Belinda Olsen Photography » Utah Wedding & Portrait Photographer | Logan, Utah | 435-881-2184

I LOVE NEWBORN SESSIONS!
Today I decided that I would give various tips and tricks that I have learned to help during a newborn session:

-It’s best to schedule your session several weeks before your due date. I know that babies come on their own schedule, not on their ‘due date’. I’m really flexible! Typically a mom or dad will call or email me a day or two after their baby is born and we will then solidify the day for our session.
-Between 5-10 days is the best time for the session to occur. At this time babies are extremely sleepy and flexible. If we wait around 2 weeks babies start to have acne settle in. A newborn session can be done as late as 4 weeks, however there is a distinct difference in how a baby looks between 5 days and one month.
-A session should be scheduled right after a feeding and when the baby is the sleepiest. If a baby has a full tummy, in a warm room and ready for sleep they are happy!
-Regardless of if you are breast-feeding or bottle feeding please be prepared to take time during our session to do a feeding. I have yet to go through a session where the baby doesn’t at least eat an extra ounce or two.
-I encourage families to bring any props with them…blankets, hats, outfits, a parent who loves baseball may chose to bring a baseball and mitt with them, etc.
-Typically a newborn session will take 1.5-2 hours but may go as long as 3. I encourage moms to enjoy the time having some care for their child and relax with a good book, game or cross-world puzzle.
If you ever have a question about what’s best before a session please send me an email at belinda@belindaolsen.com. Here is a preview of a beautiful baby I photographed today!
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  • Colin - This picture is amazing. Very pretty eyes.ReplyCancel

I love learning about my clients. I learn how they met, what they love about their spouse, where they work, hobbies, I listen to the music they like. I make new friends.
I loved my time with this family out on their farm. It was a dream location with beautiful lighting. I loved to tease and get various reactions. Sometimes I get the ‘Belinda, you’re crazy look’. Other times there are no walls, no barriers, just sheer joy and love. Overall, on a session we have fun! Thank you my Idaho friends for this beautiful session and the opportunity to photograph the newest addition to your family.
If you’d like to see an adorable little cowgirl in action visit here.
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I was recently out running some errands and walked by a chain photography location as part of my shopping. As I walked by I couldn’t help but stop and be a spectator of what was happening. There was a little 4 or 5 year old unhappy little girl crying because she didn’t want to have her picture taken. At the photographers request she was saying ‘cheese’ (between gritted teeth) for each picture. The mother was frustrated and threatened taking away bikes, toys, dessert, games, etc unless her daughter would smile. The photographer was posing the little girl based on images in a catalog and quickly firing off the flash on the camera. I continued about my shopping nearby and saw the mother and daughter leave a few minutes later. No one looked happy. How sad!

This brings me to talk about two questions:

What is custom photography?
Why should I choose it?
As I turned to handy google to help see what other people had said about this topic I found this wonderful consumer guide by Marianne Drenthe. For me custom photography is all about my clients. Their personalities, likes, dislikes, hobbies, favorite places to go, where they would like to display their images in their homes, family heirlooms…it’s part of telling a story. Not my story. Their story.
I love to email clients to find out about them. Who they are. Are they wanting images to capture a special occasion? Milestone? For Fun? Each of these reasons plays a different part in their story. What props would they like to bring to a session? What would they like me to bring?
Someone can go to a chain photography studio and no story is really told. Rarely is true personality displayed. Many families who book with me are the same. The mother wants…no feels obligated to have pictures taken, the father is usually along because he loves his wife and children only think of their past experiences having pictures taken. My philosophy is that it is all about fun! I am silly. I make lame attempts at jokes, tease, have treats, make funny faces, embarrass myself and just play.
I had a session a couple weeks ago where I played and had fun. This family played and had fun. I love the images of Miss Ashlyn. This is who she is. She was singing a song to a stick she found. None of this was forced, timed or threatened.

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  • Lisa - Great post! I feel the exact same way as you do about custom photography! Keep up the great work!ReplyCancel

  • The Kelley's - Isn't she cute?! I'm so glad she's mine! I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures you took. 🙂ReplyCancel

I have the best clients. Ever. I was humbled and flattered with this client sent me an email saying that her sister in law would be contacting me for a newborn session. I was excited for the referral and excited for the opportunity to branch out the family tree that I had worked with. The mother of this beautiful little cowgirl and I emailed back and forth. I literally jumped up from my computer with excitement to do a session on a farm! (I then turned to my husband and asked him about the various types of farmers…I’m clueless when it comes to country life) I love everything about these pictures and really enjoyed my time working with this little girl. More to come of their family pictures soon!

PS I LOVE the little spit bubbles that babies make!

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Last year I had a chance to go down with my friend Kristin to a photography workshop by Sandy Puc’. Kristin won some free goodies, I purchased some workbooks. We both intensely filled our notebooks with creative and business ideas. I learned about an organization during the workshop called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS). NILMDTS is nonprofit organization created for providing remembrance photography for parents that will never be able to take their babies home due to the tragedy of death at such a precious, early age.
I have a friend that has suffered immensely this past year with the loss of her own son. I remember hearing about her story and seeing the beautiful images that were captured by a local photographer nearly ten months ago. I had the opportunity last week to talk to my friend about her experience with NILMDTS. She was extremely candid about her experience and love for her son and the photographer that gave her a complimentary priceless gift. Since my visit with her I have been feverishly working to finish my review process to be an eligible photographer. As soon as I hear back from the review board I’ll let you know…wish me luck!

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  • Susan - Wow. What ana amazing gift to be able to give to those brave families. I hope it works out for you!ReplyCancel

  • Christy - I don't think you'll need luck, since you have lots of SKILL. And love and tact and all the things that will make you invaluable to those you will bless with your skill.ReplyCancel

  • Kami - That is so neat. I was lucky to have a wonderful photographer who volunteers for NILMDTS come and take pictures of our sweet baby boy who was stillborn. I don't know how things worked out but it is such a neat thing to be able to volunteer for and the families will treasure those pictures forever!ReplyCancel