4 Things Every Newborn Mom Apologizes For (But Doesn't Need To)

As a newborn photographer, I meet a lot of moms in the trenches of survival mode. I get it! I was there too! You’re sleep deprived and trying to figure out the dos and don’ts of feeding your baby. You’re desperate to find some bit of normalcy, and you’ve just met 2 new people - your baby and the new you. But there is so much joy and so many sweet moments in this time as well, so you’ve hired a photographer so you never forget how tiny and precious this little baby once was. (And maybe you’d like to fill your feed with dreamy photos of your adorable family…). In the midst of this crazy time, almost all moms apologize for these 4 things. I’m here to tell you that 1) it’s normal! and 2) you don’t need to apologize!

1. I’m sorry my house is a mess

Don’t be! I fully expect your house to be a mess. I’d be sort of shocked if it wasn’t, actually. The first thing I do at every newborn photo session is take a little tour of the house to find the spots with the best lighting. From there, I’ll probably ask if I can move a few things (ie - the half empty water bottle sitting on your nightstand). I’ll tidy things up for the purposes of photos, and your house will look clean and clutter-free!

2. I’m sorry my toddler is misbehaving

Don’t be! She’s not acting out of the ordinary. She’s acting like a 2 year old, because she is one! I’m used to that, believe me. I won’t bat an eye. Instead, I’ll suggest ideas that will help that older sibling get excited for photos and make the session more fun for her.

3. I’m sorry my newborn is crying

Don’t be! Babies cry. We can always take a break to make sure your newborn is well taken care of and having his or her needs met. I’ve built in time to allow for the unpredictable nature of babies - a blowout, multiple feedings, fussiness. Please don’t feel rushed!

4. I’m sorry my dog is so excited

Don’t be! I LOVE dogs, and I am super excited to meet yours! There’s no need to hide your dog in a room until they’re needed in a photo. In fact, having the dog around while we take other photos may help your dog calm down. If you don’t want your dog walking in and out of photos, feel free to shut the door. But if you’re ok with your dog in photos, I am too! That’s life, and I’m here to photograph life.

The moral of the story is that I’m not here to judge you. I’m not here to stress you out or rush you. I’m here to take beautiful photos of your family. I want the time to be enjoyable for you, and I want the photos to capture all the love within your family.

Summer Photo Sessions vs Fall Photo Sessions

Last year, almost half of my photo sessions took place in the months of October or November. Most photographers will agree that the fall is their busiest season by far! But is that warranted? If you’re debating between booking now or booking later, check out the benefits of each -

Benefits of Booking a Spring or Summer Photo Shoot

• Warm weather means you get to wear what you want and not worrying about bundling up. Warm weather also means that your kids won’t be grouchy about the cold weather, and they won’t have red noses!

• Your photographer has more availability. The days are long (weekday shoot anyone?!) and the calendars aren’t quite so packed with other sessions.

• Many locations have beautiful flowers in the summer and spring.

• You won’t have to stress about Christmas cards, because you’ll already have the perfect photo picked out!

Benefits of Booking a Fall Photo Shoot

• Fall foliage is beautiful in Pittsburgh!

• Sometimes fall days feel just perfect, which means no one is sweating in pictures.

• Your Christmas card will have the most up-to-date photo of your family.

If you’re still Team Fall Photos, then great! Book early and snag the date of your choice. But there’s still time to take advantage of the beautiful warm weather in Pittsburgh. :)

Mini Sessions: What's the Hype?

A lot of people ask me if I offer mini sessions. The answer is, yes! Sometimes I do. Follow me on Instagram (@kelseycunninghamphoto) and Facebook (Kelsey Cunningham Photography) if you want to be in the know when mini sessions are happening. You won’t see those posted here on my website.

But now I have a question for you: do you actually want a mini session? Let’s chat pros and cons!

Mini Session Pros

• Price - With the shortened session length and limited image downloads, you can end up spending less than you would with a full session.

• Frequency - Do you love having family photos multiple times throughout the year? Mini sessions might be just the ticket.

• Special Opportunities - Mini sessions sometimes take place in special locations (like a Christmas tree farm) that I don’t usually shoot in.

• Weather - Mini sessions are great for cold temps! I totally get that many kids can’t last much more than 15 minutes outside when it’s cold.

Mini Session Cons

• Not All Inclusive - My full sessions include full galleries of 50+ images. I don’t hold anything back! You get all the good shots and don’t have to choose. Mini sessions include a limited number of images with the option to purchase additional downloads.

• Less Variety - When you have less time for photos, that means fewer poses/set-ups and less variety in backdrop. You may also miss out on some of those sweet in-between moments that I can capture when we have more time to work slowly.

• Location & Time - Mini session locations and session times are chosen by me.

• Rigid - I’d love if every client was on time to their session, but that doesn’t always happen! If you find yourself 10 minutes late to a 15 minute session? …Well you just paid full price for a 5 minute session. Mini sessions are booked back-to-back, so I don’t have the flexibility to start early or run late.

• No Warm-Up Time - Some kids need a little time to warm up. Mini sessions don’t work out in their favor, because they’re just getting warmed up as your mini session comes to a close.

There’s a time and a place for mini sessions, and that’s why I offer them! They can be a great option for many families! I think it’s easy, however, to get caught up in the lower price and assume it’s a better deal. It may or may not be. It just depends!