Photographing Older Newborns | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn and Baby Photographer

Sometimes life can get in the way of scheduling your newborn session in the first 7-10 days after birth. Not to worry! Even if your newborn isn’t as sleepy anymore, there are still some special photos we can capture of your older newborn. There are even some benefits!

Many families want photos of their newborn with their eyes open. Newborns often sleep right through their session, so this isn’t possible. However, older newborns are often more awake and aware. Unlike my normal newborn sessions, we may even get the opportunity to:

• catch baby interacting with parents through eye contact

• see baby’s personality

• catch baby’s first smiles!

We can still get all of the detail shots that my clients love: your baby’s eyelashes, fingers, toes, and ears. With older newborns there is often more variety in the session, too, with some of their different expressions. If you think you may have waited too long to get on my schedule, don’t fret! It may not be too late, after all. Send me a message, and I will be happy to discuss your options for capturing this special time for your family!

Erez | NICU Portraits | Omphalocele | Charlotte, North Carolina

At her 20 week anatomy scan, Erez’s mom Natalie, found out that her baby was experiencing a rare condition. Erez was diagnosed with an omphalocele, where the abdominal wall does not form correctly, allowing the intestines to protrude.

Erez arrived at 37 weeks by planned c-section. He weighed just 4 pounds 14 ounces. After birth, it was discovered that he had an additional health concern; his lungs were under-developed. While his omphalocele has begun resolving, he has needed additional breathing support.

Erez uses a tracheostomy (trach), with support from a ventilator, to breathe. A trach allows for longer-term ventilator support without as much limitation to mobility. It may also allow him to get home sooner, since the trach is something his family can manage at home. Any little bit of progression towards getting our babies home is worth it!

Seven Ways To Help A New Mom Friend | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer

Seven Ways To Help A New Mom Friend

Your friend just became a mom, and you want to do something nice for her. Here are a few ways you can help:

1. Lend a hand! Offer to hold the baby so she can take a shower or catch a nap.

2. Provide a listening ear. Adjusting to motherhood is all encompassing. Someone to listen to her worries will mean so much.

3. Put her feet up! Give mom the opportunity to rest while you help out with household chores or errands.

4. Provide love and support. Ask mom what she needs to feel most supported right now. You might be surprised at her answer!

5. Support the whole family with a meal. A dinner is great, but so are quick breakfast options or easy snacks.

6. Make baby comfortable! Practical gifts for baby are always appreciated. Consider what must-have items she may not have received from her registry. Diapers and wipes will never go out of style!

7. Don’t stay too long! Feeling pressure to entertain might feel overwhelming. Plan to keep any visits brief, so mom and baby can get back to their rest.

What other advice do you have? What was most helpful to you as a new mom? Comment below to share your ideas with other moms!

Why I DON'T Guarantee A Specific Pose | Newborn Photography | Charlotte, North Carolina Photographer

WHY I DON’T GUARANTEE A SPECIFIC POSE

Yes, you read that right. As a newborn photographer, I absolutely have a mental list of all of the perfect poses I hope to capture of your new bundle of joy. However, as you may be learning as a new parent, the adults are not always the ones in control in this situation. Here’s a list of reasons why I don’t guarantee a specific pose.

1. We go at your baby's pace! If your baby is in a deep sleep and comfortable being positioned, it will be easier to move them from one pose to another. If your baby is not as comfortable, it may take more patience to move them from pose to pose. This can vary widely from baby to baby and can even depend on the baby’s age at the time of your session.

2. I don't try to force your baby to do something that doesn't feel right to them. If they are expressing that they are uncomfortable, I listen. Some babies don't "bend" like others. They just aren't as flexible, so they won't allow me to position them in certain poses. If your baby is giving me cues that they don’t appreciate how I am positioning them, I simply move on to another pose or setup.

3. Your baby is being handled more than normal. We will likely be passing your baby between parents and even to siblings. We’ll also swaddle the baby one to two times, as well as completely unswaddle the baby for individual portraits. Most new babies prefer to be covered and swaddled, and most do not like to be naked. I would imagine that having a strange photographer in your face might be somewhat stimulating too. For some babies this is not a problem, but others may be easily disturbed by those changes.

4. Your baby may need to take a break because they eat more frequently than other babies. We can stop and feed at any point. It might be helpful to bring a bottle to your session, but I am very comfortable being around breastfeeding mothers. I work in the neonatal intensive care unit where I assist mothers with this very task. I'm also a mom, so I get it! I can even feed your baby and allow you to kick up your feet and relax! I'm trained ◡̈ Sometimes you’re still learning what your baby needs, so I’m happy to troubleshoot with you.

5. New babies usually aren't on a "schedule” yet. They may not be ready to sleep when they arrive or they may have been up a lot the night before. Newborns can be unpredictable, so we will work around that.

6. Your baby may have other underlying issues. You may be discovering that your baby has a food allergy or colic. This might make certain poses more uncomfortable due to increased gas or discomfort, causing them not to rest as well. Babies experiencing feeding problems or transitioning from breast milk to formula may also have trouble settling.

7. Every baby is different! Some babies sleep the entire time, and some babies are awake the entire time.

The bottom line? Every baby is unique. We’ll follow your baby’s cues to see what poses we can achieve. No matter your newborn’s personality, we can make precious memories together!