Nashville Maternity Baby Photographer
As a Nashville maternity baby photographer, my Belly to Baby package is one of my most popular packages. This includes maternity pictures as well as newborn pictures. I love this package because I get to meet my clients before they hand their brand new baby over to me. I met Lauren and Josh just one day before her due date. Yes ONE day! Doesn’t she look amazing! Luckily the weather and stars aligned so that we could get her pictures done before she delivered. She looked beautiful, and we had a great evening together.
Newborn Pictures
Just a few days later, Lauren emailed me to announce baby Everly’s birth. I got to seem them again as new parents. Sweet Everly was born just before Easter, so we even did an Easter themed picture for her. She gave us some sweet smiles, and let me get all sorts of poses done. Now her family has beautiful pictures to document their last days as a family of two and first days as a family of 3. Welcome to the world sweet girl! You have two parents who a fiercely in love with you, and I am so honored to have the privilege to witness it all. Thank you to Lauren and Josh for trusting me with your baby girl’s first pictures.
If you are expecting and looking for a maternity photographer or newborn photographer, I would love to capture these precious memories for you. My boutique studio is located in the heart of Hendersonville, TN just outside of Nashville. Please contact me so that we can start planning YOUR session.
You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram to see my most current work.
Milestone Baby Photography
One of my most frequently asked questions is “What ages do you recommend for our baby’s pictures?” Well… back before newborn pictures were popular, people photographed babies at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. If you did those ages plus a newborn session, that would be 5 sessions in one year, FIVE! That is entirely too many in my opinion. I do things a little differently. I like to photograph milestones over ages. Milestone baby photography focuses on the fun new things your baby can do. It’s his or her turn to show off new tricks! Sitting, pulling up, standing, crawling, tummy time, clapping, and more. They are all the fun and exciting moments as parents, and there’s nothing better than capturing them on film forever. Milestones aren’t the only things we will document. First teeth, rosy cheeks, long eyelashes, tiny fingers, chubby feet are just a few details that I love to capture. We do all of this at my Hendersonville photography studio, where everything is provided for you from clothing to props and accessories. All you have to do is bring baby!
There are two pathways that I recommend for milestone baby photography sessions. The first is 3 photo sessions during the first year. Those ages are newborn, sitter, and first birthday. This is my favorite package because these are my favorite ages and stages. The second option is 4 photo sessions during the first year. These sessions will fall at newborn, 4, 8, and 12 months. This pathway is usually selected by parents that want pictures more often than every 6 months. Below I have information and pictures from all stages. That way you can take a look and see what milestones you think you like best. I like to photograph all of my baby milestone sessions at my studio. This keeps the look and style of your baby’s first year photos consistent.
4 Month Old Baby Photography
Of all the milestone sessions, 4 month sessions tend to be the most difficult. That doesn’t mean that I don’t love them, they are just a little more of a challenge! 😉 I call this session the tummy time session. However, notice that there aren’t any tummy time pictures! Usually 4 month olds aren’t too keen on their tummy yet. They really need to have great head support to get a good tummy time picture, and that usually comes around 5 months. Sooooo… most of my 4 month sessions take place on their backs. This is usually where they are most happy. I guess I should call these photo sessions “reverse tummy time”! I tell clients that these are similar to newborn sessions, but instead of baby sleeping, they will be awake. Just like newborn photo sessions, I use different blankets and wraps for texture as well as buckets and bowls for props. 4 month olds make fun expressions at this age too. They don’t usually bust out huge smiles, but you can start to see their little personalities.
Sitter Session Photography
Of all of the ages after newborn sessions, sitter photo sessions are my favorites! This milestone usually takes place around 6.5/7 months. I want babies to be sitting steadily for these photo sessions. I always use a spotter by baby in case they start to topple over, but the steadier they are the less jumpy we are! Babies at this age typically have not reached separation anxiety, and they love and smile at everyone. It is just a really fun age! Just like my 4 month sessions and newborn sessions, I like to use layers, bowls, and greenery for props. Sometimes we even pull out a bowl that we used at their newborn session to show how much they’ve grown!
8 Month Old Baby Photography
This is the milestone baby photography session we use if you choose the 4, 8, and 12 month plan. It is very similar to the sitter milestone session, but by now babies are also pushing up into a crawling position and sometimes even pulling up. If you select a sitter session around 6.5/7 months you will not do an 8 month session. Some other fun things to photograph from 8 month sessions are little baby details. Many babies are cutting teeth by this age and have gotten those cute baby rolls. They are also very aware of their surroundings. They may not smile because they are so interested in where they are and everything going on around them. Sometimes it’s harder to get them out of mom or dad’s arms. You never know what you’ll get with this age!
First Birthday Photography
Ahhhhhh……… the big birthday photo shoot! One year sessions are probably the most anticipated session after your baby’s newborn session. These take more planning. They are also more personalized. You can choose just a milestone session to document baby’s milestones at this age. Usually babies are pulling up and standing. Sometimes they are even walking. Although I’d love to get them in for their photo shoot before they start walking! Any guesses why??? My most favorite part of a one year birthday photo shoot is the cake smash. I love styling them, and I love how they really capture a baby’s personality. You can book just a Cake Smash Photo Session or Milestone + Cake Smash. Take a look at my First Birthday Pinboard to see what inspires me. I have all of my clients look through this board to start the planning process. Even if babies don’t like the cake, they are still usually tons of fun. What if they REALLY don’t like the cake? Crying cake pictures are some of my absolute favorites! But we don’t have to do cake, we can do a fruit smash or even a bubble bath. They sky is the limit!
Your baby’s first year is full of growth, excitement, and memories. That first year is going to fly by! Milestone baby photography is the best way to document your baby’s growth and help you hold on to those memories. I offer milestone photo sessions as well as baby’s first year plans. I’d love to chat and find the perfect photo session for your family.
Nashville Newborn Baby Photography
Welcome to my Nashville Newborn Baby Photography page. I am so glad you found me. If you are new here, let me share a little about my photography studio. I have been in business 8 years and have specialized in newborns for 5 years. In that time, I have had hundreds of baby visit my Hendersonville, TN baby photography studio. Newborns are my most requested sessions, and I put a great deal of time and thought into preparing for each and every baby I meet.
This is Nash. I first met his parents a few months ago at their maternity photo session. They are new to Tennessee, and I was so glad they were referred to me! Nash had to spend a little time in the NICU, and I was so excited when he was released to go home.
Newborn Photography Poses
When you book your session, every client completes a planning guide. This planning guide is included when you fill out your Newborn Portrait Agreement. You can request colors and props in this form. One of the poses that I do with all babies is a blanket pose. I use the guide to choose the colors that I include with this pose. As you can see from Nash’s pictures above, I can get a variety of beautiful portraits just using one blanket. Gray is one of my favorites for little boys.
Another highly requested pose is a prop pose using greenery. I have become well known for using natural elements such as wood, greenery, and flowers in my Nashville newborn baby photography. I love the shade of green that we used for Nash’s prop picture below.
Newborn Froggy Pose
Another highly requested pose is the hands on face pose referred to as the “froggy pose” in the newborn photography world. Some babies love it and other babies don’t. But I am always happy to try it for clients if it is one of your requested poses. It is more of a time consuming pose because it requires an extra set of hands. Babies don’t rest in this position naturally, so this picture is actually a composite, or two pictures merged together. It’s always fun sharing my behind the scenes secrets with parents as we do this pose!
Newborn Detail Photos
Many parents love the detail photos that I take with my macro lens. Although I love color images, details in black and white tend to be my favorites. My storyboards with details photos are one of my most popular products. Nash had these awesome highlights in his hair, so I knew I’d have to grab my macro lens to capture them.
Newborn Photography Poses
You can probably tell that Nash was an awesome little sleeper for his Nashville Newborn Baby Photography session. He had a variety of poses, colors, props, and blankets in his session. This wrapped up pose is one of my favorites. The babies that I meet tend to love being wrapped up and tight, so even the fussiest baby loves this pose! (Shhhh… I don’t get fussy babies! All of my tiny clients are perfect little models 😉 )
Natural Newborn Poses
When we were finished with Nash’s session. We decided to capture him waking up. This is one of my favorite things to do at the end of a newborn photo session! I loved all of his little expressions and stretches!
Thank you for visiting my Nashville Newborn Baby Photography page. If you are expecting a baby, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to click on the Contact Page and send me a message. I’ll get back to you with availability and pricing. Make sure you visit my Pinterest page for Newborn Photography to see more of my work.
Choosing Your Newborn Photographer
Chances are you have found our website on your search for choosing your newborn photographer. If you are expecting, congratulations! This is pretty much one of the most exciting times of your life. Waiting for your new bundle of joy is full of questions and anticipation. You have to choose your doctor, pick a hospital to deliver, decorate a nursery, register for baby items, and think about baby’s first pictures. Choosing your newborn photographer can be overwhelming. I’m going to share some of the questions you should ask and things you should look for on your search.
Newborn Safety
One of the most important factors in choosing your newborn photographer is finding someone qualified to handle newborns. Unfortunately, newborn photography in the United States is very unregulated. Pretty much anyone can be a “newborn photographer”. Questions you may want to ask prospective photographers are “How many newborns have you photographed?” “Have you taken newborn safety courses?” “Are you up to date on your vaccinations?” Just like you research the safest car seats, cribs, and strollers. It’s a great idea to do the same with the person who will handle your baby during his or her first photo shoot.
Photography Style
There are many styles for newborn photography. Studio posed photography and lifestyle photography are two of the most popular types. You can view more about the differences between these types by reading our blog post on studio and lifestyle newborn photography. When choosing your newborn photographer, make sure you visit their social media pages as well as website. Is your eye drawn to their work? Is their work consistent? Is baby the focus in the pictures or do the props overwhelm the picture? Do you like the colors and props that they use?
Newborn Posing
If you are drawn to posed newborn pictures, make sure you find a photographer that specializes in newborns. Newborn photography is a very specialized genre. Yes, you may have loved your wedding photographer, but that may not mean he or she will know how to handle your newborn. When viewing photographers’ websites, look to see if they have samples of the poses you love. How often do they share their work? Websites and social media pages always show a photographer’s best work. Make sure you see more than just a few babies and several examples of the poses. Does baby look comfortable? Poses should not be forced. You may even see babies smiling. Newborn photographers should have experience and be prepared for awake or fussy babies.
Photography Pricing
One of the biggest factors in choosing a newborn photographer is budget. Do you have a budget in mind? Newborn photography is one of the things that you get what you pay for. In this case, cheaper is not better. Newborn photography pricing is subject to many factors such as experience, level of training, quality of equipment, length of session, and more. Does the photographer supply props? Keep in mind that you are not just paying for the time your photographer is spending with you. Your photographer also spends hours planning your session, setting up for your session, and editing your pictures. A photographer running a legal business must also factor in insurance, taxes, and other business expenses.
I hope this has helped you think of questions you may not have considered. I invite you sit down and browse through my website. Read about me, search through my blog posts, view the different session categories, and visit my Instagram and Facebook pages. If we look like a good fit, I’d love to hear from you. I highly suggest booking your newborn session during your second trimester. Don’t forget, newborn sessions are scheduled during baby’s first 2 weeks. Booking early ensures a date on our calendar.
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This is such a great blog post. It really is so important to do your research when choosing a newborn photographer. Making sure you find someone who is qualified is such a huge factor that I hope every new mom and dad consider when selecting the person they’re trusting their little one with. You really made some fantastic points. ReplyCancel
Have you ever wondered how you can incorporate natural baby care into parenting? We always want to give our children the best. As a new mom you may be looking for ways to reduce chemicals that you are using around your house and baby. I recently had a newborn session with Alicia. She has made pure living her lifestyle and now raises her boys the same way. I thought she would be a wonderful resource to give us more information about making our own environment cleaner and healthier. Meet Alicia and the boys who are most important to her.
Meet Our Guest Blogger
Hey guys! I recently had a newborn session with Shannon and I am honored that she asked me to be her first guest blog post! I am Alicia. I live in Hendersonville where Shannon’s studio is located. I am first and foremost a mother to two beautiful boys. I also own a local organic body product company called Apothepurity. My products are available in 11 stores and counting throughout middle Tennessee and beyond. I was asked to post about simple ways you can incorporate living a pure, clean lifestyle as a new mom. My boys were not the beginning of my journey for me, but seeing them encourages me every day to continue to spread the word about a natural lifestyle. First, I will tell you a little about what started this journey for me and then move on to a few easy ways to live pure!
My journey started at age 22, long before I became a mother, while living on the island of Oahu in 2011. I learned so much about sustainability, clean living, and caring for the Earth. When I returned to Tennesse, I had trouble finding truly pure products. I found that many companies were cutting corners whether it be sub par ingredients, plastic packaging, or only partial organic ingredients. These same companies were also often charging astronomical prices in the name organic. I wanted to create a truly good, philanthropic company that didn’t cut any of those corners and was still affordable to the average consumer. I went to school for aesthetics in my early twenties and had no idea at the time how I would use that knowledge. Fast forward to 2016, after much work and trial and error, I finally started Apothepurity. Our mission is not only to provide people with pure products but also to convince people to live a more natural lifestyle for a healthier you and planet too.
Motherhood brings about many changes. It often inspires us to re-evaluate our own lifestyle. It inspires us to research everything from what bottles are best to what products are safest for baby. Often enough, we decide it’s time to clean up our routine….but where to start? It can be overwhelming. In this blog post, I will highlight a few tips and resources for starting a clean living journey.
WHY DOES IT MATTER
Your skin is your largest organ. That is why it’s so important to protect it. The majority of what you put on your skin is absorbed in seconds and much of it makes it into your blood stream. Remember, your skin eats it too!
My first bit of advice if to keep it simple. Read ingredient lists. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, or the list is a mile long, it’s pretty safe to assume there are some nasties lurking in there. A few ingredients I always look out for:
Parabens
SLS
Fragrance
Phthalates
Triclosan
Synthetic Colors
Formaldehyde
Toluene
Propylene Glycol
Without going into too much detail, these harsh chemicals are known to cause severe allergic reactions, skin irritation, respiratory damage, can disrupt the endocrine system, cause birth defects, can increase your risk for certain types of cancers, and so much more!
I am a huge fan of the Environmental Working Group. You can visit their website to search for ingredients or common products and see their rating. It breaks down what is toxic about the product by ingredients and is SO informative. They also have a free app you can download to make the search easier!
SWITCH SLOWLY
Most of us simply do not have the means to toss (hopefully recycle!) every product in our house when we decide to make the change. I personally started replacing my items one by one as I ran out my old conventional products the over the course of a year. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Making the switch one by one will prevent you from going crazy AND is less shocking to your body. A few easy switches to make that are readily available:
•Hand Soap/Body + Baby Wash + Dish Soap
-Pour 1/4 cup liquid castile soap (We love Dr Bronners unscented) in an old foaming hand soap dispenser (This is for an 8 ounce container!)
-Fill the rest with distilled water
-?Optional: Add essential oils (properly diluted!) of your choice for scent + added cleaning properties. Lemon is a great choice for hand and dish soap. Lavender or Frankinsense are great choices for body wash!
Note: Dr Bronners is very concentrated. It is important to dilute prior to use on skin. It can be very drying!
•Baby Oil/Lotion
A single oil works perfectly for baby! Jojoba oil is our favorite, but olive and coconut oil are great too! A little goes a long way!
•All Purpose Cleaner
Combine equal parts:
Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled Water
Optional: A few drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
Add all ingredients to a spray bottle. This cleaner works well for countertops, floors, sinks, etc.
•Shower + Bath Cleaner
Fill a spray bottle with cheap vodka and voila! It cuts through soap scum like nobody’s business.
•Body Products
Visit us my site Apothepurity to shop my products! We make everything from body butter to hand sanitizer. Customers rave about our natural deodorant! Clink the FIND US link to try our products in person. Follow us on social media to stay up to date on our blogs, events, and promos! Use code: SPP20 for 20% off of your online purchase with us.
Natural Baby Care
AVOID WHAT YOU CAN
There are many harsh chemicals out there that cannot be avoided. However, it’s always a good idea to avoid what you can, especially with a tiny human in tow. You don’t have to go crazy, just be mindful! Our babies deserve it.
We hope that you will make the switch to safer products to create a healthier, better environment for you and your precious little ones!
Love,
Alicia
Thanks, Alicia, for sharing ways to include natural baby care and clean living into our lifestyle. I hope you guys find this information valuable! Here are a few more favorites of Alicia’s newest little guy.
Are you expecting a baby and interested in posed newborn photos? We’d love to hear from you. Shannon Payne Photography specializes in newborn photography. One of Nashville’s top newborn photographers, Shannon has trained with some of the best photographers in the world in order to great the best newborn experience for your family. It is best to get on our calendar during your 2nd trimester. Email us today to book your session.