Celebrating little Miss Violet | From newborn to first birthday | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

When Jessica first contacted me and told me her dad gifted her with a newborn session to ensure she had a beautiful capture of her precious baby girl, my heart melted.

He UNDERSTOOD. He knew how fleeting that stage is and how important it is to make such an important investment.

Jessica and I started communicating and plans were formed for Violet’s session based on Jessica’s color and theme preferences.

We talked a little about what Jessica should plan to wear, and she chose a beautiful but simple dress for her photos with Violet.

We started the session with shots of Momma and Violet.

Parent shots are always first. We want mommy to be fresh for these special shots with her baby.

After we captured some beautiful shots of Momma and baby, Momma got to relax and settle in. We transitioned to a bucket shot with florals and lace and added a beautiful wreath for Violet to wear. Keep an eye on that wreath - it shows up again later!

Violet settled right in and we were able to get the most beautiful captures of how beautiful she was at this precious newborn stage!

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Time went by and Violet was growing! Jessica had such a special relationship with her dad, and they discussed making plans to invest in Violet’s first birthday session. He was planning to help with the investment. They were both excited as they looked ahead to that exciting milestone.

But then tragedy struck, and Jessica lost her dad when Violet was just 9 months old.

Jessica knew that investing in a beautiful capture of Violet’s big first birthday milestone was not only important to her, but that it was important to her dad.

She made this a priority, and contacted me to chat about scheduling the session.

She told me that Violet loved cows and that she thought it would be fun to do something with cows and sunflowers. I got to work with plans for a set up and choosing a cake design that would be a perfect fit for this request.

Every milestone session allows for up to three different outfits!

Jessica chose this gorgeous green jewel toned dress that complimented Violet beautifully! We started her session with this outfit.

Recognize that wreath? That is the same wreath she wore for her newborn photos!

We got several beautiful shots of Miss Violet in her pretty green dress and also in a second outfit with a sunflower top and distressed jeans. I almost couldn’t contain myself at how adorable she was in these outfits! But even more fun was capturing her fun personality and having a variety of sweetness, silliness and just plain cuteness!

Violet was very shy when she first came for her first birthday session

Her momma gave me the heads up that it can take a bit for her to warm up

Because I knew Violet needed some time to warm up to me, I had momma set her down and play a bit with momma right there. I sat down near her so she could see me, but she saw there was comfortable distance. I talked to her and gave her some time. We didn’t rush anything. After about fifteen minutes of letting her play and be close to momma and watch and study me, she began to smile little bits at me and her body language began to show that she was becoming more comfortable. We moved into the studio and I gave instructions for momma to set her down for her first set of photos. This allowed her to become more familiar with being in my studio and seeing me with the camera but still being very close to momma.

Before long, she was warming up enough that I could come closer and touch her just a bit or move her a bit to make sure the light was hitting her in just the right way to ensure we were capturing the most beautiful photos of her.

By the time we got to her second outfit with the sunflower blouse

she was completely warmed up and all of her personality started to shine through!

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And then it was finally time for the finale of the session - the cake smash!

Violet is known to not be a fan of getting messy

Jessica wasn’t sure if there would be any smashing of the cake.

Violet was very interested in the ears on her cow cake and eventually figured out how to pull one of them out and use it to play with the top of the cake. It was so entertaining to watch her play in her own way and for her unique personality to be on display.

And by the end, she definitely got messy!

She let her personality shine and she and Jessica will always have this beautiful celebration to remember her first big milestone. Jessica’s dad would be so proud and happy to know that she has these photos - these heirlooms to treasure for always.

A NICU miracle baby | Indianapolis newborn photographer

Brock and Miriam are a sweet couple that I’ve been privileged to know from the very beginning of their family. Their oldest daughter Anneliese was one of the first newborn babies I ever captured. Anneliese was followed by two little brothers, Charlie and Jacob, and finally with a little sister, Lilly.

It’s amazing how much growth I have seen since 2010 in crafting my art! I am so excited that as I grow and improve my skills, I can better serve you with the most amazing heirlooms of this precious, fleeting newborn stage!

With Lilly’s arrival, Brock and Miriam were sure their family was complete.

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Little did they know the adventure still ahead of them! When Lilly was five years old, they were surprised to discover another little Barlow would be joining the family!

We did a special maternity session as we were sure this child would make the family complete.

Little Miss Nora arrived and the whole family was in love with this precious new little family member.

So the Barlow family was complete.

At least, so they thought . . .

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God had one more surprise for them, and this time, their little one would take them on a very unexpected and difficult journey that would stretch and challenge them beyond anything they thought possible.

Miriam discovered she was expecting again, and among other complications, was diagnosed with placenta accreta. This condition is incredibly dangerous and life-threatening for the mother.

Baby Theo arrived on October 7, 2021 weighing only 5 lbs., 3 oz.

Immediately after his emergency cesarean section delivery, Miriam immediately underwent a complete hysterectomy.

Many long and difficult days were spent in the hospital as Miriam recovered. She was not able to be with her little baby boy in those first hours and days like she was with her other babies.

Eventually, Miriam was released to go home, but little Theo was still fighting and had a long road ahead of him. Brock and Miriam experienced trauma in many forms during those long, difficult days that Theo spent in the NICU.

But finally, after 64 days, Theo was strong and healthy enough to go home.

Brock and Miriam were able to surprise all of the big brothers and sisters as they brought him home for the very first time.

Shortly after his arrival home from the NICU, I had the wonderful privilege of capturing newborn photos of this precious little life in my studio on the east side of Indianapolis.

This sweet family that was now, without a doubt, COMPLETE.

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One year later, Theo came back to my Indianapolis studio for a first birthday cake smash session to celebrate his first year of life!

He is now a healthy, thriving little boy with so much potential!

Wanna know what the theme was for his cake smash? Check out the previous blog post here to find out and learn the story behind the choice of the theme!

Newborn photos - therapy for your soul

Finding out a little one is on the way brings a huge variety of emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other.

There is a feeling of joy and excitement that is impossible to put into words.

And yet there are so many fears and unknowns surrounding finances, health, and feeling overwhelmed by the amazing responsibility that you are facing.

There are challenges to your body physically that stretch you to a new understanding of what it means to love sacrificially.

There are emotional challenges as you face hormone changes and deal with postpartum.

All of this looks different for every momma and some struggle on deeper levels than others, but ALL mommas (and daddies too in their own unique ways) will face some of the hardest challenges you’ve ever experienced.

Sometimes, those challenges can crowd out the indescribable joy and delight of this new little person that has completely changed your life for the better.

Choosing to invest in heirloom quality newborn photos is therapy for your soul.

When you have nights of very little sleep and baby is extra fussy and your body is tired and sore, that can often be all that you see in front of you.

When you are struggling with postpartum emotions and have those hard moments and hard days, it is so hard to remember the positive side.

But when you catch a glance at any one of your beautiful heirloom newborn photos, it will instantly lift your spirits and remind you of this beautiful gift you’ve been given and the treasure that she is.

As your body heals and your baby grows and quickly changes, those difficult pieces of the first days and weeks of having a newborn will become blurred. Your memory of how beautiful and precious your little one was at this stage will be blurred as well, unless you invest in heirloom quality newborn photos. You want the memory of the tough pieces to blur and not be remembered, but you do NOT want the memory of your little one to be blurred along with the hard stuff. Choosing to invest in heirloom quality photos of your newborn baby will definitely be THERAPY FOR YOUR SOUL.

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Enjoy these highlights from little Miss Chikamsi’s newborn photo session at my studio on the east side of Indianapolis. Every time her mommy and daddy see these photos they will recall with fresh remembrance how tiny and beautiful she was at this delicate stage!

Baby Asher | Newborn pilot theme

It’s pretty common for mommas to reach out to me to book and plan for her newborn session.

But in little Asher’s case, his daddy was the one that reached out to discuss details as we prepared for his newborn session at my studio on the east side of Indianapolis.

Asher’s Daddy is a pilot based out of Indianapolis.

It was so special to honor his parents’ request for him to be photographed with Daddy’s uniform and hat.

Photos like this will always have special meaning because they are a symbol of a unique piece of your lives as a family.

In addition to the newborn photos with daddy’s pilot uniform, Asher’s daddy had a small handful of specific requests, and it was so fun to provide each request!

One of the first things Daddy requested was “froggy pose”

Asher was wide awake when we first got started, but he was content, so we let him wiggle about and wear himself out naturally so that he would be very sleepy in his own way to accomplish this pose.

Patience is the name of the game for much of a newborn session.

Once Asher was ready, we took advantage of him being comfortable in this pose and got a shot with a little hat and one without so that mommy and daddy had some variation for their photos.

The next request was a photo of Asher with his big brother and sister.

The kiddos did an amazing job and were so cooperative. We were able to get some beautiful heirloom photos that captured the sweet bond that is already there between these three.

newborn photographer

Asher had a special outfit customized with his name

This request was from momma! She wanted a photo of Asher in his special custom outfit.

Daddy saw a photo I had done with this set up and asked if I could do it with Asher.

So we pulled out the campfire s’mores tin and posed him in this adorable set up!

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Here are just a few other highlights from this special newborn session!

FAQ | The five most frequently asked questions when preparing for a newborn session | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

When inquiring about a newborn session, there are questions that tend to be asked often. Here are the answers to the five most frequently asked questions about your Indianapolis newborn session!

1. When is the best time to book?

The simple answer? Don’t wait!

Honestly, as soon as you discover you are expecting and have a general due date established, it is not too soon to reach out to book your newborn session.

It is best to have your session booked before your third trimester, if possible. There is always room allowed on the calendar in case the need arises to reschedule because of an early or late delivery, or an unexpected longer stay at the hospital.

Birth can be very unpredictable, and that is taken into consideration when booking your newborn session. Having that date on the calendar before baby arrives allows your session to be secured. We can adjust the date of the session based on the actual day of delivery.

2. Do I need to bring outfits and items for the set up?

No! The studio is full of beautiful items and everything is provided for your beautiful heirloom newborn photos!

Lots of communication takes place before the session, and you have the privilege of sharing any preferences you may have of colors and themes.

Sometimes mommas will screen shot a photo from the Memory Lane Photography Instagram page or a photo from the Google listing and request a similar shot with her baby.

If you have a special blanket or significant item, be sure to communicate this and I will plan a way to incorporate it into one of your set ups.

Everything needed for all of these requests is provided in the studio. When you arrive for your newborn session, all of the set ups will be ready for your little one!

Check out the Memory Lane Photography Instagram page here for ideas for your upcoming newborn session!

This past year about half a dozen sessions were ones that were gifted. Some were a parent gifting it to their son or daughter who had a baby, some were gifted by a good friend, and one was a group of coworkers that went in together to give the gift of a newborn session. •• I honestly can’t think of a better gift idea, because unlike most other gifts that fade and wear out over time, this gift GROWS in value the more time passes. •• And hey, there is nothing wrong with putting an MLP gift certificate on your Christmas wish list and asking for this for Christmas! •• Invest in a gift that will last and grow more and more precious as time passes. •• Message me for details on how to get your gift certificate!

Client love 💕 •• It’s an honor to provide heirlooms for you of this precious, fleeting stage of life 🥰

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ AND PRAY … Asking for prayers for sweet big brother Grayson. 💚 I’ve had the privilege of knowing his mommy and daddy since before he was born and prayed and rejoiced with them when they discovered they were expecting after a difficult time of infertility. I’ve had the privilege of capturing him as a newborn as well as his sister Harper, and just recently he became a big brother again, and little Miss Remi graced my studio. •• Grayson has a rare condition called CDKL5. He is bound to a wheelchair. He is non verbal (although his eyes and smile light up every room and communicate so much 🥰) Once his parents are able to help figure out one difficult issue, another one arises. and it is weighing heavily on his mommy and daddy. His current issue is not keeping anything down and on top of constant seizures he is vomiting regularly. Daddy has to sleep next to him at night to care for him and they can’t go anywhere as a family right now because of this challenge. It’s discouraging and not healthy for their marriage. •• Would you please pray for Brandon and Kaylee? That God would grant them grace to deal with things moment by moment and that God would protect their marriage and provide relief with this current challenge?

Well, hello, December.🎄❄️ ❤️ •• Today marks a shift from all things fall to all things Christmas and winter-y. I struggle with seasonal depression so I’m always a bit hesitant to enter into this season. But for today, after having the most beautiful fall season we’ve had in a long time here in Indy, I’m excited to see what this season brings us. I’m hoping for lots more snow this year than the typical brown, dreary Indiana winters. Shooting sessions in the snow makes for some gorgeous captures of maternity, families and kiddos! •• If you struggle with seasonal depression, does a fresh snowfall help you like it helps me? •• 📸:: @erinkayphotography

I always feel like November 30 is the final day of fall. The last little hint of it is completely over for me when I wake up the next day and the calendar says December 1. •• So thankful for the precious lives I’ve had the privilege of capturing during this amazing fall season! •• What is your favorite memory from this fall season?

Plan for parent shots. JUST DO IT. You want to remember the emotions you felt when you held your baby close. You want your child to see how in love you were with her. Do it for you, but do it for HER. 💕 You won’t regret it.

I’m be got plenty to be thankful for 🥰 Thankful today for …. ✨Joe ✨All four of my amazing kids ✨My pups ✨coffee ✨the privilege of serving as your photographer and providing you with valuable heirlooms •• What’s one thing you’re thankful for today?

VARIETY- you can be sure you will get variety at your newborn session! ✨Variety of colors and textures ✨Variety of poses ✨Variety of angles These highlights from little Miss Arla’s session are a good example of how much variety you can have! •• Whether you prefer one or two colors as a theme or would like lots of different colors, your session will have a lot of variety to provide you with a beautiful set of heirlooms to always treasure this precious, fleeting stage! •• Which of these photos of Arla is your favorite?

In over 12 years of being a newborn photographer, I’ve captured little ones with names starting with every single letter of the e alphabet EXCEPT TWO. 😏 •• Head over to the latest blog post to find out which two letters I am missing! Link to the blog in bio! •• Comment if you see your baby here!

Every single newborn session is unique and curated specifically to momma and daddy’s preferences and requests. There is a lot of communication that goes on before the day of your session and a lot of work behind the scenes to make your baby’s newborn session as magical as possible. After all, they are only this little for such a short time - it’s critical to me to make sure your photos are everything you want them to be. 💕

3. What is the investment?

There are three newborn packages available.

Each of the three newborn packages includes high resolution digital photos as well as an art work gift certificate. This certificate is applied toward beautiful artwork such as high quality prints, canvasses, or albums to display your photos. You want to enjoy them much more than just pulling them up on your phone. Check out the details here!

Newborn Packages

4. Where are you located?

My studio is on the east side of Indianapolis in New Palestine.

If you are familiar with the Indianapolis area, you would know that the center of Indianapolis is inside the I-465 loop. If you go to the 3 o’clock spot on the I-465 loop, my studio is about a 10 minute drive almost straight east from there.

 

5. Are there any other perks when scheduling a newborn session?

Yes! When you book a newborn session, you will receive a $100 credit toward Baby’s Grow With Me Collection.

This collection is a total of 3 separate sessions spanning across your baby’s first year of life.

It allows you to have heirlooms that beautifully document the rapid growth of your child throughout the first year. It is an investment that will only grow in value over time as your baby changes. The memory of the details of the various stages of growth become blurred, and this investment allows you to go back to remember those details vividly.

Do you have more questions about booking a newborn session? Just send me a message! I’d love to chat more with you!

Destination newborn session | traveling to Texas | Indianapolis newborn photographer

When I first started specializing in newborn photography, I traveled to homes around Indianapolis and brought all of my things with me - the props, the wraps, the backdrops, etc. Because I utilize natural light, I would find the biggest, best window and move furniture around and create makeshift set ups to accomplish the task at hand.

Because of the nature of posed newborn photography, that became increasingly challenging,

and before long, my husband helped me transform our sunroom into my studio.

Having my own studio right in my home in Indianapolis has been a huge blessing because when parents arrive with their new baby, I have everything set up and ready to go. Mommies and Daddies can relax and allow me to capture heirloom photos of this precious stage without worrying about cleaning their home for my arrival.

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On a rare and special occasion, I will still travel to a client’s home.

My sweet friend, Sara, lives in Texas, which is a bit too far from Indianapolis to come for a newborn session at my studio. So, instead, for her last three babies, she flew me out to Texas for each of their newborn sessions.

Flying Southwest airlines was the way to go because you can check bags for free. And in order to provide Sara with the same kind of photos I provide for all of my other clients, I needed to pack a large suitcase full of props, fluff, wraps, and sweet little accessories.

Unfortunately, I was not yet established in specializing in newborn photography when her first baby was born

but I was still able to get some sweet photos of Jason as a new big brother.

Ashlyn was the first of Sara’s babies I had the privilege to photograph as a newborn. We used a basket at her Grammy’s house for photos with her special blanket that her great grampa crocheted for her. We stretched blankets and backdrops across a small couch and utilized other furniture to create some special set ups to make her session special.

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Fast forward just a couple of years and baby number three arrived. So I was off to Texas again for another fun newborn session.

This time Ashlyn was the big sister

and now Jason was the proud brother of two little sisters.

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Fast forward another three years and now Brinley gets to be the big sister, and Jason has a little brother!

What a joy it was to welcome baby Shane into the world

and catch up with big brother Jason and big sisters Ashlyn and Brinley!

Highlights from Shane’s session . . .

And of course, it is always a joy to catch up with my sweet friend, Sara.

If you are not in Indianapolis, and have an interest in having me travel to you for your newborn session, send me a message and we can chat details! I’m always open for a new adventure!

Treasuring Each Baby in a Multiple Child Family | Ariana Newborn Session | Indianapolis newborn photographer

So often as children are added to the family, there are less photos and less diligence in investing in a beautiful capture of the younger children. Because, let’s face it, life as a momma is incredibly challenging and overwhelming, is it not?

I know this first hand because I have four children of my own!

It was a blessing to have little Miss Ariana in the studio to provide a beautiful capture of her newborn stage! Ariana is the 5th child in her family. Her oldest sister Rose was one of the first newborns I captured when I was in the very beginning stages of my photography journey.

Big sister Rose at her newborn session

Her momma, Kristin, was a young teen in my church when my husband and I first moved to Indianapolis and started attending. I had the blessing of watching Kristin grow up, and I remember when she met and started dating her husband, Tony.

I remember when they first discovered they were expecting and how overjoyed they were to welcome their first little one into the world.

As each child was added to the family, the joy only multiplied. It has been an honor to be a part of the special journey of this family from the very beginning! Every single one of Miss Ariana’s four older siblings have had their own special newborn session with me.

It is so important it is to be intentional to invest in these photos! The more children you have, the more this stage of life is a blur, and the more important it is that you make the investment to have heirloom quality photos for this child! It will speak much to this child’s heart to know that even though it was more challenging, she was important enough that this investment was a priority.

Let your little one on the way know how special she is - check out the newborn packages available to you here and let’s chat about the details of getting your session booked!

Ariana’s momma had one request for her newborn session - PINK!