Edmonton Newborn Photography {Workshop learning with Dewdrops Photography}

Hello friends. It has sure has been awhile. The past 20 months of being open, then closed, then open again made time for me to start comparing myself too much to others and lose some of the passion I had for photography. I started to think my business would never recover and my goals that I had set for 2020 and never attained would also never be met.

Fortunately, I have the most amazing and supportive family and also the most giving clients who returned to me as soon as it was safe to do so. I started meeting new families again and I am happy and relieved to say that my photography business is finally up and running at the same capacity it was before COVID. 2022 is going to be a big year and I can’t wait to share more details with you all soon about the the exciting changes that will help me grow my photography business to a place I always dreamed of.

Back in early 2020 I had plans to grow the newborn and maternity photography side of my business to a higher level. I have always taken any opportunity to learn how to be a better newborn photographer and in March 2020, right before the world shut down, I was lucky to attend a workshop with Kelly Brown, a wonderful and talented photographer from Australia and known world wide. I left that workshop with so many goals and so much confidence, only for everything to close. Weeks stretched to months without any babies to photograph, and my Stand in Baby really helped, it just wasn’t enough.

Fast forward to 2021 and I started photographing babies again but definitely felt a little rusty. Every year I also take part in the Milky Way Newborn Retreat, an online retreat, and the 2021 retreat was just what I needed to get going again. I started offering studio maternity sessions for the first time, and was blown away with the response and amount of bookings. But I needed a bit more of a push to bring myself to the level I needed to be to offer the best newborn photography experience to my clients and grow as a professional photographer.

I have been a fan of Amy McDaniel | Dewdrops Photography for several years and after learning online from her for many of those years I always dreamed of training with her in person. Luckily those plans came into fruition early this year and in October 2021, just after my 30…something birthday, I got on a plane to rainy Seattle and drove to Olympia, WA to attend a 2:1 two day newborn photography workshop.

To say the experience was incredible would be an understatement. Watching Amy pose babies on day one I couldn’t believe the care and patience she took to pose each baby (we had 4 little ones that day). I got so much from just observing her up close, watching her pay attention to every detail and move baby between poses effortlessly and with so much confidence. Here are a few of the baby’s I was lucky to capture on the first day.

We were sure blessed to have such beautiful and sleepy babies to photograph. I couldn’t wait to get back to my hotel that night and edit some of the best newborn photos I think I’ve ever captured. That night though I also had to prepare for day 2 - the day I would pose the babies with one of my photography idols over my shoulder. What was instilled in me the first day though gave me confidence I never had before and I couldn’t wait.

And what a day 2 it was! We had two gorgeous babies, one sweet little one returning for the second day. I am so grateful to the parents of these little babes who gave me this amazing opportunity to learn. I posed baby in all the new poses I want to add to my session flow in 2022 and with Amy’s gentle guidance I attempted poses I had always admired but never had done before. I had the most patient little man first and was able to pose him exactly like I wanted to with such ease. Little Kelani was a bit more of a struggle, but just like in the real world no baby is alike and some just require a little more patience. Here are the images of the baby’s I posed and photographed on day two of the workshop.

Miss Amy I cannot thank you enough. You have provided me with the confidence to grow my newborn photography business to the level I always dreamed of. Training with you was a dream come true and was everything and more than I expected it to be. Special thanks to Sandi, a newborn photographer from California, who was a pleasure to train with.

When you book a newborn session with me you can rest assured that I will provide a professional and comfortable experience and pose and photograph your baby safely and with years of experience and education from some of the world’s best newborn photographers behind me. Book your 2022 session now and you won’t just lock in 2021 pricing, but you might be a part of a the big news I have coming early next year. Contact me or visit link below to learn more about my newborn packages.

Edmonton Newborn Photographer {Baby Myles}

Hope everyone made it through the heat wave. I’m heading home from a much needed holiday to visit family we haven’t been able to see in a couple years and ready to get back to a busy summer full of beautiful families and babies.

Did you know that I offer a First Year Package for newborns. This package has become increasingly popular with families who want to capture all of baby’s first year milestones. Package includes a Maternity session, Newborn session, Sitter Mini (when baby is 6-8months old and sitting unassisted) and a First Birthday session which can be a cake smash, just portraits, family photos or a combination of all three. At the end of the year you will choose your favorite images and receive a gorgeous heirloom quality custom designed album featuring your favorite image of baby of the cover, a box that doubles as a frame that can easily be displayed and your choice of spine and back cover in linen or leather (which is available in dozens of colors).

After paying initial deposit the remaining session fee can be paid over the course of one year for approximately $158/month. If you are looking for a beautiful heirloom to pass on to your baby this package gives you the perfect keepsake. If you have any questions at all please contact me

I had been looking forward to meeting little Myles since earlier this year when his grand father contacted me about photographing his grandson in hospital. Myles was born very prematurely and weighed only 1.5 lbs. We stayed in contact over the course of a few months until after 100 days in the NiCU little Myles could finally go home. When I met this little guy he was still a tiny 5 lbs. but so wide eyed and strong. He truly is a little fighter. I was so grateful for the opportunity to capture such a special little man. Chris & Lynn thank you so much for inviting me into your home to capture your sweet baby boy. Wishing you all the best as a family of three. {Kelsie}

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Edmonton Maternity & Newborn Photographer {Baby Harrison}

Happy spring. The birds singing, the warmer days, after a long winter during one of the hardest years it as been so great for my mental health to be outside a little bit more. Sadly COVID-19 is still a real health threat and life isn’t quite as back to normal as all of us hoped it would be. The good news is that vaccines are here and I will be booking my appointment as soon as I am able to; my husband who is a front line worker will be able to book his appointment very soon which will provide an extra layer of defence for our family. With the current restrictions in place I am thankfully still able to photographer your families and babies by appointment only. Unfortunately I will not be offering my Mother Day minis this year given the back to back nature of them aren’t safe.

The green grass will be here before we know it and my summer and fall dates are already starting to book up fast. Now is also the time to book your 2021 grad session - you can view all my available openings and book online using button below for all 2021 session dates. I am still booking newborn sessions so be sure to book in your second trimester to ensure I have an opening available. All session deposits are fully refundable in the event any further Alberta health restrictions prevent me from doing session. Due this April? I still have a couple openings left and April newborn sessions are $100 off. Thank you so much to everyone who has booked and has trusted me to safely photograph your family this year.

I met this beautiful family for Kaylee’s maternity session during the February cold snap. I got my studio all set up for maternity portraits and we shot her session in studio, except for a few quick shots outside. Kaylee looked absolutely stunning in two of my maternity gowns and I am now hooked to studio maternity sessions. I was thrilled to hear that little Harrison arrived safely just as the weather was warming up and I met him when he was 9 days old for an in home newborn session. Wide eyed and awake for most of the session, by the time I was ready to pose him for his portraits he was nice and sleepy for me. I am so happy to have the opportunity to capture Harrison’s first year, it’s so amazing how much babies grow and change over the course of just 12 months. Kaylee and Adam thank you so much for choosing me to capture this special time for your family. Wishing you all the best as a family of three. {K}

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{Hello 2021} Edmonton Newborn | Maternity | Fresh 48 | Family Photographer

Ahhhh deep breath….I’m back and ready to put 2020 and the hardest year for my business behind me and start 2021 with fresh goals, fresh ideas, more confidence and hopefully a lot more newborn babies. First things first - A brand new website! And with that brand new packages for family, newborn, maternity, fresh 48 and baby sessions that I am sure you’ll love. 2021 family session dates are also now available for online booking - book now and get the date that works best for you. All images on the site are from the past year and a half - I felt that I have grown so much as a photographer in the past year and a half and wanted to show you the work that is the best reflection of what you will receive when you book a session with me.

2020 was going to be the year I grew more than ever, photographed the most babies, and did more studio sessions than ever before. Then COVID hit and we all know what that has affected so many lives and so many small businesses. Your family’s health and safety has always been my number one priority, and as hard as it is I will continue to follow all AHS guidelines which currently only allow me to photograph families outdoor or in studio. Crossing my fingers that restrictions will be eased on January 23rd and I will be able to get back to my in home newborn sessions.

When you book any session this year you can rest assured that your deposit will be transferred in the event a health order prevents me from doing your session. In studio I am currently following all orders which include wearing a mask and washing hands frequently. I also have an awesome disinfectant fogger from a fantastic local business Maverick Fire and Safety that I use before and after every session to clean and disinfect all spaces and surfaces clients come in contact with. As always, newborn props, wraps and backdrop are always washed before and after any newborn session. I allow 24 hours between each booking and always require clients to reschedule if an immediate family member is sick.

I’ve made some exciting changes to my studio as well, including new studio lighting and a more comfortable seating area for parents. I can’t wait to shoot more newborns, sitters and cake smash sessions this year.

Thank you so much to everyone who continues to support and trust me to capture your family safely. I am so passionate about capturing your memories and hope that you will take me a long for a ride with your family this year. Please check out my new website and packages and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all. Together we will get through this all and I hope all of our sacrifices pay off soon and we can all get back to doing the things we love very soon.

Please enjoy some off my favorites below from 2020

Kelsie

Edmonton Newborn Photographer {Baby Codi}

I know right, it’s been a hot minute since I last wrote a blog post. My last post was almost 7 months ago, my last newborn session that I shot before COVID hit and everything shut down. The first few months of staying home were heart breaking as I had to cancel newborn and fresh 48 sessions for many families expecting their first baby, some expecting twins, some expecting what might be their last. As difficult as it was, cancelling or postponing sessions until phase one was for the safety of my family and yours, always my number one priority.

Now that I am able to safely photograph newborns again, ever since we entered phase 1, I do so with the utmost precautions. I closely monitor the health of myself and my family and always reschedule in the event any of us are showing any symptoms of COVID or are sick. When photographing your family or newborn I always wear a mask. Hand washing and sanitizing has always been important, but I am extra vigilant now. Props have always been and continue to be washed and sanitized between every session. My home studio is now open, but I keep a minimum amount of available openings to ensure space can be sanitized between clients. I will continue to follow guidelines put forward by Alberta Health Services, and deposits will be refunded in the event I cannot photograph your family due to COVID restrictions.

2020 has been a difficult year, but I am so thankful to the amazing families who have continued to support me and still make 2020 one of my busiest yet.

I met this beautiful family for a maternity session on the most beautiful early summer night. Stephanie was just stunning in a few of my maternity gowns which I now offer to all maternity clients. They were just beaming with joy and so excited to meet their baby boy. Little did we know that Stephanie would go into labor that night!

I was very surprised when Stephanie emailed me a couple days later to tell me baby arrived the same night as our maternity session. Talk about cutting it close. Little Codi was an absolute dream to photograph and big brother Max was so in love with his new brother, a best friend for life. I am so excited that I will be photographing Codi’s first year and seeing this family a few more times in the near future. Stephanie and Remi, thank you so much for having me capture this fleeting time for your family. Wishing you all the best as a family of four.