There really is nothing quite like it.

Just a few more images from the amazing Baby as Art workshop I attended last month.

I just love a newborn baby.

There were two baby models during our personal workshop, so here are a few images I took of the first little beauty. There really is nothing quite like a sleeping newborn baby.

“No.”

“Why weren’t you listening, Megan?”

“Because I was busy talking to Laura.”

A conversation nearly 25 years old, but I remember it like it was yesterday. She had long blond hair. She played with me on the playground during recess. She had a new baby brother. It was kindergarten and it was the first time I was being scolded by a teacher. But it didn’t matter–I was busy talking to my new best friend, Laura. School could wait.

The other day when I was dropping Abby off at preschool I was chatting with one of the other moms about my photoshoot that day with a five day old baby girl and that her mom and I had been friends since we were five years old. She said, “Wow–that’s something you read about in magazines but very few people are lucky enough to have.”  It was then I realized just how lucky I am to have Laura in my life.

We have a whole history together that some sisters don’t even share. Her house was the first one that I ever spent the night at. And we had many, many, more slumber parties after that. And backyard camp-outs. And late night murder mystery movie making (I would love to find those videos!) when we were twelve. And trampoline jumping…for hours. And cookie baking (which was more like cookie-dough eating). And letter writing folded up into cootie catchers.

So many of my childhood memories include Laura. And even more of my teenage memories are filled with her.

She was the first person to ever take me to church and introduce me to Jesus. She taught me my first bible verse. She bunked with me at church summer camp. She encouraged me, she lived out her faith, and she knew what it meant to stand for something, even in high school when it seemed like people would fall for anything.

When I found out my dad was sick with kidney cancer Laura was one of the first people I told. She had always been so close to him and even worked with him at Aerojet (yes, Laura actually is a rocket scientist). And when she said how sorry she was when he passed away I knew she meant it because I knew what my dad meant to her.

And now Laura has a new little one and I couldn’t be more thrilled. And she knows how much I mean that because she knows what she means to me.

“Very few people are lucky enough to have that.” It’s so true.

And I’m not the only thing headed out of the office. These beautiful products will be leaving my hands today and will arrive in my client’s later this week. I’ll admit that I’m not the greatest product photographer, but these are just too gorgeous not to be photographed. As a custom photographer, I offer much more than just your traditional 8×10 print. These gorgeous image boxes are my current favorite. They hold 15 matted prints and are so dreamy in person.

And this float wrap is a modern take on a 16×20 print. It’s literally your image, wrapped and mounted so when hung it appears to “float” from the wall. How cool is that? I’m so excited for my clients to have these (although part of me wishes I could keep them for myself!).

I would really encourage anyone considering custom photography to look around your home and find the perfect places to display your artwork. Gift prints such as 5×7’s and 8×10’s are meant to sit on desks. But walls scream for large, gorgeous images. Don’t be scared by the sound of a 16×20 or 20×24. I promise you it’s not as big as you might think and I bet you’d even wish you went larger. To me there is nothing more beautiful that decorating your home with images of your own life, so go big!

I get nervous.

Whew. I feel much better now that that’s out there.

But seriously, I do. I get nervous. I still get nervous before every photography session.

But I look at that as a good sign. I get nervous because I know how important the images I’m about to take are. They will represent one second in time that can never be duplicated. They will hang on someone’s wall. They will become works of art.

And for today’s session I was a bit more nervous than usual. When Mom contacted me to take pictures of her six week old little guy we knew {C} was on the older side for newborn images. We talked over the details, knowing that we would have to work hard to get those sleepy, snuggly images. Well, turns out we hardly had to work at all. {C} was the perfect little model. He was still and alert and made great eye contact for all of his awake images. And usually for newborns we need to feed, snuggle, burp (and then feed some more) to lull them into dreamland. Not so for {C}. He fell alseep all on his own in my green bucket of all places! It was truly hysterical–we placed him in the bucket and then watched as his eyelids got heavier and heavier until he was out like a light.

So once again my nerves were for nothing since {C} was a champ and our session was awesome. Here are a few of my favorites.

And in the meantime, go ahead and drool over all the precious sleepy baby goodness here.

That’s how today’s session with {K} was. I just couldn’t wait to browse through all of the pictures and start editing them. And once I started, I just couldn’t stop! This little one was such a doll! Her eyes are so amazingly expressive and she’s at my favorite age where she can sit up but can’t crawl away out of my camera’s frame. Love that.

And I love these first two images. So much so that I think I might just order a canvas of one as a studio sample. The lighting was just perfect (which we had to work for–believe me). Being a natural light photographer has it’s challenges in the winter. We actually had {K} set up a couple of feet from the door and I did most of my shooting from out on the porch (with Dad and Mom taking turns making silly sounds and faces behind me.) Put all that together and you get the perfect session, don’t you agree?

Mom and Dad–I had a great time getting to know you and little {K} today. I hope you love your sneak peek! I’ll be in touch and will let you know when your gallery is ready!