Blog
Theo is One!
It is an immense honor to join these beautiful Denver and Boulder families as they become parents and welcome their sweet little nuggets to the world. I met this crew while sweet Theo was still in utero and it’s been such a joy to see him and his family grow and change over his first year. I joined Theo and his parents for their maternity session, in-hospital, lifestyle session in home and for a few sessions during his first few months. Honored to share Theo’s first year visual legacy with his family.
Here he is at a year old!!!! Those little teeth and curls in his hair are the SWEETEST.
SOOOOO much love to this crew. It brings so much joy to share these special images with this beautiful family of three! Happy first birthday, Theo, you are SO LOVED!!!
Branding Studio Sessions!!
Omg this set is too gorgeous not to photograph! Sugar Hill Studio is located in Longmont, CO and I adore it’s light and offerings, I’m super thrilled to offer these stylized branding sessions in this gorgeous space and honored to offer this backdrop in this limited edition offering with the following collections:
Mini Collection - Full hour session with seven files for 225
Petit Mini Collection - Thirty minute mini session with five files for 175
Offered in July ONLY!
IMAGES PROVIDED BY:@sarah_hill
Studio: @sugarhillstudio
Olivia is One! Denver Family Photo Session
SO much love for this crew of three. I met this trio for Olivia’s newborn session, it’s been such a sweet gift seeing their family grow and change during their first year as a fam.
A few photos from our first session together! :)
Our Colorado summer weather has offered me so many drizzly sessions, but you can’t tell this crew was christened with rain during their session. :)
Pretty sure Olivia’s expression is reaction to how the grass feels on her sweet little foot!
Allllll the love to this beautiful tribe. Thankful for you and so honored to join you in this special time.
Denver Maternity Session
When this gorgeous crew asked me to photograph their tribe on their private lakeside property, I was so honored to oblige.
Sweetest soon to be party of 4!
Jade | Denver Family Mini Session | Cheeseman Park
Tell me this doll isn’t THE cutest thing. OMG it’s been such a joy seeing this crew grow up over the years! I met this lovely tribe as a trio when sweet Jade’s older brother made his miraculous entrance! I remember feeling so proud that a mama felt comfortable enough falling asleep on my couch while I photographed her newborn. I ran a contest during the pandemic asking my clients to show me their walls full of their beautiful family photos and this crew won by a landslide with a wall full of canvases and some beautiful prints!
Here she is as the sweetest little newborn cherub.
And just for fun, here’s a photo of her big brother’s newborn session from 2016. This photo just brings me so much joy, to see these beautiful, brand new parents turn into full blown families of four!
Tips for Soothing Baby: Love notes from a Denver Doula
Working with infants for the past 20 years, I have learned one thing, every baby is so different! They have different levels of need and unique preferences as their individual personality is developing.
When a baby cries, they are in need of something. A diaper change, a warm snuggle from a trusted caregiver, a nap, a meal, or simply someone to help them calm and regulate their body.
As a caregiver, it can be tricky to figure out what your baby needs in the moment and often, it can be hard to sooth them for a variety of reasons - here are some starting places and several things to try.
Keep them fed. Watch for baby’s cues and try to offer a feeding before they get upset. By following the baby’s cues, you will build a trusting and mutual relationship that will last a lifetime. Some common cues are rooting (turning head as if looking for the breast or bottle) sucking on hands or fingers or getting squirmy, crying is a late hunger cue.
Keep them comfortable. Skin to skin contact helps baby’s heartbeats regulate, offers warmth to help regulate body temperature, and a familiar soothing scent if baby is overstimulated or difficult to soothe. Wearing your baby in a baby wrap offers the same comfort. Offering a pacifier, swaying or slowly dancing with them while snuggled in your arms, taking a break outside, singing, sushing or humming sound.
Often, you will have to try a few things to help your baby soothe and you will learn from your baby as your relationship develops and as you respond to cues.
A huge thank you to Jessie Salvin for her gift of advice!
Planning Your Family Photo Session
If you ask me what most influences the quality of an image aside from light?
Wardrobe. 100%.
Ask me what I consistency hear women stress out about during session planning??
Outfit selection.
How you dress yourself and your family is such a crucial element in building beautiful, impactful images that you can be PROUD of. Photos and memories your children will cherish after you pass. It's how generations to come will remember you and how your grandchildren will be in awe of looking back at photos from 2020.
I have no idea what to wear. Ideas?
I have all the wardrobe ideas, if you’d like to be paired with a stylist to curate an outfit just for you, I’d be honored to connect you!
I prefer texture (lace, velvet, etc.) and bold colors with limited prints, logos, brand names, etc. for a more on-trend style. I adore long dresses as they offer such flow and sense of whimsy and drama in your images.
I typically advocate that outfits complement each other with variety in color and style as opposed to matching perfectly in the same color polo or t-shirt.
I geek out over boho hats and floral crowns on women. I recently entered a photo contest and I think I voted for every photo where mom wore a gorgeous dress and an awesome hat or headband. See my favorite dress vendors here.
Should I bring anything to the session?
I welcome solid color blankets to sit on and suggest giving consideration to outfit selection and color cohesion. I keep seeing this really cute trend of making a blanket into a huge part of the session as a hammock swing, as a prop to engage the kiddos by tossing it in the air. Perhaps a stack of books to read, favorite toys, anything personalized or photogenic, accessories like hats, sunglasses for the littles or stuffed animals used for milestone sessions.
What location do you suggest for the session?
Thirty minute sessions offers one of three locations: Cheeseman Park, Washington Park, Cherry Creek North. See photos of my favorite locations here.
What timeframe do you suggest for the session?
Anything you see on my website, posted to social media, all the images (100%) were taken at sunset. Scheduling your session at the right time of day is the biggest impact on your images. If we stumble upon a cloudy day, I’d LOVE to shoot earlier, we can also elect an urban location with plenty of shade. Shooting sessions in the mountains outside of sunset time frame is not available.
Any advice for working with toddlers and children?
With social distancing measures in full effect, I will maintain more than a six foot distance from your crew. This means I can’t get close to your littles, tickle them or have them give me all the high fives to earn their trust. More than ever, it’s on parents to make the session enjoyable for the whole crew. Above all - HAVE FUN. Focus on the kids instead of smiling at the camera. My clients typically choose images from their sessions where they are interacting with their little ones and everyone is smiling and laughing. Cultivating real moments and smiles and aiming for candid, playful moments in your session is key. Having a plan of how to interact with them (game, ball, anything else they love or you do at home) while going with the flow and letting the them a lead a little. I’m alllll about getting smiles on everyone’s faces piled up on a blanket together or running around chasing each other. I’ve had a few clients experiment with arriving early and allowing the kiddos time and space to run around and explore the location for a solid 15 or so before the session time just to get them used to the location before diving in.
Denver Mommy & Me Mother's Day Session
Celebrating motherhood with this beautiful trio for Mother’s Day 2020. I have a huge place in my heart for this gorgeous crew.
I met this Colorado Springs fam a couple of years ago during their newborn session. That little gummy smile makes my heart so happy.
Here they are again at one year!
This was such a special session as mom is a few weeks preggo!!!! SO incredibly thrilled for this soon to be family of four.
Cheers to this beautiful family, motherhood, this little guy’s soon to be big brother status and to long standing clients that make my heart 100% full.
