Oh sweet little baby, your arrival has been much anticipated. 
Your family is overjoyed that you are here and your sweet little house in Norfolk is bursting with love for you. 
Your siblings even fight over who gets to hold you and cuddle you first. 

I was invited to photograph this sweet little bundle of joy in their Norfolk, Virginia home while her grandmother and cousin was there visiting. 
I can't stress enough how important I think it is to include grandparents in your sessions. (you can read my thoughts on this topic on this post) 
Her session was just what I expected it to be, with her coming into a home with 3 older siblings. It was beautifully loud and at times, a little chaotic...and her peacefully sleeping through it all. Gently stirring when she wanted a little comfort and milk from mama, then drifting back off into slumber. Waking again only when I wanted to get a few solo snaps of her...such is the life of a photographer. ha! It's a good thing that I am a firm believer that real life moments are the best. This is just the kind of home I feel welcome in. 

If you'd like to talk about booking your newborn session with me and what your vision is, I'd love to help you tell your story. Nothing would make me happier than getting you in the frame with your family. Click on the Contact tab above or click here to get started and I'll send you a fantastic Client Welcome Guide where you'll find information about my sessions, including the Belly + Baby Collection, which combines your maternity and newborn session, so that you end up with pretty sweet savings. 
If you're interested, click here to read about what a newborn session with me is like and what you can expect. 

Hey mama, I know that lots of things are changing for you and I'm almost sorry to say, it's never going to stop. Lots of things are going on in your life and your body- and it will never quite be the same. 
But that's okay. This is a good thing...a bittersweet thing. This little baby you're growing inside of you is just going to grow and grow and grow. The days will seem so long, but the years will seem so short. 
Don't blink. 
​Just hold on a little longer. 

I'm here to help you hold on to these days. 
I know that these upcoming days will seem to drag on and that is only augmented by the fact that you're not sleeping much. You'll be fueled by a bit of caffeine, endorphins, and love. 
You'll eventually look back on them with a romantic sort of haze. It's only natural. Biologically, our brains only want to remember a few things here and there because it is such a difficult process. 
​But I'm here to help. 

I'm here so that I can come to you. I'm here so that I can make a beautiful record of your time spent with your newborn babe. I'm coming to your home so that you don't have to do anything. All I need is you and your little family. I'll take care of the rest. 
Feed your baby. Cuddle your baby. Kiss your baby. Lay in bed with your baby. Rock your baby. Give baby a bath. Be skin to skin with baby. Wrap baby up in their swaddle. 
Whatever it is you do, that's what I will photograph. 
That way, you can look back at your photos and see how it really was. 

Newborn photos are important because you'll be able to remember clearly through the haze.
They are important because every single day, they change. And trust me when I say, the changes will happen so fast it will take your breath away.
Newborn photos are important because it celebrates a new life brought into this world. 
Newborn photography is important because you are so busy caring for your baby (and doing such a wonderful job), that photos may get put on the backburner. And if you're the one taking the photos...who's taking photos of you? How will you see yourself in this most important role?
Newborn photos are so important because one day, this little one may grow up to be a parent too. And one day, they may want to look back and see how much they were loved and what good hands they were in- possibly giving them the comfort and the courage to be the best parent they can be too. 

If you'd like to talk with me about how I can help and support your family through an in home newborn session, please reach out to me. I'd love to talk to you. Click here or on the Contact tab above to send me a message. From one mama to another, I can't wait to hear from you. 

Oh mama, the newborn period goes by so fast. It's such a whirlwind of emotions. Birth and the Fourth Trimester (as I like to call the post-partum period) can be truly unpredictable and really, no two experiences are the same. But motherhood is the common thread that weaves us all together. Rest assured that generations of women have come before you and shared in this experience. 
​With something so monumental, it seems fitting that we document the occasion with photographs. 

Time Doesn't Wait:
I know for sure one thing that we all experience, no matter our journey, is the fact that every time you blink, they change a little. They grow a little. Something about them is just a tad bit different. 
​And the funny thing about this Fourth Trimester is that it will quickly grow a bit hazy for us mamas. We won't remember some things, but other things we will remember so clearly. I suppose it's nature's way of things, getting us excited and yearning for the next little bundle of joy. 
Having an in-home newborn session gives us something to hold onto. It gives us a beautiful record of this time. It gives us something physical to see- something we normally only envision and reminisce in our minds. Because once this time is gone, it's gone. There's no going back. 

Photographs Can Help You Heal:
For some of us (myself included) that have experienced birth trauma, photos may help you heal from that experience. It can help you sift through your emotions, reflect on the process, and begin the process of healing. Together, in the comfort of your home, we can photograph your body and baby in a way that honors and speaks to your experience- we can give that pain a voice. Where birth can be uncontrollable, you will be in control of this process. 

Helps Older Siblings to Adjust to New Baby:
I have 3 children and luckily, I have been very fortunate to have easy transitions with my children (if I'm being honest, I am the one that probably had the hardest time).  But I've worked with a lot of families and I have a lot of friends with different experiences than my own. I can tell you it will be okay. Truly. One way that I have found that photography helps is that it allows the mom and dad to take a step back and view the situation from the outside looking in. Seeing what I see through my lens helps to shift prospective a bit. Likewise, while I am there (as an outsider), I help show the big siblings just how important they are to the big picture. It makes a difference when someone other than mom or dad says it and 100% of the time they love seeing themselves in the pictures. It just solidifies their place in the family when they see themselves in the pictures and even moreso when those pictures are proudly displayed. 

You Deserve More Than Cell Phone Selfies:
You've been through a lot. Your journey and your story deserve to be told. Your voice matters. It matters to you, your family, me, and let's not forget to future generations. One day your great-granddaughter will look through these photos and feel that familiar connection and draw strength from your experience. That's powerful. 
This experience and these moments deserve to be preserved in the best way possible. Motherhood is an important part of history.  And you deserve more than the front facing camera on your phone. 

They Are Important to Extended Family Members:
At the time of writing this, it is February 2022. We're 2 years into the pandemic that has shaken our lives and knocked our world around. Some of our family members may be immunocompromised and have to keep their distance. It's so hard. Some family members may live too far away to visit easily. Some friends may not be able to make it to see baby because they live far away or sick. Whatever the reason, sometimes the ones who are important to us are not able to visit baby. Pictures, especially in home and documentary images, give them the ability to get a real glimpse into your life and to lay eyes on that beautiful babe. It's important to them. 

This is from a grandparent I spoke with: "I wouldn't ever print cell phone pictures and put them on my wall. I've tried it. They are awful and blurry. I love being able to show off pictures of my grandchildren and I love being able to keep up with them (the grandchildren) from far away. I don't live right next door, it makes me feel better to have beautiful pictures of them." 

You Want To Avoid Regret Later:
Honestly, it's now or never. They will never be a newborn again. They just won't be. She won't have an umbilical stump. He won't be scrunched in a tiny ball and fit perfectly on your chest. They won't smell like a newborn (I know you can't smell a picture, but your brain will take care of that for you).  They won't nurse forever. The flaky skin will disappear. The wrinkles will fade away. 
It's sad, but life goes on and they change every day...that's just the way of things. If you don't take the photos now and make the record today, you'll never again have the chance to do it. 
But in all honesty, I've never had anyone say they regretted having photos done...only that they regret not doing them.

If this speaks to you and you know that this is something you want, please reach out to me.  You can do that by clicking here or on the Contact tab above. The ideal time to inquire about your newborn session is about mid-way through your pregnancy. Because birth is unpredictable, the earlier I can get you on my to-photograph list, the better, as I only take a limited number of sessions per month. 
Wondering what a Newborn Storytelling Session with me is like? Check out this blog:
What to Expect at Your Newborn Session with Jess Nicole Photography

To see more of my work with newborns, please click here to visit my Newborn Gallery.