High School Sweethearts Justin & Ashley | Love Story + a Miracle Baby Boy

Featured Natural Light, Outdoor Maternity Session for the Month of June.

Howdy, friends! Today's blog post is all about my favorite pregnancy portraits from the month of June. Ashley and Justin's photo shoot took place in northwest Houston during sunset. It also happened to be Ashley's birthday so it was a fun way to celebrate her that day! Cozy up and get comfy to see highlights from their session + for a little q&a. 

How did you two meet?

We went to rival high schools, but we met in church when we were 15 on the Fourth of July. Later that summer, on Labor Day, we went bowling and started "going out". We've pretty much been together ever since. By the time the baby arrives, we will have been together 19 years (10 years of dating; 9 years of marriage)!

What is a favorite color in Baby's nursery?

The nursery is a monochromatic safari theme, but we did an accent wall in Sherwin Williams Outerspace. It's this dark, dark grayish blue. It's nice because it's a masculine color but it's also very soothing.

What was the first thing Dad did when you two found out you're expecting?

It's hard to remember! It was a shock. Long story short, prior to getting pregnant, we were told I was in premature ovarian failure, and the chances of us conceiving with my eggs was around 5%. We were actually gearing up to start an IVF cycle at the time I found out I was pregnant. It was a BIG but HAPPY surprise. Hopefully Baby Boy won't be our last, but he is definitely our little miracle!

What is Baby's due date?

August 16th

Any pregnancy cravings? Favorite meal?

I like to have vegetarian sushi or the Airstream Salad from Torchy's for lunch. Those are my GOOD cravings. But my most consistent, longest running craving is ice cream. We go to a lot of Astros games, and if you can't have a cold IPA, Bluebell in a cone is the next best thing :) I seriously eat ice cream almost every day. I think it's how I'm surviving the summer heat.

What are you most excited about in terms of being a mom?

To see different traits from my husband, Justin, and myself in our baby. I remember thinking I was nothing like my parents growing up, and now I see parts of my mom and dad's personalities reflected in me ALL the time. And to see his unique personality, what he likes, how he thinks.

Any fur siblings?

We have 2 Toy Australian Shepherds; Rookie, our male that's 2, and Pip, our female that's almost 1. Her birthday is 3 days before the baby's due date, so hopefully she doesn't have to share her special day :)

 What's the first thing you bought for baby?

It's kind of a strange purchase, but I bought these animal prints that I knew I wanted for the nursery. They are gender-neutral, so whether it was a boy or girl, I knew they would work. It was kind of a celebratory purchase once we made it to the 11 week mark and felt we could breathe a little easier.

Do you have any nicknames for your baby bump?

 Since we haven't decided on baby's name just yet, we have quite a few, but probably the funniest nickname came from our niece. She just turned 7, and is really into martial arts / karate, so she watches lots of that stuff on YouTube. From pretty early on, she has called the baby "John Cena". She says if we name him that, he will be the strongest baby in the world. It's kind of hard to argue with that logic! But it's stuck, it's a joke in our family now. 

See more highlights from their session:

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer specializing in gorgeous posed newborn sessions. Her studio is located in Northwest Harris County. In addition to breathtaking baby portraiture, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting mothers and couples. Sarah joyfully serves the entire Harris and Montgomery county areas including Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Memorial & West Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Richmond, West University and Rice Village.

 

FAQ From Clients: What to Wear to Baby's Newborn Photo Session

In Studio Family Photos during Newborn Session: What Should Parents or Siblings Wear?

Booking your baby's first professional portraits is truly exciting! You've waited months to meet the baby and have dreamed of holding them in your arms! Now that you've selected your photographer and are gearing up for a great session, you may be a little unsure what to wear to your newborn session. Have no fear! As a professional newborn photographer plus mom (I mean, I DO have four kiddos!) I know how important these images are to you. You'll treasure them forever. You would like to look and feel your best. I'm here to guide you and provide an amazing, laid back experience for you new parents.

Creams, Beige, and White | Top Colors that Photograph Best

When your baby arrives, you'll receive a newborn prep guide from me. This is a detailed guide that tells you everything to expect, such as how to prepare your new arrival for the spotlight, but also covers when your family images will take place and how to dress for those. In my studio, I use a large wood wall for the photos. Because it's rustic, I prefer neutrals and lighter tones against the dark wood. My least favorite options are black and prints; my favorite is always beige, cream, taupe, ecru, white, etc. These tones are natural, classic, and will not detract for your little one during the session.

The V-Neck for Dad | Classic, Clean,Timeless

One of my favorite poses of Dad and Newborn Baby is when Dad is holding the baby against his chest; I love how Dad is the protector here. Baby is so small and new they literally fit in the palm of Dad's hand. During this portion, a v-neck that's fitted is a great outfit choice because it will forever be classic. There are no distracting prints or colors; Dad's arms are also showcased in comparison to the tiny newborn so it makes for a beautiful image! Any brand of these v-neck t-shirts is totally fine. Some parents buy them at Target or you can also find them at stores such as JCrew. Most men already have these in their closet, so it's one less thing to worry about on the morning of baby's photography session. For all of my family and parent posing, the baby is wrapped in a simple style so they're the perfect little bundle of joy you can hold. I always pull a wrap that looks nice against the cream or lighter tones I prefer you wear.

Simple Top or Maxi Dress for Mom

Moms are usually most nervous about the family photos because they worry about how they'll look. All photos, however, at my studio are hip up so baby is the star. I pose baby so you they act as a prop. I typically don't do a lot of images in which Mom is staring into the camera and smiling; it's more about connecting with your baby. A great idea for Mom to wear is a maxi dress or even the maternity gown from the baby shower, or, if you had pregnancy portraits with me, you probably purchased a dress for those images. You can definitely wear the same dress again. Not only will this makes thing easier for you, the dresses are usually jersey knit, which is a breathable textile. It's stretchy, soft, and you'll be able to move easily.

Sibling: Jean or khakis +A Light Cotton Top

The sibling portion always makes mom's heart soar! This is a very popular request for sessions and we set aside an additional 30 minutes for these setups. I like to pose the older sibling on their back while the eldest child holds the new baby. This is a safe way for them to interact without worrying if the baby will be dropped. A neutral colored flokati, such as cream or white, is a really pretty option here. Little ones look super precious in classic, natural attire such as dark wash blue jeans, perhaps even khaki pants, and then a simple top in a lighter color, such as beige, cream, white, or tan. 

Thanks for stopping by to see my favorite colors in the studio, plus some tips on what to wear for our time together in the studio! 

Let's recap this post:

• Avoid bright colors, such as neon or even dark tones, such as black

• Maxi dresses or light, airy tops are great for Mom

• V-neck t-shirts are fabulous for Dad

• Sibling looks adorable in simple top and dark wash jeans

• Target, Kohls, J-Crew, or even Amazon are great resources for shopping. Your own closet is full of inspiration I bet, too!

If you are pregnant and are thinking about booking a professional newborn portrait artist in the Houston area, I would love to be considered for your photo needs! Let's chat! I look forward to hearing more about your family.

Last Week in Studio: Little Sitters, Siblings, Parents, and New Arrivals

Offering adorable baby milestone sessions as well as posed newborn photography featuring sibling, parent, and family setups, Sarah shares highlights from last week's sessions! 

Howdy, friends! Today's blog post is a fun one because you get to see last week's sessions + what makes them special. Welcome! Let's get started!

Big Brother Link | Newborn Photography with Sibling

This sweet big brother, named Link, could not have been sweeter during his sibling portion of little sister's newborn session. Link is not even two years old, yet, either, so this is a great posing idea for sibling. These images are included in the "full' newborn collection, but are also available as an add on in every other collection I offer, such as the wrapped mini, bean bag mini, and petite sessions. My favorite part of this setup is how clean and classic all the colors are; I adore timeless and vintage inspired sessions, so the lace headband, ivory wrap, cream flokati rug, and simple white shirt and dark wash jeans are the perfect outfit for a sibling and newborn baby girl setup. Link was especially special to me because he was so tender and soft with his baby sister.

Mia at nearly 3 weeks new

Mia is a brand new arrival who visited my Houston Newborn Baby Portrait Studio at just under 3 weeks old. Her session is special because she's the first baby who's mama booked my brand new session offering, called the newborn wrapped mini! Featuring gorgeous textiles, antique and rustic floor props, and full styling such as bonnets and dainty tiebacks, this is a great option for babies who are 30 days or newer. This is designed for parents seeking just a few stunning and unique images of their new cherub. These sessions are also special because they're under an hour long so you're in and out of the studio really quickly! 

Grady's Little Sitter Session at 7 Months Old

Handsome Grady absolutely stole my heart! From the moment his mama brought him into the studio, he was all smiles. His captivating blue eyes and strawberry blond hair had me wanting to snuggle him the entire time! We did several setups, 5-6, and really showcased adorable outfits that are available to all of my clients. Full styling and accessories are provided for all little sitter sessions, including baby milestone photography. You may be interested in reading about 14 New Outfits in My Client Closet + everything you need to know about sitter milestone baby sessions. These sessions set themselves apart because there are (3) pricing tiers you may select from; this caters to different budgets and also offers affordable Houston Baby Photography to new parents. There's a mini, standard, or deluxe package.

First time parents Rachel & Brian | Family + Newborn Photography

Rachel and Brian were such a treat to photograph in studio! They visited when their little girl was just under a week old. I was completely impressed with them, too! Mom is a pediatrician and just finished her residency, right when having a new baby! They even were in the middle of closing on their house and moving just a few short days later. Talk about super parents, huh? For their parent portion, Mom wore a stunning blush top that looks lovely against the white light; Dad wore a classic blue button up. Adorned with an ivory wrap and soft, muted pink headband, their little lass is the perfect bundle of joy. Mom and Dad booked the 'petite' option on my pricing guide. This is the perfect collection for first time parents who would like lovely images such as mom with baby, dad with baby, and parents together with baby.

Aria at 7 Days Fresh | New Earth side Arrival

It's no secret that Houston Newborn Photography is my specialty and where I thrive! Nothing gives me as much joy as working with babies who are less than a month old; preserving this time for parents is incredibly rewarding and I cannot believe I call this my full-time job! Parent of being one of the best Houston Newborn Photographers (2016-2018) is offering beautiful setups that are not only unique and timeless but also showcase baby in the most precious of ways! Baby in a bucket is part of every session I do. Aria weighs just over 7 pounds and has a head full of gorgeous dark brown hair. Her tiny fingers, button nose, and sweet lips truly are stunning. You may be interested in also reading 7 Tricks to Rock Baby in a Bucket Pose, which also focuses on newborn safety and training.

Heidi | 8 Days old at 6 pounds

Beautiful Heidi visited at 8 days old and her session featured tons of naked bean bag posing, which was Mom's preference. The main color in her session was aquamarine with teal accents. Her session is special because all of my newborn props are hand-crafted by incredible vendors all over the world! This headband, for instance, is from the UK and is from a great gal called Created by Carli. Her items are impeccable; while they are an investment, they set newborn sessions apart through creativity, unique looks, and also they're dainty and petite. My preference is for all the styling to fit my brand which is rustic, classic, dreamy, timeless. 

Lily Rose | 8 pounds & 7 days old

Lily Rose is a completely gorgeous baby girl! At over 8 pounds, technically nearly 9, she was so squishy and chubby! Her cheeks and beautiful features are perfection! I adore this setup of her, which features cream, ivory, lace, and a wooden rustic bowl because we're able to see her face, hands, toes, and she looks completely at peace. When working with new arrivals, such as precious newborn babies, the sessions are very laid back and serene. Your baby should never be in distress or crying. I have years of experience and pride myself on finishing my sessions in 2 hours or less. 

Baby girl M | Lovely Lilac & Lavender 

Baby girl M came for her newborn session at just over a week old. Weighing 6 pounds and having a breathtaking head full of hair, this little lady was the perfect newborn session! She slept beautifully for me and rocked each and every one of her poses. Her color scheme showcases many purple tones such as lavender and lilac. Soft, muted, classic. The quintessential colors for a dainty little lady! Her session was also a favorite of mine because her parents are long time clients! I've been working with them for years, so it was really fun to catch up with them during their fall family session, Mom's outdoor, natural light maternity session, and then see them again for the posed newborn appointment. 

Michelle & Jeff | Baby Plan Membership Clients

Michelle and Jeff were great to have in studio! On top of being wonderful and sweet, they're also baby plan membership clients with a maternity session add-on. This means they secured an outdoor, natural light pregnancy portraiture session, posed in-studio newborn photos, and I'll also see them for their little girl's 7 month sitter session and even a 12 month cake smash & splash! You may enjoy seeing their maternity session featuring two adorable fur siblings!

Are you currently looking for a portrait photographer who specializes in stunning belly to first year sessions? Let's chat! I am always happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer specializing in gorgeous posed newborn sessions. Her studio is located in Northwest Harris County. In addition to breathtaking baby portraiture, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting mothers and couples. Sarah joyfully serves the entire Harris and Montgomery county areas including Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Memorial & West Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Richmond, West University and Rice Village.

Here's where Sarah's Houston Photo Studio is Located: