Why I’m a Newborn Photographer

Hint: I’m not in it for the laundry.

I didn’t start out as a newborn photographer. I started out photographing a baby’s first birthday and then a wedding, in that order. Those were my first two professionally paid jobs in photography.

I advertised myself as a portrait photographer on Craiglist in 2009 after quitting my full-time interior design job. I was sooooo excited when someone wrote me back. She wanted to hire me to photograph her daughter’s first birthday party.

I delivered those photos, and her friend, who was about to get married, saw the photos and liked them. It turned out she needed a wedding photographer and pronto. I think the story goes that her photographer ended up canceling on her at the last minute?? I can’t remember all of the details, but I do remember saying something like, “Oh wow, that is so nice that you would consider me, but I have ZERO experience photographing weddings. I just couldn’t.”

She wasn’t taking no for an answer, though. The thing was I really wanted to do it, but I really had no place doing it. I had no experience. But she was convincing and believed in me. So I spent the next couple of weeks reading all I could on wedding photography, renting the lenses I thought I should, and went for it.

After that, I was hooked. I was hooked on portrait photography, and I took anything and everything that came my way. Weddings, high school seniors, families, newborns, engagement sessions, hot tub stores (for reals!), headshots, you name it!

Then my first daughter was born, and I needed to slow down. Way down. I wanted to be home with her more. So, I decided to pick my favorite thing to photograph and say yes to those inquiries and no to everything else.

It was an easy choice. Newborns were always my favorite. Whenever an email came through that was an inquiry for a new baby, my heart did a little jump. Babies have always been my jam.

I love their softness, sweetness, innocence, and the way they don’t talk back to me. The fact that I don’t have to make them smile or cajole for certain expressions wins me over. I am not an entertainer. It’s just not in me, and I love that newborns don’t ask this of me.

They are perfect as is. My job is to study them with my camera and produce a gallery of images that shows who they were when they first got here earthside.

There is a quietness and stillness that settles in during a newborn session that connects with my soul. Newborns give me energy that other types of portrait photography don’t. So I listen to this part of myself, and I’m here for it.

This is baby Camden. I hope you enjoy his set of photos!

Are you expecting a new baby? I’d love to hear from you! Please use this contact form to reach me, and I’ll be in touch asap!