When you are expecting baby number three it’s easy to think oh I got this I know what is coming next. Moms who plan ahead are my spirit animal. (serious over planner here). Plan ahead moms make their life and mine so much easier. I distinctly remember chatting with this mom about where she wanted portraits to be displayed in her home. How she wanted them to feel and how having a photograph of the three kids together was so important to her.
Why newborn portraits matter in the grand scheme of things
Having photographs of this special time is a once in a lifetime opportunity and something this mom didn’t want to forget. The newborn stage goes by so fast and it’s easy to forget the small details. Having newborn portraits on the living room wall will remind her that she was wanted and loved! Planning ahead for amazing baby portraits is the best way to achieve this goal.
Great Job Mom
Shout out to mom on her clothing and styling choices for this session. I feel like she could teach other moms how to style a family and make it look effortless. These kiddos always look put together yet casual for portrait sessions. But don’t let that fool you it’s never as effortless as it looks. I recall tears from little D last year when he had to take off his batman shirt for picture day!
Perfect little sister
Little miss was a dream baby model, I’m not sure she cried the whole session. And only woke up to eat near the end. She seems to be an easy going little sister and that will help mom out immensely with two active older brothers.
Patti is a local doula and she would love to talk to you if you are expecting or just curious about doula services. Below is a little about her history as a doula and her contact information is at the bottom. Also feel free to comment on this blog and she will be happy to answer your questions.
Patti Rumsey: Bio
I first got interested in being a doula after my second child’s birth in 1995. However, I didn’t start training until 6 years later and by then I had 3 children. The first being born in a birth center, second in a hospital, and the third and fourth at home. I was fortunate enough to land a job at Anderson Hospital in Anderson, SC where I worked for 3 years and attended over 300 births. This experience was one of the best times of my life. I went on to practice privately for a couple of years and had many enjoyable experiences.Continue reading “Meet Patti Rumsey a Fort Mill doula”
I’ve been curious about Doulas’ since before having kids. I’ll be honest the more I learn the more I wish I had hired one for my first pregnancy. Since I can’t go back in time I thought I would share with you ladies and help you find all the resources possible for your pregnancies. I recently meet Patti and asked her to guest write for my blog and help my clients learn more. So without more of my rambling here is what she shared. Continue reading “What is a Doula?”
Why I could kick myself for selling just digitals!
Back when I started out on my own in 2004 digital was still kind of new. Everyone assumed digital was archival. I mean we could back it up and make unlimited copies. Archival is a term often used by photographers meaning a print or film can last in the archives. For reference those color prints your parents got at the department store when you were kids should last at least 50 years if properly stored and cared for. The newer papers and printing processes used today are guaranteed a bit longer. Most about 100 years if properly stored. That digital file I started out selling on CD back in 2004 is a big old question mark ? Because there are so many factors.
First off that CD we used to give digital files on is lasting 8-10 years. If it was written on with Sharpie or printed on with an adhesive label more like 5 years. Why so short? Well as it turns out the ink from that sharpie actually eats away at the CD material. Ok so I’m human I screwed up. Now we use USB drives. Well those things just keep changing. eHow says a usb drive may last ten years depending on how many times it is used. So really not much better than the CD was. Crap.
So the moral of my intro here is Print, Print, Print is better.
The only thing we know will last at least until your baby is an adult is a print. The best part about prints they can be copied. They are the only guarantee. But hey as a new mom on a limited budget I know you might be thinking well I just need it to last until I get back to work or we can save to print them later. But let me just tell you about my slap in the face wake up call I got this year.
Is this what you want for your memories?
The slap in the face!
Now she didn’t mean to do it and I totally thanked her for my wake up call. But here is what went down. I went to visit my friend who shall remain nameless. She lives 4 hours from me and has several kids that I have been photographing for ten years. I even photographed her maternity session before her first was born. But we haven’t lived in the same town since college. So visits have just gotten more and more chaotic the more kiddos we had. But my latest visit I came alone with just my gear for updated family and kid portraits of course. And after the kiddos went to bed we were sitting in her new living room talking. And she lamented to me “I’ve just been so busy I haven’t hung up any photographs of the kids in this place!” So I said “Well I’m here to help where are your frames (I’m thinking they are still in a box) let’s hang some up!”
And she said here comes the slap in the face part! “oh they are all on CD or flash drive. I’ve never printed any of the photographs you’ve given me.”
Wait What?!?! I wanted to die right there on her couch. But instead I had an epiphany. I’ve been photographing friends and clients alike for years and just giving them digital files. I thought I was helping my friends by gifting them the files and letting them print what they wanted. And my clients I thought I was giving them what they wanted, what they had been asking for. Boy was I wrong.
No one wants to come for a portrait session and leave with homework. Especially homework they don’t have time to do!
My clients newborn clients or worse, those who are expecting a baby and thinking about the millions of things they need to do to get ready. They don’t need or want digital files to do-it-yourself print as homework. They just end up tucked away in a drawer or maybe even downloaded to a computer that may or may not work in a year or two. What new moms really want is a beautifully framed print of baby hung on their nursery wall. Or a framed canvas collection of baby’s first year decorating the stairwell in their home. Let’s get real what new mom do you know that has time to order a print online, wait for it to arrive, take it to the local frame shop, along with baby and baby’s older brother who refuses to ride in the cart, get it framed, come back in a week to pick it up and then wait some more for dad to have time to hang it, once she has finally decided where it should hang?
No mom I know has time for that.
Ain’t nobody with little kids got time for that. And putting together a photo album online, nobody has time for that ever. I’m changing my ways as of right now. No more diy, homework feeling digital only packages from me. Photography studios provide a service, right? For Insley that means planning, creating and printing your beautiful artwork of your family. And installation of your artwork is always included! This is why Print is better!
Or does this help you remember when he learned to sit up on his own?
Are you ready for a different photography experience? One where we do it all for you? Are you tired of leaving your memories in a drawer? Ready for archival prints? Are you ready for a better way? Get in touch today.
Oh My Goodness, I totally loved this session. I mean I knew I would since I would get to catch up with a good friend from college. And get to see her newborn baby girl before any one else! One of the perks of being a newborn photographer, even in the winter I get to see all the babies first. But that is not why it will go down as one of my favorite portrait sessions from this year.
Why then you ask was I so stoked to photograph this adorable little one? Her mom brought in props. And not just any props. She brought in her wedding veil. Wedding veils are gorgeous of course and this one was no exception. But why was I hyperventilating over a veil. Because my friends props with meaning are the way to my heart strings. Your sweet innocent baby girl photographed on her momma’s wedding veil is going to become a treasured keepsake portrait for generations to come. It will mean just as much to this little girl in 30 years as it does to her momma right now.
Memory Keeper
As a memory keeper this kind of portrait makes my heart skip a beat. Knowing that she has an actual print of her favorite portrait of her baby in her wedding veil just makes my year. Knowing that print will last for 100 years and be viewed and shared with family. This my friends is why I encourage everyone to print their memories. Digital file storage devices have a shelf life of maybe 8 years before the device can corrupt or fail. Prints last a life time. Print your memories or come see me and let me create printed portrait memories for your family.
Alright friends new this year I am going to be featuring some guest posters to talk about things you all may be curious about. First off we have Cultural Care Au Pair to tell about What an au pair is and what they do. I personally did not know all the details of an au pair. Of course I was curious to know more, so without further ado!
What is an au pair?
An au pair is a young adult from overseas who lives with your family on a legal visa for up to two years. This person is here to provide childcare in exchange for room and board. Plus an opportunity to become part of an American family. Au pairs can care for your children on a schedule that works for your family’s personal needs, making it a very flexible option. They can also help with household duties related to your children, including laundry, cooking and room pick-up. He or she can work up to 45 hours a week, no more than 10 hours per day. The extra set of hands they provide is often just what busy families need to make their lives more manageable and more fun!
Cultural Care
Our program works best for families who like the idea of welcoming someone who becomes an extended family member into their homes. And for families who have a genuine interest in cultural exchange. Your au pair will share her own culture and language with your whole family. He or she will also want to learn more about America. Most host families and au pairs keep in touch beyond their au pair year and often visit each other again in the U.S. or overseas.
Au pair program is regulated by the Department of State and only few agencies can bring au pairs into the US. We handle all of the logistics and paperwork. Many parents are surprised how affordable and flexible this type of childcare is.
Thanks so much Marcela for sharing about au pairs and how they can help your family. I’m feel more informed. It sounds like a great service for busy moms. Marcela’s website link is here if you would like to learn more.
Sweet Little Lillian came to see me in my studio recently. I met her parents and big brother at our Christmas Card Mini Session back in the fall. This baby girl has such a sweet family.
Look at those sweet baby cheeks and her perfect little nose. Baby Girl Lillian was so much fun to photograph because she was so laid back. Aww man what a treat she was to have in my home portrait studio. I can’t wait to watch her grow up. I’m looking forward to getting her and her big brother in my studio together. Congratulations again to her mom and dad!
Patti Rumsey: 
