Rylan Blue

First of all, awesome name.  Second of all, awesome family.  I have this core group of client/friends whom I've been photographing since my very first year in business.  I love that 4+ years later they are practically family to me.  Kathy and Luke are part of that group and I've had the distinct pleasure of photographing them over the years since our very first shoot when they were pregnant with their daughter Luci.  I knew right then and there (after a great and super fun session) that I would become friends with them.  I've been able to document Luci through every major milestone and then capture their second pregnancy, which is posted HERE , and now (drumroll please), the arrival of their baby boy Rylan Blue.

I've gotten to the point where I consider newborn photography to be my specialty.  And I try with every shoot to push the envelope and try new things.  I don't want to merely copy the "rockstars" of newborn photography, such as the amazing team of Carrie and Brittany aka BABY AS ART.  Everyone knows they are true innovators who first came up with many of the unbelievable shots every newborn photographer now tries to emulate.   Rather, I try really hard to put my own spin on concepts, ideas and poses.  All of this, of course, involves a myriad of props (baskets, toys, fluffy blankets, textured blankets, hats etc...) and it's so fun and challenging to get a newborn into some crazy, unbelievable pose and totally nail the shot.   So, I came to their house with several new props I was DYING to play with (including a vintage scale that my friend gave me from her grandma's attic).

But, Rylan had other plans.  After a couple hours and no success I was, admittedly, a little bit worried.  How am I going to get my usual amazing shots for Kathy & Luke?  And then, I remembered something very important that I think I had started to lose sight of lately....namely, that the baby is not a prop.  That capturing the emotions and connections of the day along with the magic of this moment in their lives, which is what got me so passionate about newborn imagery in the first place, is far more important than capturing some incredible pose.  So, Rylan, THANK YOU for wanting nothing to do with all my props and instead making it perfectly clear that the only place you wanted (and rightfully so, needed) to be was on your mommy.  And, really, who can blame him!? :)

When I walked in I saw Luke in the bathroom combing and prepping Luci's hair.  SO sweet.

 

 I initially brought out this little miniature bed and we tried having Rylan on his belly and he was like: "no way, no how, woman!"  So we switched to his back.  I got a couple shots and then he became a squirmy worm.  A very STRONG 4 day old squirmy worm, and I don't mess around with safety, so we nixed that idea.  

 

 

Then, I tried the beanbag poses and he, quite literally, turned up his nose at that idea: Ha!

 
 

So, we moved onto family shots because as long as he was on his mommy he was happy as a clam.  This was big sister Luci's first chance to really "explore" her brother and it was so fun watching the curiosity and delight in her eyes.  I love this family.

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

OH, feet shots, how I love thee!  I especially love how you can see them all holding hands in the B&W one. 

 

     

Then I just concentrated on getting shots of Rylan while he was in his happy place. :)

  

 

  

Proud parents!

  

 
 

  

  

 

Dad's version of "misery loves company"! Ha!

  

Back to that happy place :)

  

 

 

 

  

And then, at the very end, we still got a few "prop shots" :)

 
 

 

And a couple with dad's guitar, although the shot we wanted didn't happen, these are still cute!

 
  
    

Congratulations Luke & Kathy!!