Sawyer Elisabeth | A Newborn Shoot

A couple of weeks ago, I got to meet my new niece, Sawyer.

Oh my word - isn't she precious?

That downy hair and tiny toes...heart-meltingly tender!

Now I do not claim to be a newborn photographer - in fact, this might be the last one I do. While I love getting to meet babies and spend time with their mommies and daddies, there are much better newborn photographers out there and I really struggle to create the "cute baby poses." You need props and soft things and cushions and wedges and a controlled environment and lighting and a cooperative, flexible baby who doesn't mind sleeping outside of mommy's arms and patience and lots and lots of time and...you get the idea - it's kind of a lot. And it's entirely up to the mood/appetite/sleepiness/contentedness of Baby. No pressure!

Luckily for us, Sawyer ate and slept and ate and slept. While we couldn't move her in every shape we wanted, we caught some really beautiful ones. Something I learned about myself during this shoot was that the part of newborn photography I do enjoy are the moments we get when Mama & Baby are cuddled in close, or Daddy is in awe of the little life in his hands. Those lifestyle photos - the wonder and bond between new parent and new baby - are the ones that thrill me to capture, and the ones from this session made me so proud to get to tell Adrienne and Ryan's story of their love for their new little girl.

Sawyer, you are loved and lovely.

love, love, love,

Aunt Heather

p.s. I may be your mommy's cousin, but we have practically been sisters growing up, so you're my niece :) She's 18 days older than me, in case she didn't tell you.

Enjoy a few of my favorites!

those back rolls and lips...!!!

adoration

chillin'

dreaming

smile

Congratulations you three - so happy/excited/elated for you!