 Give me a warm spring day, an energetic toddler, and a content newborn, and I’ll take photos all day long! I actually almost did. Then I remembered my manners and let the Fuscos eat their dinner. I feel like over the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to get very close to this wonderful family. Being a part of such important moments in their lives has allowed us to connect on a personal level. Those connections are the very best part of taking photos and every time I form a new friendship like this one, it gives me such a thrill. We couldn’t have asked for a more lovely afternoon, so we took full advantage by doing the family portraits outside in their backyard. Caroline’s loving demeanor towards her baby sister hadn’t changed one bit. She obviously adores Allison and was eager to give her lots of hugs and kisses for the camera. I was eager to snap all of that up! After some playtime in the backyard, we moved back inside for the posed newborn session. Have I mentioned that I love skylights? The Fuscos back room has one and it provides such a beautiful ambient light that I barely have to manipulate. It almost felt like we were still outside! If you saw Allison’s newborn sneak peeks, you know that we used lots of girly colors. Everyone was pretty convinced that she was going to be a boy, so the excitement over the surprise girl was palpable. Lots of bows and flowers to go with that as well! We even managed to dress up one of the beautiful blue muslin wraps that was given to Kim before the baby came. I have a soft spot for re-imagining items that are traditionally considered for boys so that they work for girls, and this was no exception. That lovely blue color with the simple white headband was just perfection! Allison slept like a dream for almost the entire shoot. When I took Caroline’s newborn photos we got some images of her in a basket that they still have now. We wanted so badly to get a similar photo of Allison in that basket, but I was a little nervous. When you have a confined space like a basket, the baby has to be in a few very specific positions to make it work. It’s one thing to get a sleeping baby to pose perfectly, but when they are moving around there is a little more risk involved. Safety is my number one priority as a newborn photographer, and Kim and I agreed that we wouldn’t try to force it. Minutes later, Allison relaxed completely and let us pose her fully awake! I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a newborn so alert and yet so calm. She lay happily on her stomach, looked right at the camera, and let me snap away! Kim stood close by just in case she decided to move, but it was never needed. I was so impressed! (To be fair, this was not the very last pose. We also got a few Steelers themed shots, but this Baltimore fan just doesn’t have the heart to post them on her blog!) This has been such a special time for this family and I am so honored to have been a part of it all. Caroline and Allison are going to have such a precious friendship and I can’t believe I was there for the very beginning of it. I cannot wait to watch this family grow together! 
 
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 It’s wedding season! For a Maryland wedding photographer, that means weekends full of beautiful flowers, bright sunlight, and occasionally...first looks. The first look is a hot topic these days among brides and wedding photographers alike. Do you do a first look or don’t you? I’m going to start with a disclaimer. Weddings have become a pretty big deal in the last decade or so. This means lots of discussion about what you should or should not do. But let’s be clear - this is your day. There are no “shoulds”. It is only what you want and what makes you the most comfortable. For this particular post, I’m going to outline some of the pros and cons to a first look. It is not intended to make you feel bad about any decision you have made, but rather to inform brides who are on the fence! As a photographer, I love first looks, but as a bride, I chose not to do one. There is no one right answer, but hopefully this post helps you find your right answer. Pro: Extra Time Everyone has heard that wedding days fly by. It’s absolutely true! It’s a day that is full of preparations, important moments, and fun. Doing a first look is a great way to slow the day down for a little. That hour or so might be spent nervously awaiting the arrival of guests and doing final touch-ups, but with a first look you can spend that time holding the hand of your love and getting a few extra portraits. Brides who do a first look tend to look back on that intimate and quiet time fondly amongst the many other memories of the day.
 Con: The Timeline As much as a first look can give you extra time, it can also make you feel pressed for time if it isn’t properly scheduled into your day. A first look not only takes time, but you have to be fully ready in time for it to happen as well. I’ve had two weddings where the first look was scrapped. One was because of an ill-time downpour about an hour before the ceremony, and another because there simply wasn’t enough time. Obviously you have no control over the weather. If I had opted for a first look on my wedding day, we probably wouldn’t have been able to do it because it rained over three inches and there was just nowhere to do it inside!
Pro: Nerves Nerves - there are a lot of them on a wedding day! I pretty much bawled the entire way down the aisle and I’m going to say 80% of that was just feeling nervous that it was all finally happening. A first look gives you the opportunity to feel some of those nerves ahead of the ceremony. There is no one who makes you feel happier and more at peace than the person you are about to spend the rest of your life with. Let them be there for you and you can be there for them too! Calming the jitters can allow you to feel more present during the ceremony.
 Con: The Big Moment I can only imagine how wonderful it is to spend the moments before your wedding ceremony with the one you love, but I can tell you from experience that it is also incredible seeing them for the first time waiting for you at the end of the aisle. I may have been crying, but it was all happiness. If you like big moments that are full of charged emotions, consider skipping the first look. A groom seeing his bride for the very first time as she’s about to walk towards him is a lovely moment that people love to see. What feels high pressure to some, feels momentous to others.
 Pro: The Photos From my perspective as a photographer, this is a big one for me. The photos of first looks are just out of this world. It allows your photographer(s) to get every single angle and every emotion along with it. I’ve never heard a bride regret the photos she gets from her first look. It can be a difficult decision, and if you’re having trouble, maybe this is your deciding factor! The moment plus the extra portraits make it a favorite for photographers everywhere. Whether you do a first look or not, please know your day is going to be amazing. This is just one moment among many. I loved my wedding day just as much as my best friend who chose to do a first look. We both pour over our photos and love them all. And you will too! You are marrying the love of your life! The rest of the day will fall into place, I promise.
  If you’ve ever been lucky enough to visit a baby in the hospital before they come home, you will understand me when I say it is humbling. Meeting a human within the first few days of their life is just incredible. This person is going to grow up to do grown up person things. He will have a personality and interests and hobbies. She will have favorite books and movies and start a career, maybe several. And here you are, meeting them at the very beginning of it all. Just thinking about that gives me goosebumps. In the case of most Fresh 48 sessions I’ve done recently, this time I was not only there to take photos of the new baby, but to document a sibling meeting her baby sister for the first time. What a beautiful moment to capture on camera. I still sometimes cannot believe that I am the one who gets to do it. Almost two years ago, the Fuscos contacted me asking about newborn photos for their baby, Caroline. She had arrived early and caught them by surprise. I was available, but there was one catch: I was getting married the following Saturday. I told them I would love to take photos, but that they would likely have to wait a while as I probably wouldn’t have time to even look at them until the wedding and honeymoon were over. They agreed, and I am so very happy that they did because they are truly marvelous people. In the years since, I’ve taken photos for them and their extended family and now I get to be a part of their next big moment. I am simply overflowing with gratitude over here! This time around, the doctors told Kim and Ben to expect the baby as early as 5 weeks before her due date. Kim made sure to keep me in the know, and I was tensed and ready for the “we’re headed to the hospital!” text. Everyone waited with bated breath from the end of March all the way through April, but the new baby took her time. Of course, no one knew it was a “her” yet. In fact, everyone was pretty certain it would be a boy! On April 29th, I got the text and found myself at the hospital the next afternoon being introduced to a beautiful baby girl. They wanted to wait until Caroline arrived to reveal her name. I was practically bouncing with anticipation! It wasn’t long before we heard the pitter patter of little feet in the hallway. Kim and Ben stepped outside of the room for a moment with Caroline before she met the baby. My heart was already melting, but I wasn’t prepared for just how happy and excited Caroline would be to meet her baby sister. I wiped the happy tears away as I snapped Caroline being introduced to Allison Brooke. The joy filled the room. It is miraculous to watch a family welcome a new member. To see the look in the parents’ eyes as they witness their two little loves meeting for the first time. As Caroline so perfectly put it, “We are family. Allison is family.”  
  I cannot believe that Charlie is almost one! Ashley and Ray are not only about to check “Survived Year 1 of Parenting” off their list, they also can check off “Survived Year 1 of Parenting WHILE Moving Into Our Forever Home” all in one swoop. In the weeks leading up to this shoot, Ashley and I talked multiple times about where to take their photos. After bouncing several ideas back and forth, we finally decided to take them right in their home! I’ve mentioned before how much I love in-home sessions, and this shoot only reinforced that. Let’s start with the fact that Ashley and Ray have a beautiful house full of bright color and natural light. They’ve truly created a home in the months since they moved there. I also loved our location selection on this particular day because it was a rainy day. I don’t just mean a little misting here and there. It straight up rained all. day. long. We attempted to push back our start time to try and wait it out, but when it was clear there was no real end in sight, we were just happy that we had an indoor option built right in. As a bonus, just as we were wrapping up the shoot, we realized the downpour had let up. We practically sprinted outside to their deck (decks are severely underrated, non-muddy outdoor options!) to grab some shots in front of some stunning trees in bloom. I’m pretty sure it was karma rewarding Ashley and Ray for being so relaxed about the weather! The Troddens are an incredible family. Charlie is both a rainbow baby (a child born after loss) and a miracle baby (a child born after fertility challenges). Ashley is very open about what she and Ray have been through as they worked to build their family. She uses her life altering experiences to encourage and bring hope to others. I am in constant awe of her strength and compassion. You can see in their photos just how grateful Ashley and Ray are to have this amazing little human in their lives. And Charlie really is an amazing little human. Just over a week before our shoot he underwent surgery and yet there was no shortage of exploring, smiling, and laughing from him. I found myself forgetting that he had had a major medical procedure. I may or may not have had some difficulty keeping up with him! He was just a one year old who wanted to grab the dinosaur attached to my camera and, of course, have all the puffs. Pretty typical stuff there! Didn’t I say this is an incredible family? 
 With their flexibility and Charlie’s beaming smile, we were all set to grab some perfect shots. From fun and laughing to genuine and tender we got them all. I love spending time with these three and can honestly say my life is better for having them in it. I cannot wait to see all of the adventures (and shenanigans!) Charlie gets into in the future!
 If you have ever attempted to schedule a newborn session or spent hours reading blogs about newborn sessions (no? just me?) you may have heard of the two week rule. Baby photographers everywhere learn quickly that for ideal shots, they should recommend to their clients that the shoot take place within the first two weeks after the baby is born. There are some who further suggest trying to schedule the shoot in the first week if at all possible. This rule is not just an arbitrary number. Photographers recommend this time because it actually makes a difference in the types of photos you are going to get. When a baby is born, she sleeps a lot. In fact, she spends the majority of her day asleep. Up to 16 hours, to be exact. (Um, jealous!) For all you new parents who are staring with your bloodshot eyes at this screen and thinking, “My baby does not sleep that much”, trust me when I say you are not the only ones that feel that way. Although there is a lot of sleeping, it isn’t for very long stretches. In that first week, those 16 hours are generally collected in 1-2 hour increments, including through the night that she doesn’t know exists yet. Normal for a baby, rough on adults. All parents love to see their babies awake and happy. After those first few weeks, you’ll notice her being awake for longer periods of time and being more content during those periods. I love those wide awake moments too, but I’m going to admit that it is a lot easier to photograph a baby that is sleepy - the way they are in those first two weeks. Sleepy babies are a lot less squirmy, a lot less likely to cry, and as a bonus, they make some pretty adorable faces in those comfy, dozy moments. I know you have been dreaming about these photos ever since you began the process of starting your family, and I want to deliver. A slumbering baby is the most predictable way to get the shots you want!
All of that being said, the number one most important part of newborn photography is flexibility. The entrance of a human into your home, your life, and the world in general can be chaotic and overwhelming. Worrying yourself sick because you can’t get the photographer to your house in the first two weeks isn’t going to benefit anyone. Stressed parents = stressed baby! I have had plenty of newborn sessions take place after the heralded two weeks that turned out beautifully. Sometimes I happen to be there right when she is falling asleep, other times, we get flexible with the kinds of shots we take. Not to mention, it is perfectly possible to get a happy, awake baby! I truly love those shots just as much as the sleepy ones, and I know you will too. 
 When it comes down to it, your baby is absolutely beautiful, and any photos we take are going to be precious to you. Whether it is sleeping contentedly in a basket, gently kicking in a crib, or looking up adoringly in Mama’s arms, I will capture memories for you to treasure.
 Being a Maryland photographer has its perks, and the diverse locations I get to shoot is definitely one of them! I love exploring all of the beautiful and varied backdrops this state offers. Don’t even get me started on how different the same location can look just a few months apart. From fall leaves to spring flowers to green summers, each place undergoes a complete transformation. Gotta love those Maryland seasons! That being said, there is something truly special about at-home photo sessions. Whether it is a newborn, family, or even engagement session, being at home provides a comfortable feeling that no other location can hope to mimic. And when everyone is feeling their most relaxed, you get photos that are out of this world! As a bonus, I get to show clients an entirely different side of their home. Most people don’t go through the rooms of their houses thinking, “This is the perfect backdrop for a photo!” but that is exactly what I do when I show up. When you happen to pick a perfect spring day like the McWatters did, you take that magic outdoors. The McWatters’ backyard was full of freshly cut, green grass, blooming flowers, and lots of nooks and crannies to discover. Ren was more than happy to show me around. He pointed out the garden, the steps, and most importantly (for him!) his baseball bat. This kid just loves baseball. In fact, a mere mention of it would result in a huge grin and a laugh - and a little boy who wanted to play! We just had to make sure Ren understood that we would play baseball after we were done with photos. If only to avoid grass stains! I’m not sure I’ve ever been able to bribe a kiddo to take photos without the use of candy. Baseball was all it took! With the beautiful weather and a very happy family, it didn’t take us long to grab all of the shots we wanted. I think I ended up feeling just as relaxed as the people who actually lived there! It felt like hanging out with friends on a Sunday morning. I just happened to have a camera with me, and the McWatters were dressed up, and I wasn’t in any pictures and...OK, so it isn’t exactly like hanging out with friends, but you get the idea! True to our promise, we did allow for some baseball practice once we got all of the photos we wanted. Ren gave some fantastic smiles throughout the shoot, but those last few photos of the family playing baseball stole my heart. Everyone clearly loves playing together and you just know there are memories like these being made in that backyard every day. 
 I'm so grateful the McWatters family invited me to come share some memories in their home. I had such a fun time! I hope to come back and hang out in their backyard again. I'll have to brush up on my pitching skills before then!
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Welcome to the Blog!This is where I'll document it all. Where I'll use words to try and convey just how special it is to do this job and live this life. Enjoy scrolling through!
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June 2019
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