Well…it’s been a while since I started blogging and am excited to start fresh and new again in 2015. Last year was an amazing first year of focusing on newborns. My goal was to have one newborn a month (12 for the year). And I was happy to exceed my goal to working with 14 newborns.

When I started my photography business in 2011, I wanted to be a newborn photographer. After working with three babies in 2011, I realized it wasn’t for me. It was a lot of work to get babies to look naturally cute, curly, and perfectly angelic… and it still is. The babies I had years ago were all about 2 months old. I would later learn that taking them a bit younger makes the process a lot easier.

In September 2013, a friend of mine wanted to  gift a newborn session to her friend. I vehemently declined! After much convincing, and her as my assistant, I gave it a whirl. I did a 2 hour in-home session. I carried a beanbag, two blankets, and two wraps to her house. I scheduled the session during the early afternoon when the Alaska light in September was best. I figured that I knew more about photography than 2 years ago. I knew that you took babies when they are very fresh (2 weeks or less). I knew a bit about lighting. I also knew my camera very, very well. I studied everything I could about newborn photography before her session. I was extremely nervous, and promised both my friend and the client that nothing may come as a result of the session. However, the session was a success! Her baby at 16 days did magnificently well. But I had a long way to go and learn.

My breakthrough came after my workshop with Meshelle Photography in April 2014. I learned about newborn safety, posing, compositions, lighting, and more. There is a lot to know about newborn photography. I yearned to work with babies. I grew so much from each baby experience. And I hope to grow every year.

My goals!! I’d like to work with 4 newborns a month (48 total). I’d like to take another workshop with another amazing newborn photographer. I actually have 6 that I want to study under. And I won’t feel well-rounded until I’ve studied with them all! So, I am including three photos from 2011, 2013, and the last one from 2014. I am eagerly looking forward to 2015!

 

Joanna Booth Photography