Needless to say, my finger got click happy, and it needed one of the cutest subjects to click upon. So yesterday, I told my sister-in-law to bring over little Nora. Fresh, fragile, and only two weeks old and counting. But here’s what I realized and was so quickly reminded.

Newborn…sessions…are…hard.

They spit up, they cry, they wiggle and they fuss.  You turn up the heat,  place them in a squishy, oh-so-perfect-position and you find yourself sweating, hoping they stay like a stone statue.  Well, 9 times out of 10, they don’t.  But when they do, it’s a victory.  At least for me.

The set up was simple.  I found a good-lit window, a moldable pillow or even a bean bag and placed a couple different knits on top.   The rest?  Pshhhhh….luck I tell you.  Good thing she’s perfectly perfect because by the end you would’ve thought this pregnant girl (me) ran a marathon.

So why do I tell you this?  To give a big, fat, hug and tribute to all of the professional newborn photographers out there.  You are patient, gentle, and oh-so talented.  In the meantime my friendly readers, let me help you out if at all possible.  Just a few pointers of light and camera settings and such, just to save you some sweating.

Hello sweet baby girl.

Window directly behind me.  50mm 1.4 lens,  f 2.0, 1/800, ISO 250

Window source left.  50mm 1.4 lens, f2.0, 1/640, ISO 250

Window source directly behind me.  50mm 1.4 lens, f 1.4, 1/800, ISO 250.  Focal point on left eye, camera extremely close to babe to create good depth of field.

Window right.  50mm 1.4 lens, f 2.0, 1/800, ISO 250

Window right, 50 mm lens 1.4, f 1.6, 1/1000, ISO 250.  Focal point on little ear.

Window directly behind me.  50 mm 1.4 lens, f1.4, 1/800, ISO 250

Window right.  50mm 1.4 lens, f 2.0, 1/800, ISO 250

Window directly behind me.  50mm 1.4 lens, f2.0, 1/500, ISO 250

Sweet dreams little babe.

Love led to marriage. I’ve never known such a vibrant and beautiful couple. My camera was honored to take photos of their marriage, and thankfully, I was honored, just days ago, to photograph the belly. But that’s not all…

The snow was dumping, completely caked.  Some might have called it a nasty blizzard, but to me, it was a wonderland of white.  My sweet brother asked me to be there, and you better believe I was going to travel through anything to honor his request.  He handed me his camera, and we both did a nutty jig of excitement.  My baby brother was going to be a father.

I saw the story unfold through the lens of a videocamera.  Her pain, her tears, a caring husbands face, a loving sisters hand hold, and a future grandmother’s tearful  touch to help ease an anxious daughter.  She pushed, and cried, and pushed again.  Amidst her pain, she was brave and athletic yet still managed to make us laugh.    She pushed again.  Fought through more pain and looked to her husband for comfort.  He kissed her head, grabbed her hand, and lovingly encouraged her to push just one more time.

Cue my tears.

At exactly 10:10pm, Rachel and Layne met little Nora Noel.  A tiny little spirit joined us in the room, and without fail, I can’t help but feel the overwhelming presence of a higher power.  Birth is, and always will be, a miracle.   Her mother and father hugged as they celebrated life, and the birth of their first grand-daughter.  A caring mother-in-law wiped away tears as she counted all ten fingers.  A 16-year old fresh aunt yearned to meet her new niece.  A father-in-law then entered, and examined from afar as they examined the little one’s health.   And my baby brother held, loved, touched, and hugged his brand new baby girl.

No doubt, in her wedding dress, she was absolutely stunning.  In her maternity photos, she was utterly breathtaking.  But never, and I truly mean never, have I seen Rachel so naturally breathtaking and peacefully regal as I did when she held little Nora Noel for the first time.

Welcome to the world, little Nora.  I assure you, you will most definitely be loved.