Brand New Offering for 2016! :: Happy New Year!

Its been a bit of a quiet ending to our year, J and I have spent a lot of time together with the pups, just soaking each other up. Our little family had some really joyful news, and some really tough news to follow rounding out 2015. Pardon the less-than-professional backstory, just skip to the bottom for the announcement if you want ;)

My husband and I have struggled with infertility for years, and this fall we were finally able to get pregnant. I was excited, nauseous, and mortified. I guess women really do have some intuition, because I knew something was wrong. We found out a few short weeks later that the baby had stopped growing around 9 weeks along and we would eventually miscarry. Most of December, I could be found curled up on the couch crying, or watching HGTV to distract me from crying. But we were able to send our little angel to heaven naturally just before Christmas, which is what I wanted to prevent any further health issues.

So to say that I am ready for a new year is an understatement. We are truly encouraged by some progress and the pregnancy certainly made things a lot more real for us so we can prepare for a future babe (God willing). 

Why am I tell you all this personal stuff? This tough stuff just solidifies why I pour my heart into capturing timeless images for your families. Whether that "family" word means a couple waiting and hoping, a couple with their fur babies, a family of 3, or a house full of kiddos. Thank you a million times for sharing your lives and your littles with me and allowing me to capture your amazing pesonalities! We are so very blessed and hopeful for the new year.

Now check out the new Baby Steps plans! This bun has been in the oven for years now and I am so excited to finally introduce it to you all. Please let me know what you think, send all those pregger mamas my way, and contact me to book. I want to make sure every milestone is captured as your family grows (it happens too fast)!

From womb to walking, I want to capture all your sweet babe's milestones. And these plans include the gorgeous elite products that would look great in the nursery or on a coffee table. They make great gifts for that expectant mama in your life too.

 Full details here: http://www.mhaasphotography.com/About/Baby-Plan

XOXO and Have a blessed New Year,
Mich

P.S. I love providing birth photography too when my schedule permits, hope to add to a plan down the road. Let me know if any babes are due this summer. Birth photography in the hospital is the most amazing stuff ever, and completely PG rated ;). 

P.S.S Stay tuned for some fun mini session options coming soon too! Happy New Year.

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

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

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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

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