Finding a Perfect Fit Photographer, Las Vegas Newborn and Family Photographer

If you’re like me, you do lots of research before making a big purchase. Family and newborn photo sessions are not cheap, so how can you pick a photographer that you feel comfortable with, that is up to your standards, and that will deliver a beautiful finished product. I have worked with eight different family photographer in the last ten years, so here are some things I do when vetting a family photographer…

First, you may be wondering why I’ve had so many different photographers. Well, that’s where I start. Find a photographer whose style you absolutely LOVE. Personally, I like to have a variety of styles for our family portraits, so I have picked different photographers for different reasons. Some photographers specialize in outdoor golden hour, some in natural light studios, some for newborn portraits, and some for vacations pictures.

So TIP #1, research photographers in your area and find a few that you connect with when it comes to their images and style. How? Instagram is a huge help. Explore a few hashtags. (#lasvegasnewbornphotographer, #phoenixfresh48photographer, #fortworthlifestylephotographer) If you find what you’re looking for, then look at their website. Google is also a great help, but don’t just scroll through the first two pages, keep scrolling and researching, making a list of potential photographers.

TIP #2, Look into their portfolio and see if you can picture your family in their images. Read the photographer’s ‘About Me’ page. Is this someone you could see yourself being friends with? Honestly, Family, Newborn, and Fresh 48 sessions an be pretty personal and intimate. You definitely want a photographer that you feel comfortable with. Check out their instagram and see if they’ve posted any videos or stories that show more of their personality. Schedule a phone call and talk one on one. This is really helpful for both the photographer and client.

TIP #3 Figure out your budget. When you inquire with a photographer about investments, ask specifically what you get and if there are different packages. Nothing is worse than getting a gallery back and then having to pay way more than you thought for extra images.

TIP #4 Do what I do, ask your friends!!! Do you love your neighbor’s family pictures? Did you gawk at your friend’s birth announcement? Get those referrals and see how their experience was.

TIP #4 Lastly, think about what kind of experience you want. Do you want the whole shabang?? Hair, makeup, a client closet to pick dresses from? Do you need wardrobe help? Do you need help designing a gallery wall? Don’t be afraid to ask what extra services your photographer offers.

I hope these tips help! Nothing is worse than investing in pictures that you never display in your home. And nothing is better than looking at images each day that make you smile!

Baby Registry 101 - Las Vegas Newborn and Family Photographer

First of all, don’t register for clothes. Trust me. When I was pregnant with my first, my husband and I skipped on over to Babies ‘r’ Us, full of excitement, not knowing a thing (man, I don’t even think that store exists anymore ). I saw every cute onesie, tutu, and baby dress and licked away with the registry laser. After baby came, she had a closet full of more outfits than she could wear. So take it from me, newborns are inherently pretty simple. Here is what’s important.

Crib sheets. When decorating my kiddos’ nurseries, I always started with a few crib sheets that I could use. I pulled colors and themes from those and carried that into the rest of my nursery design. And trust me, you’ll need multiple sheets, even in just one day. I bought and registered for crib sheets from Target, Liz and Roo, and Pottery Barn Kids. (if you use the Lilly Pulitzer crib sheets from Pottery Barn Kids, please please please call me to photograph your baby 😉)

Diapers and Wipes. I know, there’s nothing fun or exciting about diapers and wipes, but you’ll just need a million of them.

Tummy Time Mat. This mat will take up a main presence in your home, so make it cute! I’m sure you’ve read, babies are drawn to bright colors and shapes in black and white. Research suggests these elements are great for brain development, so start there! Check out THIS one from Sassy Stages, or from or THIS mat from Loverly.

Baby Jumper. This are big and noisy and a freakin’ life saver. They’ll let your baby jump, walk, and run all over your house. This is a great item to get used. I got mine from a neighbor’s garage sale for like $40. I took some Clorox wipes to it, and voilà! I used it for three of my own babies before handing off to another mom. In fact, 10 years later, it’s still available! Click HERE.

Bottles. Nothing super fun about these either, but they’re kinda expensive once you get all the sizes, and loose a few.

Bassinet. I had a very boring pack’n’play for my babies they slept in when I brought them home. I was ugly and akward in my bedroom. Now. bassinets are made so beautifully and have so much technology as well to help you little one sleep, which means you sleep too! The Bilia Bassinet from Design Dua is simple and beautiful. It is easy to move from one room to another, even outside on a nice day. I had a client use the TruBliss Eve Smart Bassinet, and I was blown away. Not only does it look stylish, but it will glide, play music, and change lighting. 🤯

I hope these are some helpful items when it comes to the very overwhelming world of baby products. A note from me, less is more. Babies are pretty simple, then need food, love, and lots of diapers. The rest is extra.

If you are interested in a newborn session, and want to know the difference between an In-Home and a Fresh 48 session, read here. Hint hint…photography session gift cards are a great idea to add to your registry 😉.

Manifesting My Goals for 2023 - Las Vegas Newborn Photographer

According to Oprah, one of the ways to live your best life is to manifest it. To manifest your dreams, you need to speak your goal, write them down, and be specific. Normally, I only share goals with a few industry friends in The Round Table group, because if I fail to meet them, I don’t really want anyone to know. However, this year, I’m taking a leap and telling you all, typing them down, and putting them out into the universe.

Monthly milestone session Your kiddos are quickly changing, so I want to help you capture then as they are right now, since in a few months, they’ll be bigger and older. I want to offer these quick sessions monthly, they will be easy to book, sweet and simple, and will result in probably some of your favorite images to hang up at home.

Film Add Ons Y’all, I don’t even know how to load film into a camera. (divulging too much?) However, I am going to be taking a deep dive into film photography this year as well as heading to the Photo Native conference in Palm Springs next month, and learning from some of the best in the industry. In-home sessions are already so intimate and parents are really able slow down with your kiddos and document your connections. Film can just capture that on a another level artistically. My goal is to make this something to offer to my clients on a consistent basis. In the meantime, if I come to your home for a newborn or family session, know that you will be my guinea pig with film! Don’t worry, I will still capture the 99% of the session with my normal equipment.

Summer Pool Sessions I got this idea from a photographer friend and mentor, Sabrina Gebhardt. I already just play around with my own kiddos when it comes to taking pictures by the pool. They are really some of my favorite images of them. How fun would it be to jump in and capture the fun for another family? I will be looking for model call families for this come warmer weather to test it out. I image blue water, lots of splashing, bright bathing suits, goggles, jumping, flamingo floats, all of it. Sounds fun, right?!?!

There you have it, my 2023 business goal manifestation. All the while, I will continue documenting your newborns and families, improving my art and your client experience. Stay tuned for progress!! And if you want in on any model calls I’ll be offering for these goals, make sure to join my newsletter. Newsletter link on my home page 😉

Las Vegas Newborn Photographer - The Difference Between Newborn and Fresh 48 Sessions

Documenting the arrival of a new baby to your family is so important, and there are several ways to do that. In the last few months, I have started to offer Fresh 48 Sessions, and I have gotten this question several times, “ What is the difference between Newborn and Fresh 48 Sessions? Well, let me explain.

Fresh 48 Sessions are done in hospital, within the first 48 hours (typically) of baby being born. I will come to you, at the hospital, and just capture those first snuggles, the tiny baby details, and tell the very beginning story of baby. These are definitely more of a documentary style of images. Fresh 48 Sessions are especially sweet if there is an older sibling that gets to hold baby for the first time. These are just timeless memories that you will want to look back on for years and years. All images in this blog are from a Fresh 48 session.

Anecdotal story…I wish I had done these with my babies, especially when I had my youngest. We knew he would be our last baby. When he was born, I completely missed when he got to meet his sisters. I was in the bathroom, with numb legs, having a nurse help with bathroom stuff. The girls came in the room, saw baby brother, snuggled him, held him, and I missed it. Yes, it’s on a cell phone. Will I ever frame that? No. Do I wish I had been able to coordinate it and have a memory framed on my wall from it? Absolutely.

Newborn Sessions are in your home. These sessions document this new chapter in your life. I photograph baby in crib, mom rocking baby in the nursery, family snuggled together on parent’s bed, laughing in the kitchen, etc. I will do my best to tell your true authentic family story. These are done when baby is about 4-8 weeks old. At this timeframe, mom has had time to heal from birth. Baby is gaining back some weight and starting to fill out and look more like themselves. Fingers crossed cluster feeding has settled down. Parents and siblings have had a chance to adjust to a new baby in the home. Check out THIS BLOG for examples of an in home newborn session and what you can expect at your in home session.

Have you been told that you need to have newborn pictures done in the first 10 days? I was told that with my first and this is a myth. For posed newborn sessions, they run smoothly when baby is sleeping. I, however, don’t do posed newborn sessions. Since mine are lifestyle, there is no pressure to have a sleeping baby. If baby is crying and needs to be rocked? Great, I will capture that! It’s real life and it is beautiful!

So what session should you book? Of course I suggest both. Baby will change so much in those first few months and a newborn in the hospital and at home are both wonderful occasions to photograph. Both sessions will offer beautiful wall art and photo albums to be enjoyed for decades and generations. I hope this has helped you understand the difference between At-Home Newborn Sessions and Fresh 48 Sessions.