A Letter to the Mom Who Doesn't Feel Picture Ready

Dear New Moms,

If you're reading this while holding your newborn in one arm, surviving on coffee and two hours of sleep, wondering how on earth you're supposed to be in photos right now... this letter is for you. I know how you're feeling. Your body doesn't quite feel like your own yet. You're exhausted. You have a tiny human depending on you around the clock. Showering feels like an accomplishment, and the thought of picking out clothes, doing your hair, or putting on makeup for a newborn session might sound completely overwhelming. And I’m here to tell you, ‘Please don’t let that stop you.’ Because I promise you're seeing yourself much more critically than anyone else ever will.

Almost every new mom who walks into my studio apologizes for something before we've even started.

"I still have so much baby weight."

"I didn't sleep last night."

"I forgot mascara."

"I don't feel like myself."

You know what? I've photographed hundreds of new moms, and I have never once looked through a gallery and thought, "I really wish she'd covered up those circles under her eyes.’ Not once. All I see is a mother completely in love with her baby.

Should Parents Be in Newborn Photos?

When you're in the middle of those first few weeks, confidence in the way you look and feel isn’t high on your list. And it shouldn’t be! You’re now in charge of keeping a little human alive! When you look back at these photos with your child years from now, they won't notice the dark circles under your eyes(which there won’t be any anyways because that’s my job🤗) They won't notice that you didn't have your makeup professionally done like you did for your wedding. They won't notice the extra weight you're worried about or whether your hair was having a good day.

They'll notice one thing... that when they were brand new…

they were deeply, completely, and unconditionally loved.

I Learned This the Hard Way

I wish someone had told me this when my own children were little. I hated being in front of the camera. I always thought “I’ll do it later'“. When I lost weight. When I looked better. When I feel more confident.

Looking back now, I don't see the flaws I obsessed over. I honestly wonder why I was so hard on myself.

What I do see is that there aren't nearly enough photos of me with my children. And that's something I can't go back and change. 😔

It's one of the biggest reasons I gently encourage every mom who comes into my studio to step into at least a few photographs.

Not because I want perfect family portraits. Because someday these photographs won't be for you anymore. They'll be for them.

Your Baby Is the Masterpiece

Here's another little secret. During a newborn session, you aren't the focus. Your baby is. When people look at your newborn photos, their eyes go straight to your baby. I've always thought of parents as the frame around the masterpiece. The tiny little person in your arms is the masterpiece.

Let Me Worry About the Rest

You don't have to know how to pose. That's my job. I know the right angles. I know how to position you in ways that are flattering and comfortable. I'll gently guide you every step of the way so you never have to wonder what to do with your hands or where to look. And yes, I'll soften the little things you're worried about today… dark circles, temporary blemishes, clothing wrinkles, and all those tiny details that feel much bigger to you than they ever will to anyone else. My goal is to help you remember yourself the way your family already sees you.

And If You Still Don't Feel Ready...

I understand. Really, I do. If you simply can't bring yourself to be in traditional portraits, let's tell your story another way. Maybe it's your baby's tiny fingers wrapped around yours. Maybe it's your cheek resting softly against their head. Maybe it's your arms surrounding the little person who has completely changed your world. Sometimes the most emotional images don't even show your whole face. Sometimes they simply capture your connection. Like the way your thumbs fit in their tiny toes. And those photographs are just as priceless.

One Last Thing

Trust me. You'll look back at those photographs and smile at the woman who thought she wasn't beautiful enough to be in them.

Trust me. She was. 💜 And you baby already knows it.

If you're expecting and would like to plan a newborn session that feels relaxed, comfortable, and focused on your baby, not perfection, I would love to help tell your family's story.