My goal for each time I photograph a newborn baby and their family at home is to document not just the tiny details that make up this big moment of life, but to really capture how it feels to be living it. I strive to create artful photos that transport parents from their future lives right back to the fleeting days when they first met their baby and could stare at him for hours on end, learning every detail and taking in the newness and profoundness of it all.
The Beautiful Light of Finnagen's Newborn Session in St. Louis, MO
Maybe my favorite days, though, are ones like the day shown below — when I was welcomed into a beautiful bungalow in South St. Louis County for an in-home newborn session with Finnegan and his wonderful parents. The living room was bright enough, with several windows, but not so much direct light that rays of sunshine created overly bright spots. There were beautiful neutral tones in the furniture and decorations, accented by warm wood floors and accents. It was a really nice place to start photographing this sweet new family of three.
Cozy at Home on a Snowy Day: An In-Home, Lifestyle Newborn Photography Session in St. Louis
On my drive from my first newborn session over to this family’s home, the sleet and snow started falling. By the time I arrived, there was a dusting of white on the grass outside. But despite the cold and overcast day outside, the photos we made together inside this lovely family’s home were rich with warmth and color and love. Check out this beautiful family (doggo included) and the magic we made together.
In Her Own Words: The St. Louis Home Birth of Emerie
As a birth photographer, telling birth stories through photos brings me such a sense of honor and purpose. Showing the strength and vulnerability of labor, the support of a birth partner and the midwives or other care providers, the emotions and the details that tell the story of the journey, and the joy and relief once baby is in their parents’ arms… it’s all a passion of mine. But the truth is, the story I tell is from an outside perspective. So to get to hear that same story through the words of the person who lived it is so very special. Getting to read those words alongside my documentation is, for me, well, it’s just magic.
I hope you’ll enjoy seeing this birth story from my perspective in this slideshow and then reading about the journey Katelyn went on to bring her baby Earthside in her own words below!
20 Favorite Birth Photos of 2020
Even in the midst of a global pandemic, with new restrictions on how and where I could do my job, 2020 was my busiest year yet as a birth photographer. I was able to capture so many beautiful, transformative moments of connection, endurance, vulnerability, strength, and love as each family welcomed a new baby into their lives.
What to Wear and How to Prepare for an In-Home Newborn Session...
When your baby has grown out of onesies and sleepy snuggles, looking back at photos from our newborn session will transport you back to the way this particular and fleeting time in your life FEELS. But what should you wear and how should you prepare yourself, your baby, your family, and your home to ensure we create gorgeous images for you to enjoy for so many years to come?
Sugar Magnolia, Blossoms Blooming... A beautiful, love-filled, in-home newborn session in Maplewood, MO
“She's got everything delightful
She's got everything I need
A breeze in the pines in the summer night moonlight
Crazy in the sunlight yes indeed”
—”Sugar Magnolia” by The Grateful Dead
Nothing makes me happier than getting to do an in-home newborn session with a family who hired me for birth photography. Being witness to the birth of a baby is such an incredible experience that leaves me feeling a special bond with that tiny soul for their entire lives. So getting to see them again all settled into their home with their family in those first weeks of life is so lovely and heartwarming.
I hadn’t been to this family’s home prior to their newborn photo session, and was filled with calm as I entered their warm, bright, and inviting Maplewood, Missouri home. From the living room to the nursery, there were so many lovely details that made the whole space feel earthy and cozy and instantly gave me a sense of who they are.
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Mama adores her new baby during an in-home newborn photography session in St. Louis, MO.
This new mother expertly changes baby into a sweet stretchy gown during her newborn session in St. Louis, MO.
Window light falls on the floor behind this sweet baby in a lovely little basket bassinet during a newborn photography session in St. Louis.
Mother's hands reach into the bassinet to change baby's clothes at their newborn photo session in their bright home in Maplewood, MO.
Mother's hands reach into the bassinet to change baby's clothes at their newborn photo session in their bright home.
We started the session in the nursery, where I found baby Magnolia dressed only in a diaper. Her mama snuggled and adored her and we got a few shots of her in her bassinet with all that beautiful newborn skin showing (because a naked baby is the best kind of baby). Then her mama ever-so-gently pulled a beautiful magnolia-covered gown over baby Magnolia’s sweet little head.
Those details of dressing and changing baby are some of my favorite to document as they really capture the feeling of that fleeting time in a parent’s life. Sometimes it can feel like a whole day was spent snapping and unsnapping onesies. In this case, she changed Magnolia one more time, into a simple, sleeveless, white onesie, and then we joined daddy in the living room.
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Mom and dad adore their brand new baby in the living room of their beautiful Maplewood home.
Sweet cheek kisses between new parents during an in-home newborn photo shoot in St. Louis.
Baby Magnolia grabs her mama's finger during a casual newborn photo session at home in St. Louis, MO.
It’s so beautiful to see how new parents simultaneously fall madly in love with their new baby and also fall even more in love with their partner than they ever imagined they could. Watching your partner fall in love with this tiny person that you created together is such a magical experience and can make you see them in a whole new way.
So photographing the mutual adoration of parent and child and partner is full of so much tenderness and I feel such a fondness for the whole family. (Dogs included — who are themselves feeling a mixture of confusion, jealousy, excitement, and protectiveness with a new addition to their family unit).
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The whole family snuggles up on the bed during an in-home newborn photography session in St. Louis.
The whole family snuggles up on the bed during an in-home newborn photography session in St. Louis.
The bed is a lovely spot to snuggle up with your new baby during an in-home newborn photo session.
The whole family snuggles up on the bed during an in-home newborn photography session in St. Louis.
If there's a pet in your family, you can anticipate at least one photo of them from your in-home photography session.
The whole family snuggles up on the bed during an in-home newborn photography session in St. Louis.
Black and white photo of baby sleeping on her parents bed during her in-home documentary newbon session.
Black and white photo of baby sleeping on her parents bed during her in-home documentary newbon session in St. Louis, Missouri.
Sunlight kisses this mother and daughter on mama's bed during their in-home newborn photo session in St. Louis.
Mother presses her cheek against her daughter's head as she sleeps during her newborn session in Maplewood, MO.
Mama takes a moment to notice how long her sleeping baby is during her newborn photo session.
Mama takes a moment to take in the beauty of her sleeping baby is during her newborn photo session in St. Louis.
Mother touches the soft skin of her baby's cheek, ever so gently during her newborn photography session in their home in Maplewood.
It’s always fun to head to mom and dad’s bed for some family snuggles and the dogs were invited up for some cuddles, too. Again, the warm, earthy vibe of their space made for dreamy pictures of this gorgeous little family. You can just feel the love overflowing in that room.
Magnolia’s nursery is connected to her mom and dad’s room, so we popped back over to that sweet space for a few more photos of the family together. Plus, some of each of them admiring their tiny little love, and a few of mama nursing her baby, too.
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A bright and airy edit of a mama holding her baby in the nursery next to large windows with light streaming in behind them.
A black and white family photo in the nursery of these parents' newborn baby in Maplewood, MO.
A classic black and white edit of this family photo with dad kissing his wife's head in the nursery of these parents' newborn baby in Maplewood, MO.
An earthy family photo with dad kissing his wife's head in the nursery during the newborn photography session in Maplewood, MO.
An earthy color palette on this close up family portrait during their in-home photography session in St. Louis, MO.
A playful moment between mom and dad during an in-home documentary newborn photo session in St. Louis.
A classic black and white edit of this family photo in the nursery of these parents' newborn baby in Maplewood, MO.
Sweet smiles from mother and father as baby sleeps on her mama during a newborn photoshoot in St. Louis.
An over the shoulder shot of dad adoring his baby girl during their newborn session in Maplewood, MO.
An over the shoulder shot of dad adoring his baby girl during their newborn session in St. Louis, MO.
An over the shoulder shot of dad adoring his baby girl during their newborn session in St. Louis, MO.
Daddy kisses his baby girl on the forehead at their newborn photo session in St. Louis, MO.
A black and white over the shoulder shot of dad adoring his baby girl during their newborn session in St. Louis, MO.
Baby girl puts her hand on her face during her in-home documentary photography session in St. Louis, MO.
A peek at a dad soaking up his sweet baby during the fleeting newborn days in St. Louis, MO.
An over the shoulder shot of dad adoring his baby girl during their newborn session in St. Louis, MO.
A black and white photo of mama nursing her baby in the nursery of their St. Louis, MO home during their in-home photo session.
Mama nurses her baby in the nursery of their St. Louis, MO home during their in-home photo session.
A breezy and bright space is perfect for this earthy newborn photo session in Maplewood, MO.
A peek at a mom soaking up her sweet baby during the fleeting newborn days in St. Louis, MO.
The light from the windows kisses baby's skin in this beautiful in-home newborn session in St. Louis, MO.
This really was one of my favorite newborn sessions to date — so full of love and warmth and playful tenderness.
If you’re expecting a little love and this looks like your idea of a way to keep those newborn memories forever, get in touch and we can set up an in-home session for you, too!