why I keep my newborn baby portraits simple

Simple portraits put the focus in my photographs exactly where it should be—on your child

Children are beautiful just as they are

From newborns to seniors I believe children are beautiful just as they are and that’s why I photograph them in a way that is simple and timeless.

I use a minimum of props—blankets, swaddles and diaper covers. This is all I need to create a warm, safe environment for your newborn so I can get gorgeous portraits.

By working simply you’ll have photographs that will help you remember your child’s sweet hand gestures, their adorable bare feet, their soft fuzzy hair, their penetrating gaze, their beautiful smile.

Portraits are treasures that become more valuable over time

Portraits are treasures that become more valuable over time and they’ll help your child remember their childhood as they grow into adulthood. Think about the photographs you have of yourself as a child; when you look at them what do they bring to mind? Some of my favorite childhood photographs remind me of the wonderfully raucous times I had with my brothers and sister as we were growing up. Photographs are valuable in the way they mark time and help spark memories.

I remember the wonder of my newborn baby girl

Newborns are precious, fragile little people that are a constant source of wonder. I know this. I remember when my daughter was a newborn, I felt there weren’t enough hours in the day to just look at her in complete wonderment. I could have held and watched her for hours—and to be honest, some days I did. I wanted to imprint her tiny fingers and wonderful little baby toes, her soft brown hair and her gorgeous lips in my mind forever.

I use baby-led posing in my work with newborns

Baby-led posing is simply photographing babies the way they are…snuggled and curled and often kind of sleepy. I don't contort a baby’s body into odd positions but rather let them be just as they are—legs tucked under their tummy, arms in tight to the chest. My Brookside, Kansas City newborn studio is warm and quiet so your baby is comfortable and unstressed which allows them to be relaxed. And I know when your baby is relaxed you’re relaxed. Your baby’s safety and comfort are the two things I care most about when working with newborns and that’s why I’ll never photograph them in unnatural poses that put them in danger.