7 Reasons Why You Should Book a Newborn Session

You’re expecting a baby and you’ve wondered if you should book a newborn photo session. Or you’ve heard of people hiring a photographer to document this time in their life and you think, is it worth it?

I’m here to say, YES IT IS!

Here are 7 reasons you should book a newborn session (with the whole family included, even pets!) from a mom that didn’t do this with her own kids and regrets it terribly. Also, this mom (me) knows exactly the photos you want now, and what you’ll treasure twenty years from now. I’ve been doing this parenting gig for a couple of decades so I know firsthand the many things we miss about those early days. Book with me and you’ll enjoy a relaxed and easy photo session, gorgeous photos, and heirloom quality albums and products to enjoy forever.

Here’s the 7 reasons why you should book a newborn session. Let’s be real, there are more than seven but I had to stop somewhere!

1. You will be too exhausted, busy, and in love with your little one to be worried about capturing photos of all those special little moments.

2. Even if you get the camera out, there’s a good chance that photos with you in it will look less than flattering. These pics are important too! We certainly don’t want to sugarcoat the reality of new parenthood. But it’s wonderful to have professional photos that you can frame and share! You know, photos in which you don’t have spit-up or milk on your shirt and you’ve showered somewhat recently. I’ve been there and I know those moments are hard to come by.

3. You will look back on your photos and cherish the fact that the entire family is included. Bringing a new family member into your home is a big milestone for everyone. We’ll capture proud older siblings loving on their new baby. And parents together marveling at their new little babe. This will be your first official family portrait together! Pets are welcome as they are family too.

4. You will miss this! Your baby will grow so fast and you’ll wonder where the time has gone. You’ll want to remember things like: every little detail about your baby, how it felt to hold them close, how your heart melted when your partner cradled this new little life, and how incredibly adorable it was when your older child snuggled their new baby sibling.

5. You’ll have beautiful photos to show your child when they’re older. Kids are naturally curious about their entry into the world and family. You have options such as albums, digitals, prints, and wall art to keep forever and enjoy with the kids.

6. You’ll have photographs to use for birth announcements, holiday cards, social media, and gifts!

7. Book with me and don’t worry about the timing of your session. We can capture this time from the first day of birth up to a few months old! I’m a lifestyle photographer, which means I use natural posing instead of forced, unnatural posing. Baby doesn’t have to be under two weeks old like some posed photography requires. Baby is safe and happy, timing is flexible, and life is just easier. This is not the time to be stressed or rushed. In fact, I always leave space in my schedule for last minute newborn sessions!

Know someone that’s welcoming a new little one into their family?

Share this post with them!

The Santa Experience 2021 | Yuma, AZ Mini Sessions

The Santa Experience made a comeback this year! We started in 2019, paused in 2020, and returned this year better than ever! This mini session event with Santa and Mrs. Claus brought magic to many of Yuma’s kiddos. We’re already planning ways to make it even better. Want to get first access to booking next year? Join the mailing list HERE.

This event has two purposes: to bring joy to Yuma’s children (and adults! because we don’t outgrow the magic of the holidays) AND to give back to our community. We choose a charity every year to donate a portion of the proceeds and give physical donations. This year we chose Jessie’s Closet Foster Child Resource Center, a children's boutique designed just for foster children and the families that support them. To learn more about them, please click HERE.

Here is an excerpt from their website to give you an idea of the importance of their work:

“Jessie's Closet (and other similar organizations around the state) provide support for foster children and the families that care for them. Think about the clothing allowance: $30 is barely enough for a pair of shoes or a nice jacket! Jessie's Closet is able to provide basic clothing (including socks and underwear) for just $1 per items/package. This allows the foster parents to stretch those dollars further.

Additionally, it has been the goal of Jessie's Closet to provide a warm, loving children's boutique to shop in that is exclusive to these special children. Helping foster children fight feelings of rejection, abandonment, and fear is part of the support provided through the center.”

We made a cash donation to Jessie’s Closet and collected diapers, underwear, and socks to supplement their inventory.

I want to thank every Yuma family that joined us at The Santa Experience this year! You helped us make this world a little bit better. We enjoyed visiting with and photographing your adorable children. Their smiles and giggles made our year! We hope you join us again so we can see how much they’ve grown.

Santa, Mrs. Claus, and I are sending you love and peace this holiday season. We hope you take time to pause, breathe deep, and feel the contentment that resides in you.

Extended Family Portrait Sessions | Yuma, AZ

The past year has made many of us realize that we need to cherish our older relatives while they’re here. It’s vital to document the expansive affection that grandparents and extended family members have for their families.

With the world opening back up and older family members getting to see their loved ones again, I predict that extended family portrait sessions will be hugely popular in the next year. More than ever, families are craving connection and photos that document it.

Since the pandemic, we’ve been reminded that nothing is more important in the world than family.

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To read more about extended family sessions, check out this article I’ve written for Rangefinder Magazine HERE.

To book your family session, click HERE.

I can’t wait to preserve your family memories for you!