and then some, the edited result looks like this: (and oh my goodness, he’s sitting by himself!!)

Ahhhh, much better!

So, there’s your little peek behind the scenes… I hope it shed some light on my photography process for you.  As always, I appreciate you letting me share!

Until Next Time,
Shelly

Summer? | Northwest Indiana Children’s Photographer

This weather certainly isn’t screaming, SUMMER!, is it? Here in northwest Indiana, it’s in the upper 60′s and cloudy… seriously?! Thanks to Paint the Moon’s photoshop action, Sunny Days, though, I was able to create the illusion of just that on this dismal day. And the kids actually look like they might be enjoying one another’s company, which compliments the action perfectly… because let’s face it… taking my own kids out and expecting them to sit next to one another for photographs doesn’t always produce pleasing results . In this case, however, I was happy to catch them smiling! If you are interested in Paint the Moon (amazing, inspiring photography and fun Photoshop actions), you can find her here.

Thanks for letting me share!
Until Next Time,
Shelly