Brother Pups and Baby Pea | Louisville, KY Maternity Photographer

My sweet, sweet friends. I am so excited for them and their sweet little Baby Pea that will be here in the next few weeks. Whether baby girl gets dad's athleticism or mom's good looks and kind heart, this kid will be so very cherished and loved. Come on Baby Pea, we can't wait to meet you!

How sweet is that nursery and the quilt, yeah that's made of Granny Susan's clothes.  So special. And puppy brothers are super excited too, can't ya tell? :)

I can't wait to shoot this sweet girl's birth story, and newborn photos, and well ya know, whatever else aunt Meme desires, muhahahaha!

XOXO,
Mich

P.S. Know a sweet mom and dad-to-be that need some beautiful photos (even if mom is reluctant like this sweet girl)? Contact me above. I promise it will be so painless and they can go in a drawer if you feel larger than life. I assure you sweet momma, you are. You are larger than life not in size of your body, but in the size of your heart. You are growing a sweet babe and that is one of the most selfless actions any woman could endure. Wear it proudly, you are beautiful <3

Lillies + Puppy Kisses + How to Make Your Newborn Session Awesome | MHP Louisville, KY Newborn Photography

I am sitting here thinking about a way to share these photos of the sweetest little family, and of course I do what most others do while procrastinating focusing on the task at hand, I jump on Facebook.

Would you believe that it just so happens to be the little mama's birthday? I cannot think of a better way to celebrate, than with posting and sharing these sweet newborn photos of her new baby Lily.

This little family was sent to me by another friend (I LOVE referrals) and I am so glad that we could fit sweet Lily in to the schedule.

Isn't she the most gorgeous little girl, and that name, fits her so perfectly. We even found some yellow Lilies blooming in the backyard. How PERFECT! 

There are so many great images from this session - we were able to shoot indoors and out! - and I felt so bad that mom and dad were concerned about Lily being upset and having to snack a little during our session. Which is COMPLETELY NORMAL and expected! Just look how beautiful!

SO I wanted to share what to expect and I put together a few tips to make your newborn photo session go as smooth as a baby's... well you know buns ;).
   

 1. Start Early - Be sure to start contacting photographers at lease a couple months before your due date. I usually use your due date as a place holder and then confirm with the little one arrives. I will always try to fit in any session, but I can only schedule so many sessions per week because newborn sessions can take some time, see #2.

2. Be Prepared for a 2-3 Hour Shoot - Babies are amazing, cuddly, adorable, squishy, unpredictable little creatures. But, they are on their own schedule and have to eat pretty often. We may have to have a few mini feeding sessions in the middle to calm down baby and make them sleepy again. The photo shoot will stress them out and feeding helps to soothe them too.

3. Feed Before your Session - It is best to feed a good big meal about a half hour before the shoot and loosen the diaper if you are interested in naked baby photos. Makes baby milk drunk.

4. Avoid Crazy Days - I know it sounds ridiculous with a brand new baby, but get as much sleep and take it easy the night before and morning of the shoot. Lots of visitors wear baby out, and can make for a more cranky pumpkin for the session.

5. Young Babes are Sleepier - I suggest photos in the first 10 days of life and first 7 is ideal. It is not always possible for various reasons, but try to get photos done as soon as you get home from the hospital. Younger babies are sleepier, which is usually better for photos because they will be more content. Babies eyes haven't developed strong muscles yet, so they often look cross-eyed if they're open.

6. Don't Skip It - If you are concerned about timing, or baby comes early/late, or has a little stint in the NICU, don't cancel. Even if the photos end up being 1 month photos, do them anyway, you will be glad you did later. 

7. It Won't Be Perfect - But we will get perfectly amazing images that will last more than a lifetime. Behind the scenes always looks a little messier than you would imagine. The photos will be gorgeous even if your house is a mess, you haven't slept more than 30 mins and your pants have dried milk on them. The photos show only where I point the camera, and I can hide a lot.

8. Include the Important Stuff - Be sure to collect heirlooms and objects that mean something to you and have them ready for the shoot. In fact, I often ask what you have before hand so I can get the ideas rolling.

9. Consider Priorities - Sometimes the little ones just aren't having it. They may be growth-spurting, or fighting sleep, and just don't want to do much. We have to have a plan. So tell me what is most important to you and we will do that first. I always suggest family photos first, just in case we get some projectile matter on our clothes (also completely normal, no worries).

10. My Models Tell Me - My models, large and small, always tell me when they have had enough. We will go by the way the little one responds and if we have enough and little one starts freaking out, we are officially wrapped up. This is why #9 is so important. 

Most of all, I know it is scary and uncomfortable. But, PLEASE try not to worry. I have done this many times. Pee, poop, spit-up, breast milk, boobs, I have seen it all, and it doesn't freak me out. I will not be offended or injured if it happens during our shoot. I have a washing machine and I know how to use it :)  

Plus babies can smell fear, and their mom, so sometimes I'll make you go away :D

XOXO, 

Mich

P.S. Send me some love, or tell me what I missed, in the comment section below. And please shoot me an email - using the contact link above -  if you need some art made of your new addition.

Bow Ties + Baskets | MHP Louisville, KY Newborn Photographer

To start off today's post, I just want to say how thankful I am to each of you.

Even if you haven't booked a session with me yet, or are taking a peek at a friend's photos, I appreciate you so much! Without each and every set of eye balls looking at this blog, I wouldn't be who I am or be doing what I'm doing today.

And I am oh so blessed.

So THANKS!

And that was brought to you by my new blog design.

 As a creative person, when I sit down to write, it is sometimes difficult. I have to yank stuff out of myself that I normally keep tucked inside. Words are not nearly as much of my forte as say... images :)

So my new blog wasn't going to write its own welcome section - See right sidebar------>
- and I got to thinking about what makes me tick, and it might sound corny, but its all of you.

When I was growing up and my mom asked me to draw her a picture, I would always respond, "a picture of what?" My imagination had tons to draw, but I needed something to inspire me.

You inspire me.

I want to make art that you ADORE. Art that speaks to your soul and captures your heart. And I cannot possibly do that in my line of work without your gorgeous families, kids, pets, and YOU.

So thank you and with out further ado, little Mr. Jack.

He is oh so loved too.

 Mama had a super long delivery, and little Mr. Jack was too comfy to leave hotel Mama. The morning of Jack's shoot, I arrived and he had just eaten, usually a good way to make itty-bitties milk drunk and groggy. Well, we started the shoot and had a few of a very alert little Jack.

We got a few yawns and I thought we were getting groggy, then Boing, eyes were back open.

And this photo about half way down, he was literally laughing at me. Haha I am not sleeping for you!

His little Lullaby Lambs Soother helped quite a bit, and he talked me into snuggling and bouncing him for a while (geez twist my arm:)). Jack finally fell asleep and let us pose him with Bow Ties + Baskets like the little blond-headed doll that he is.
 

I sure hope mom and dad are able to enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed making Jack's first bit of art.

 He did great, after being slightly over interested that he didn't miss anything, but we will call that determined.

 Oh my word... those sweet little toes. Those snuggles ended up being pretty dang sweet for me too.

Xoxo,
Mich

Reid [10 days new] | Louisville, KY Newborn Photographer

Will you take a look at these sweet boys? They are the cutest with their new baby brother Reid. At one point Dad said putting Reid in between his two big brothers was like putting him in a lion's den, thank goodness everyone came out of the shoot okay :) Being the youngest, I know he is going to be extra strong thanks to that lion's den training.

 Ahhhh the cuteness... Meet Reid!

Axel [14 days new] | Louisville, KY Newborn Portrait Photographer

This little heart breaker is going to be a world traveler... and might hit a few tennis balls in his time too. Such a sweet little man with a very cool name --he knows it, check out the sunglasses -- and a couple of studly fur-brothers too.

 Meet Axel!

Daniel [18 days new] | Louisville, KY Newborn Portrait Photographer

This little guy is such a fighter, he spent some time in the NICU and he has come out bigger and stronger and oh so studly. I already know hes going to be a stud. He looks amazingly like his big brother, Logan [3 years old] whom graced us with his cunning charm during the whole shoot... and graced us with a few photos of his studliness too :) Love these boys and their amazing parents.

Xoxo,
Mich

© MHaas Photography | All rights reserved. Feel free to like, share, tag yourself and use as your profile photo. But, please respect my work and do not save, crop or alter in any way.

Holden + Hadley [6 months] MHaas Photography | Louisville, KY Baby Photographer

These two precious babes are just right off the side of the diaper box. They were just a couple of hams and we had tons of fun making them and everyone else laugh. Their precious pup was even ready for the camera. Meet these gorgeous twins, only half-way into their first year here, Holden and Hadley. ::Swoon:: :)

Xoxo,
Mich

© MHaas Photography | All rights reserved. Feel free to like, share, tag yourself and use as your profile photo. But, please respect my work and do not save, crop or alter in any way

Hadley [7 days new]

This sweet little girl was so beautiful I can't even tell you, the portraits must speak for themselves.

Such a comfy little place to call home.

 

She prefers to be snuggled up tight, whether in a wrap, a blanket, or a set of pretty good arms. I always wonder what babies are dreaming about when they sleep and bust out a huge baby smile or sigh. This little beauty was giving us just the best little smirks I could ever ask for.

If you have any questions about how great she is, her sweet momma would be happy to tell you. Mom and dad are over the moon and rightly so.

Ladies and Gents, meet Hadley.

Xoxo,

Mich

naked baby [behind the scenes] | Louisville, KY Newborn Photographer

Isn't there something authentic and natural about a naked baby.  There is something about a little one, in his most natural form, creates some of the most simple and beautiful images. This post is about how one newborn portrait setup can create many gorgeous images. Same baby, same blanket, same pose.

I wanted to take a moment, in the midst of all of the editing I do, I sometimes get so pigeon-holed that I don't see the simple beauty right in front of me. This black blanket has seen a lot of newborn shoots (and all the extra stuff that come out of with said newborns). But it always ends up helping me make great images, the kind that show off that sweet new babe.

I have included a behind the scenes shot to show my little setup. I placed my bean bag poser right in front of the sliding glass doors to utilize as much natural light as possible on a half-way gloomy fall day.

I also placed an inexpensive studio light (continuous light, not strobe) outside of the door and a reflector above baby's head. You can also see my little heater set up a safe distance from baby, keeping him warm and happy.

Everything from detail shots, to wider full body portraits, you can get all of these different images while baby is comfortably snoozing away.

But time after time, this little black backdrop creates some of my favorite images.

Here's to sleeping (naked) babies, and sleeping like a baby.

Xoxo,
Mich

P.S. Only 6 more likes needed over at my facebook page before we can draw a winner on the big GIVEaway. So hop on over to the facebook page to like and nominate someone now.

Veda [12 days new]

How about this sweet girl named Veda ::swoon:: What a gorgeous name for a gorgeous little one. I had the pleasure to meet her a couple weeks ago in the middle of my tornado that is fall sports season, so I apologize that this is tardy. But I just had to share, better late than never right?  Without further Ado meet Veda
...and her big brother Whitt.

I am just in love with all of this real lifestyle love. There is nothing better than a Thursday morning with a brand newbie and your loves.

XOXO,
Mich