The Best Of March '09 - Help me Choose!!

Every month, I submit my favorite photo for a contest held among the Bella Baby photographers. And each month, I am neither the first nor second place winner. In light of that fact, and now that we no longer have a monthly theme, I am having a heck of a time picking my potential winner... so I'm asking for help.

I have to submit my photo by midnight tomorrow, March 31. So, look through the pictures below and either email me or comment below... which would YOU submit?!

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7

Winter Returns... and {Mr. B}

Today I am working... a rare Sunday, a favor to someone who has covered a shift for me here & there (not to mention, has helped out with childcare for the last couple of months). I had no problem taking the shift...except that last night, we got 4" of snow!! I left my house 30 minutes earlier than normal and good thing I did... it took me longer than usual to get here, and I had to detour... thanks to this little mess...



In the end, it was worth it though. I had feared the worst... I'd drive all the way here and have no babies to photograph. Instead, I've photographed the cutest little bundle of joy and I'm waiting on another, and a set of twins.

So, while I wait...check out {Mr. B}. Mom & Dad were concerned he might not cooperate. But thanks to my magic basket, we did a little better than okay with his pictures.

{Baby G}

Yesterday I had the opportunity to shoot a baby on his way home from the NICU. Although I love working with 1-2 day olds, it is such an honor to photograph a baby who is finally headed home. As the mom of a preemie who spent time in the NICU (13 days!), I understand the rush of emotion - excitement, anxiety, apprehension, relief! - that comes on that day. This little guy spent a little more than 2 weeks in the special care nursery. Mom and Dad couldn't contain their smiles while unhooking his monitors and taking him out of the bassinet. I hope they love these pictures as much as I do... he was a tiny guy. Precious.

Sharing the {love}

Today, I asked the dad of this baby to "cup baby's feet" so I could photograph the soles...and this is what he did. Love it, love it, LOVE it.

Hands-on dads...

Although my main priority at Bella Baby Photography is to photograph the baby, I try to take it above and beyond that if 1) the baby cooperates 2) mom & dad are interested and 3) the situation to take some beautiful pictures presents itself. Not all parents are interested in participating, while some come with ideas of their own.

Like {C} and her dad... Mom wanted this shot, and I think it turned out pretty darn well...

However, with {R}, mom & dad knew they wanted to be in the pictures, but I chose the "posing" and I personally love this. I hope mom does too!!! And I know that some day, when {R} is a little lady, she'll be so thrilled that I captured this moment for her.

My evolution as a photographer continues...

Although I've always had a love of taking snapshots, it wasn't until I had Bug that I really became a shutterbug. We had planned on buying our first digital camera that Christmas (when she was due), but when she came early and we learned she'd be staying in the hospital without us, Russ decided to run out and buy me a camera early. So, he ran to Target and picked out a Canon Point & Shoot. I think it was an A85. That camera did us pretty well... I carried it everywhere I went, amassing an amazing several thousand snapshots of my baby girl. It wasn't until she was a year and a half and I dropped it while chasing her, that we needed a new camera. So, again, we bought a Canon Point & Shoot... an A530. I didn't love it as much as my first digital camera, but it worked.

So, when we had Lou, I realized I wanted to do more with my pictures. Learn more of my camera. Russ said I could take the plunge and purchase a DSLR...my Canon Rebel XT. By this point, I had an external hard drive holding 12,000 pictures of my girls.... and that was only the beginning. In the past 15 months, I've made photography more than just a hobby. I've learned to take more than just snapshots of my girls...

I look at the pictures I took of bug, and I think, "If only I'd known what I was doing behind the lens of the camera." I look at the pictures of Lou and think, "Man... I knew nothing about composition or lighting." But, now, with my studio experience and mostly, with my Bella experience, I am happy to know that the photos I take of our next baby will be so much better.

And lucky for me (and 1 really excited - and 1 reluctant and unsure - big sister), I'll be able to put that theory to the test soon. May, to be exact. That's right... #3 is on the way.

Sorry to Mara or mom or anyone else who would've heard it from Bug this weekend (she's been making the announcements so far)... I couldn't wait any longer to break the news!!!!!!

Missing in action...

Yeah, I've been a bit busy...

I remember when I first started on camera at picture people. I'd come home each day, "I shot 2 kids today!" And I said, "I can't wait until I can't remember HOW MANY I've done." Well, I'm at that point with Bella Baby. It is insane how many pictures I take each day. I've worked 10 shifts and shot 57 babies. FIFTY-SEVEN. That's a lot...

However, I do remember some of them vividly... in the past 2 days, I had the 5 pound baby in a 10 pound dress... and the 8 pound baby in a 5 pound hair bow (or rather, flower!). I wish I could share the pics. But, I also had the little lady who had more hair than my 16 month old. I had the 2 10 pounders... no putting them in my basket!! I could go on and on. Let's just put it this way... I LOVE this job. Even when I come home tired to the bone... wore out... hunched over like an old woman. It is fabulous.

I've had babies who curl up like they're still in mom's tummy. I've had babies who stretch out like, "I'm FREE!" I had a baby who put her hands in the air, wave 'em like you just don't care. LOL. Baby who covered her face, "No pictures please!" So much fun.

Anyway, today I have my NILMDTS training. Hubby asked me if I'm excited. Excited?? No. But, I'm anxious. I want to see what I've signed myself up for. I want to see how unbelievably difficult (yet rewarding) this is gonna be.

OK... I promise I'll share some pics soon. But if I don't get my rear in gear, I'm gonna be late.

Baby *P*

As promised, more pictures from my sitting with Baby *P*...

He was such an angel. Barely fussed... did whatever I asked (haha). 6 days old is such a special age. I tried to do a lighter black and white conversion on these (thanks to the PYF gals for the feedback!). If you like this better or worse than the pic I posted last week, please let me know which you prefer!

Had some more training with Bella. According to the boss (Kelly, who is FABULOUS!), her goal is for bella babes to one day be too BIG for Bella. To grow as photographers and branch out. To take the training she gives us and become famous. Its so obvious that photography, photographs, kids, family, etc. are insanely important to this woman. I love her! I love Bella.

Anyway, before I get too off-track, I love this baby too. He's adorable and I'm so thankful to his parents for letting me photograph him.

Enjoy and let me and the family know what you think of the pictures.

don't know if I'm crazy about the weird angle on that one... but no other angle really works, either! Ugh!





I have more, which I may or may not post after I edit. And starting September 2nd, I'll be photographing all the beautiful babies at my assigned hospital. Although I can't share those, please wish me luck!!!

My First In-Home Sitting!

Tonight I took pictures of a 6 day old baby... his parents are our neighbors (and dad is a former coworker of my husband). So, as a gift to them (and a way to build my portfolio), we went over to take some pictures. Of course, they'd already bought the Bella Baby CD offered to them in the hospital, but the difference between a 2 day old and a 6 day old is amazing. I didn't get as many pics as I would have liked, but I plan to go back tomorrow or Monday to take pics of the little guy with his gorgeous mom. She hadn't thought of it before my visit...and I don't at all mind a return trip. He was a sweet little baby and I loved cuddling and holding him between shots.

So, anyway, a slight teaser... one pic that I had time to work on. The rest will have to wait until tomorrow, as I still have Bella work to do in anticipation of my first day (tomorrow!).

Baby *P*...