This newborn…

He set the bar so high… it’s lost up there in the clouds somewhere. He was an incredibly well-behaved 7-pounder. He slept the entire shoot and didn’t even need to be fed or changed once. His entire shoot only lasted an hour and 45 minutes. That’s including the time it took me to change backgrounds and set-ups. Wow, baby!

He continued to set himself apart by having THE softest skin I’ve ever felt. His skin was like… it was as soft as……. nothing. There’s nothing softer. So, from now on, everything that is soft in this world will be compared to this baby’s skin.

Now to explain the reason for this blog’s title. This sweet sleeper loved to play a little game called, “I’m-going-to-smile-as-soon-as-she-sets-her-camera-down”. He did it countless times. What a little tease! Nice game, Mc Teasy, but I caught this one..

I thought I saw a glimpse of dimps and  I asked his parents if he had dimples.  They were unsure at the time because baby was still so new. (I didn’t chimp for dimps, so I noticed this photo when I got home.)  I was thrilled.  Dimples do weird things to my heart.  Good, weird things.

This next pose was all him.  I had his hands on his belly, but he had other plans.  I ended up liking this better, though… you can see all his little arm creases…

… and did you notice the newborn skin peelies on his belly?  Here’s a closer look… along with tissue-paper-thin newborn fingernails…

And his feet! Some of the smallest I’ve ever seen. Little cartoon feet of perfection. It was coming up on lunchtime… he was lucky I didn’t take a bite.  YOM!

Look at his beautiful baby. Perfectly crafted and rolled into a cocoon of cuteness.

And he came with a full set of dark lashes… the ones that photograph beautifully.

To his parents: I love how fast we “clicked” (I shall use photography-related puns whenever possible.) I had just met you and I felt like I was hanging out with old friends. I’m so excited to be able to photograph your perfect son as he grows throughout the year. He truly is beautiful… and he truly was a joy to photograph. I hope you like your preview- the rest will be finished soon!

I have no choice but to (once again) begin a blog post with my most favorite expression:  (and the crowd *in my head* goes wild).

Now, I know you swooned over her expression and her puppy eyes, but please look one more time and appreciate the neck rolls before you move on. K, thanks.

If baby dolls came to life, they’d look just like this:

This is her favorite toy, Luci Goosie.  Her mama said she loves to carry her by the neck.  I knew I had to get a photo of just that:

They make an adorable pair.

For a tiny girl, I couldn’t believe how much she was walking. She was like a confident little wind-up toy. I said, “Who has been winding you up? Do you have a little crank on your back!?” It was so fun to watch.

In case you’re wondering how old she is… just ask her and she’ll tell you:

Yeah, It’s her party and she’ll take her bow out if she wants to:

Gotta love her look of defiance in that one!

And since she’s full of cute expressions, here’s another one.  I think she’s just as shocked as we are that she’s a toddler now.

Not so fast, little miss!  As long as I can still make you look like a baby… you’re still a baby:

To her mama: You are such a good, good mama. And as I told you, your baby is one of the most talked-about babies I have photographed. She gives you so much to be proud of!  She is a triple threat with beauty, brains, and personality.  To her “Dee”: First of all, you don’t look old enough to be a grandmother. Second of all, I loved your smiling face. Your excitement was infectious. Feel free to hang out in my studio any time!  I hope you like these previews- the rest will be finished soon!

Skin like butter and full of fluffin like a muffin.   He’s a butter muffin… and I adore him.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.  Did you see that?   Why, yes.  He was aware of my favorite expression. If you read my previous blog post, you might remember me mentioning that babies all over town have gotten the memo… and this expression has been happening so often in my studio… it almost makes me levitate with happiness.

In case you don’t believe me, here is another shot:

Aaaand one more for good measure:

Nothin’ says lovin’ like my favorite expression on a muffin.

Never gets old.  Capital NEVER.

Moving on now… someone was proud of some new pegs.

And if he’s not proud of this chubby bewwy he should be.  (Because this is one of those things you can only be proud of when you’re a baby.)  Awww, I just want to poke him and listen for the dough-boy giggle.

Mustaches, though?  Mustaches work for all ages.

I love aerial shots. Especially when they’re of a crawling baby.

And who doesn’t love these?

Am I the only one who is hearing Jack Johnson’s “Bubble Toes” right about now?

He has this certain expression that is so very… him. He does this thing with his eyebrow… it is hard to explain, but why try to explain when the photography can do the talking? Let’s watch it progress, shall we?

I sure do love this Butter Muffin.

He was super sweet and very much a mama’s boy. (As a mother of a boy, I have to announce that there is NOTHING wrong with that. We mamas love our mama’s boys.)

Because he was so attached to his mama, it made me feel extra proud that he let me hold him and then snuggled in and FELL ASLEEP ON MY SHOULDER at the end of his session. Muffin lovin!! Ahh, baby therapy at its finest. He did this very same thing after his 6-month session, too. Proof that he adores me right back.

To his parents: I enjoyed talking photography, art and life with you. Your sessions are always such a great time. I extremely loved the snuggles from your muffin. Tell him I expect his 1-year session to end the same way. Thank you for your patience as I have been taking care of a sick kiddo here at home the last few days.  I hope you like this preview- the rest will be finished soon!

I’ve been getting a whole lotta THIS expression lately:

Which can only mean one thing. Word has gotten around… babies all over town have been practicing this expression because they know it’s my favorite. Why wouldn’t it be? When they tuck their little lips in… it does wonders for cheek chub.

Next, you’re going to notice her beautiful eyes. There’s no way around it, so lets just get it over with:

Whoa.  She can mesmerize with those eyes. They’re mesmer-eyes.

But, do me a favor for a sec. Scroll back up and please DO appreciate her perfect pout of a mouth.  Then, swoon… if you must.  I am a full-time swooner. It’s fun.

I love little prominent eyebrows on babies and I’m coo-coo for rosy cheeks. If you frequent my blog, I apologize for the redundancy of these facts.

Oh, and let’s not forget eye contact.  Miss Mesmer-eyes is a master at it:

Hello, little sugar pile:

Her mama requested this next shot because HER mother has this shot of her and all her siblings from when they were babies.  It’s proof that this is a timeless look.  I was thrilled because it’s always a favorite of mine.

Then, THIS happened and I nearly fell over:

Let’s end with a sibling shot.  Because I didn’t know one photo could hold so much beauty.

Again, with the eye contact.  The cuteness meter is overheating over here.

To their parents: No doubt about it, you make beautiful babies!  It seems like yesterday I was photographing big sister as a baby… and now she’s toddler-going-on-sixteen.  You have so much to be proud of and I was thrilled to meet and photograph your newest doll. What a gem!  My camera loves her face and I love seeing her on my computer screen as I work on the rest of your images.   I hope you like this preview- the rest will be finished soon.

She’s tiny. She’s beautiful. She’s a dollop.

A dollop of dainty.

All wrapped up and tucked in… with those nice, long fingers on display:

Just when I thought my heart couldn’t melt any more… she let out some sleep squeaks. Sleep squeaks of the newborn variety.  That’s a spoonful of swoon.

With a little smirk for good measure:

At one point, she needed some settling, so I held her and let the baby therapy soak in.  (<– The best part of my job, right there.)

And some things that go unnoticed, deserve to be noticed.  Like these long strands of baby-fine hair:

And, here, I’m going to break one of the biggest rules of newborn photography, which is to never “shoot up the nose”.  But, I happen to think this is a very sweet perspective when the angle is this extreme.

An added bonus?  She smiled.  That’s proof that she agreed.

Did you notice her blonde highlights in the back?  So sweet.

Blonde lashes and full lips… she’s such a beautiful dollop.

I love when newborn hands rest on newborn bellies.

And I really, REALLY love… sibling smooches.

That photo tuggedy tugs at my heartstrings.  Seeing the little boy I have photographed as a baby, take on the role of big brother with flawless precision…. just beautiful.

To their parents: You two should walk a little taller and whenever someone points and gawks at the extreme cuteness of your kids, just say, “Yeah, we made them.”  Good job, you two! I enjoyed every second of snuggling and photographing your sweet dollop of dainty.   Your family is way too precious.

And a toddler girl… in all her adorable-ness… will try to lift that suitcase. All the while making it look completely darling.

Much like these ruffly leggings that her mama made.  Completely darling.

I love how toddlers never hold still.  (No, really! I do.)  Even when they are sitting, their little feet are turning and bending.

Toddler girls LOVE to love.  Of course they do! They are naturally maternal… so precious.  Look at this… true bunny love, right here:

If your mama makes you a beautiful spinning skirt and your photographer turns on some good music… and if you’re a toddler girl… you’ll twirl.

And of course… if you’re a toddler girl, you’ll have a lot to say…

I interrupt this toddler girl program to show you an adorable toddler boy.  The little brother.  With his face so precious:

I want to hold his face in my hands and just stare at him.  (and no, that’s not creepy. Not if you’re ME.)

And how do you end a blog post about a darling toddler girl?  With a whole lotta ruffles. That’s how.

To their mama:  I adore you and your kids to the moon and back.  I am so glad you decided to bring your babies into my studio a couple of years ago. There are some people I have met that I can’t imagine never having met.  Does that make sense?  (I’ve been buried in taxes the last two days… I’m allowed to not make sense.  And you’re cool enough not to judge.)  You’re a great mom and your beautiful, well-behaved toddlers are proof of that.  I hope you like your preview.  Thanks for your patience while I did my taxes… the rest will be finished soon!

Yes. Swoon across the room. You should try it.  It’s good for the heartstrings.

And she’s just as beautiful when she’s sleeping. I’m glad she took a snooze so we could prove that fact:

Squishy, rosy-round cheeks and mega-long lashes beneath a perfect set of eyebrows… such a beauty of a baby.

And a photo that makes me go “eek!”….

These lashes demanded a close-up.  This photo makes me want to lean and take a deep inhale of baby shampoo-ish-ness.

Two-and-a-half months old. I love baby people.

She was so well-behaved during her session… a real joy to be around and an even bigger joy to photograph.  I love her expressions.. such a doll.

To her mama: I just love you!  I had a blast during your session… I’m still laughing over your re-enactment of your baby being born. Priceless!  (Sorry you had to miss it, people.  It was a hoot.) I wish you lived closer, but I feel blessed to have had your baby in front of my camera! Congrats on your beautiful baby girl.

Such a beautiful bundle of boy…

I have to mention… not a single “accident” was had.  He was an expert at courteously giving us warning signs. Score!

I love, love, love profile shots of newborn faces…  It is a completely different perspective.  So sweet.

I photographed his older brother, so I had a few flashbacks and even called him his brother’s name… two times to be exact. (woops for that!)

Everything about this baby = perfection.

Goodness me, I adore these close-ups. You can almost smell that heavenly newborn skin, can’t you?

I consider these fingers to be on the chubby side for a newborn.  :: Mega Swoonage ::

By the way, if you need an amazing chiropractor, this baby’s dad is the best!  See Dr. Mark Hawkins at In Motion Spine and Joint Center right here in Spring Hill, TN.  Click HERE to visit the website.

And to finish… my new favorite toes shot:

I sure do love this bundle of boy.

To his mama:  Your hilarious-ness made this photo session one of my favorites of all time. The fact that you’re one of my besties made it all the more terrific. I loved laughing with you and I’m so proud to have photographed your newest bundle. He couldn’t possibly be any more handsome than he is.

Her favorite hobby is being held.  She really didn’t want to be put down. Lucky for her, she was in the presence of a photographer who loves to hold cozy babies.  She was a snuggler and I was in heaven.  Baby therapy is the best.

Photographers, here is a tip for photographing snuggle-babies who just want to be held. Have mama hold her out like this and she can bounce her or sway her between shots. It allows for a great shot of baby’s face and baby stays happy:

When she managed a quick nap, I managed some quick shots… this one is my favorite.  So simple and pure.

And you didn’t think I’d forget these, did you…

Toe my goodness!  But, let’s not discount the importance and cuteness of little fingers.  I love a tucked thumb.

And, see mama? I told you her lashes were long… they are lighter than her big sister’s lashes… but definitely long.

What a sweet and beautiful baby.  Now, scroll back up to that first photo and swoon over her red hair and eyebrows.  That’s what I did.

To her mama: I adore your babies and I am thrilled to be able to watch your newest sweet girl grow up in my photos. This session was like hanging out with an old friend. Thanks for letting me snuggle your newest angel to pieces.  To her Nana- it was great to meet you! Thanks for all your help with big sister!

Since her last photo session, her cheeks lost some roundness but gained some rosiness.  Her beauty breaks the cuteness meter.

Little Tater Tot!

I remember the moment I grabbed this next shot. I said, “Oh that one will definitely make the blog!” I love her expression here and how she pulled her little shoulder up.  Sass!

Photographers, here’s a great tip to keep those trotting toddlers in one place.  Put them in a backwards chair.  They like being up high with something to hold onto… of course, have mom (or a spotter) hold onto the chair for safety.

A backwards chair also allows for some impromptu peek-a-boo.  I LOVE what she did here:

Click HERE to see the color version of this photo on my Facebook business page.

When your job requires you to be a comedian to the baby community… it feels great when they get your jokes:

There’s nothing more beautiful than a happy child.

I will never stop loving this little stool.  Tater tot feels the same way. Awww…

And, for the record, once you bring your baby into my studio, I never stop loving them either.  These little ones mean so much to me.

To her parents: I’ve said it a million times: y’all are great. I’m completely in love with your little ones. They are as sweet as they are cute and I feel so lucky to be their photographer and to have met people as wonderful as you. Thanks for another fun session!