Baby Bump of the Month: On Location, Natural Light Pregnancy Photos

Each month, Sarah previews the cutest baby bump and more information about natural light, on location pregnancy portraiture for expecting mothers to be and couples. Check out the top December session featuring spectacular evening light.

 Dynamic Maternity Images in Houston by Sarah Borchgrevink

Good morning, friends! Today's blog post is all about gorgeous maternity photography and the sweet mama who rocked her on location pregnancy session featuring golden light, a stunning atmosphere and who truly was a joy to document!

If this is your first time here, welcome! I'm Sarah! I specialize in newborn photography, however, each month I take a handful of maternity sessions. These are available to both new and returning clients, however, clients who have also booked a custom newborn baby session have priority on the calendar.

My on location, natural light maternity sessions take place at golden hour, meaning right as the sun is rising or just as the sun is setting. This creates the best Houston maternity portraits that are timeless, stunning, ethereal, and will forever preserve this incredibly special time in your life. Awaiting the arrival of your little one is absolutely a joy - I know you can't wait to meet him or her! 

For this session, we chose a location in Houston, which is where my studio is based, so I typically work in areas that are close to my workplace. This location is a favorite among clients and has the best light of all the options. It is available M-F for sunset only, since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. 

This sweet mommy to be booked both a maternity session and in studio newborn session. Her newborn session is truly fantastic, so I'm looking forward to previewing some of those images, too! :-) Typically, maternity sessions take place when your baby bump is around 34-36 weeks along. Most mothers book 6 weeks in advance. The calendar does fill in advance so if you're interested in a maternity session, I recommend contacting me sooner rather than later. 

Here are some of my favorite images from our time together! Enjoy!

As always, thanks for visiting to see one of the latest projects I'm working on. :-) I always appreciate you taking the time to stop by! If you are perhaps expecting your own little bundle of joy, I would love if you could consider me for your own pregnancy portraits or newborn photos. Wishing you a wonderful week, friends!

If you enjoyed this post about natural light, dynamic pregnancy portraits you may also like reading about:

• Top 9 questions to ask when hiring a newborn photographer
• Where to find the perfect dress for winter photos
• Favorite ways to pose Mom and Newborn Baby

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.

 

Ways to Create Unique Newborn Baby Portraits through Texture | Levi

Houston Newborn Photographer, Sarah Borchgrevink, shares ways to create unique newborn portraits during studio baby sessions.

Texture, Textiles and Timeless Accents Props

Good morning, friends! Thanks for stopping by to view some tips on how texture, textiles and timeless props create unique newborn portraits. My name is Sarah and if this is your first time here, welcome! I specialize in posed newborn photography. Serving the entire Houston area, I delight in working with my most precious clients and cannot express how special these babies are to my heart. I hope you find these tips inspirational in your own sessions. If you're a parent and are looking for a newborn photographer, I'd love if you could consider my professional baby portrait services. Most mothers to be book in their second trimester to ensure availability, though I do my best to fit in all inquiries, however, sometimes there is just not enough of me to go around. However, let's get started!

Hand Knit Bonnets, Hats or Caps

Hand knitted bonnets, hats, or caps are a second way to create gorgeous newborn portraits through texture because the bonnets are always created with different material. Each pattern is unique and each method of stitching is lovely. I like to use these adorable hats during all parts of your session, except for parent posing, since I like these to have as few props as possible. You may be interested in reading the following about parent posing while you're here:

• Outfit inspiration for parent posing

• Sweet and simple family photos during newborn session

• Flattering ways to pose new parents

• Why family photos are important during your posed newborn session

I have these sweet bonnets in every single color so there is always one that looks great on whichever backdrop color you choose to use. For instance, when working with Levi, he looks absolutely breathtaking in a soft, muted heather grey. I pulled a slightly darker grey hat so that there is a little bit of contrast, but not anything too distracting. After all, your session will be timeless and classic through the use of texture and textiles. This bonnet helps to create unique baby portraits because the texture of the stings look lovely as they cascade down his shoulders and also add a bit of interest to the images since the bonnet adorns his sweet little face. My favorite aspect of a hand knitted bonnet is that it frames their cheeks perfectly and makes their face the star.

Gorgeous Organic Wraps

Without a doubt, cozy and unique wrapping is my favorite way to implement texture into your images when creating unique baby photos. This is a cornerstone to all of my newborn work and I cannot begin to tell you how much babies love this! The wrapping keeps baby feeling safe, secure, and also peaceful. After all, as a new mother, you're going to want to remember these sweet fleeting newborn moments in which your baby is fresh and just beginning to be part of this world. The texture of the wraps adds a unique dynamic to your newborn session because each wrap is made with a different material and can be layered in a variety of methods, from chunky knit sweater fabric, to cheese cloth, to any color you can imagine. When paired with a vintage floor props, classic bowl, or adorable knitted bonnet the results are breathtaking! Newborn portraiture is essentially my life and as a Houston newborn photographer and Mom, I cannot tell you how important these sessions are to me. 

Another tip for creating unique baby photographs through texture is to pull props from an earlier part of your session, such as this sage green bonnet and wrap against the light green and muted backdrop. This helps tie the session together, keep things looking cohesive, and ensure there is a lovely theme throughout the images. Also, don't forget to switch up your angles when taking photos of your newborn clients. The texture of the backdrop adds interest to your images because, in this case, the drop is completely seamless and allows baby to shine. The viewer is not looking at anything but baby.

Custom Curated Wood Floors

 Another top for creating gorgeous and breathtaking newborn portraits through texture is having curated wood floors. You may be curious what that means. It's simple: in your studio, you'll have backdrops. For me, I personally chose to have a huge wood wall built by my husband. It was a wedding anniversary gift and he spent about 50 hours working on it. The wood was custom stained by him and he spent hours mixing stains and asking my approval. There is no other wood wall exactly like it, and part of what makes it unique is each board has a different texture added to it. He used a bag of bricks to hit the floors making nicks and grooves; he also used a blow torch to add more character to these floors and even sanded the floors to different depths so that each board has its own look. 

Wooden walls add texture to your photos because each board is different. You can do a variety of things with wood walls from floor props, flokati rugs, using different wraps, etc. For instance, in this set up with baby boy Levi, I pulled a hand knitted bonnet, chunky textured wrap, and a metal pail with a wooden handle so that everything looks like there is contrast. Paired with his handsome little face, I was swooning and bucket shots are always included in each newborn session.

Make sure to move around when photographing this set up so that there's many different angles for parents to select from.

Classic and Vintage Inspired Props 

The last tip I have for you is to select classic props so your baby sessions truly are unique. In this case, texture is a creative element because I pulled a grey classic flokati rug, 2 different hand-dyed cheese cloth wraps, and a chunky knit bump blanket with the white bowl so that all the different textures are harmonious in showing off the softness of Levi's brand new nature. The wrapping allows him to look very curly, just like when he was in the womb. 

Don't forget to do a shot on  the wood floors, too! This is a quick way to achieve two different looks without disturbing baby. 

And of course, this classic green backdrop is a great way to create texture because the softness against baby is classic, timeless and does not distract. 

Styling Behind Your Newborn Session | Be Timeless & Vintage

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer offering timeless and vintage inspired styling for your baby's portraiture session. 

Be timeless in a world of trendy

Good afternoon! Thanks for visiting my blog! Today's blog post is full of great information for you! As an expecting mother, you're probably curious about the newborn options available to you. Please allow me to introduce myself: my name is Sarah and I specialize in the stunning art of posed newborn photography. I am fully vaccinated, insured, and trained in newborn photography. I have taken workshops on newborn safety & handling, soothing, posing, flow, and post processing of your images. This in mind, I take your investment very seriously. I delight in working with your sweet baby and look forward to our time together! 

When booking your newborn session, it's very important you research why your photographer is a good fit for you. Each photographer has a different way of posing and working with newborns; we have props that are specific to our brand. You select your photographer based on the styling of their images. It's pertinent you select someone who is a good fit for you; someone who uses colors you like, especially. There is no "wrong" or "right" way to style your newborns, I promise! It's a personal choice your photographer makes and is part of their brand as an artist.

This blog post explains how I style my newborn sessions. This will help you see the vision behind my newborn portraiture and if I'm a good fit for you. :-) First up: I welcome you to take a little virtual tour of my newborn studio, located in NW Houston near Barker Cypress & 290. This is where all newborn sessions take place, typically in the first 14 days of life. They also take place 7 days a week between the hours of 9 AM - 4 PM. They're typically 1-2 hours long from start to finish. 

Classic, Timeless, Fresh and Pure Newborn Photography

Sometimes parents are curious what it means to use classic or timeless styling. Since they're not newborn photographers themselves, it can feel overwhelming when sifting through the numerous styles you come across. To me, I interpret these terms to be simple, time-honored, and representative of all things beautiful in a newborn. By removing props that date the images, you're able to convey a vintage tone. As women, we all have our little black dress in our closets: this dress is perfect for any occasion and never goes out of style. Vintage is prime because it will forever be stylish. 30 years from now when you view these images, nothing will detract from your precious baby. All you will see is excellent newborn portraiture.

When selecting newborn props for your session, I think of quintessential accessories such as sweet little bonnets which exemplify the chubby cheeks of your baby. Hand created headbands and tie backs adorn your cherub's forehead and will endure the test of time. I remove brands, cartoon characters, sports teams, and hobbies in order to showcase the beauty of newborn. The session should feel endearing, distinguished, and pure - all things adorable about a brand new baby.

By using props that are often an antique, there is an interesting element in the photo but nothing too distracting. Examples of floor props I might use are a metal bucket or pail, wooden box, or a weaved basket. 

The importance of texture & color

The texture and color in your newborn sessions creates character, balance, interest and improves the overall composition of the portrait because these elements are the ultimate framework in showcasing how precious a baby is. Simplicity is key - the photos should look effortless through the listed elements. For instance, I used distressed wood floors that are coarse and rustic; paired with the organic wrap and the fine texture of the knitted plush blanket, your baby is super comfy. Interest is developed this way. The soft bonnet and hands gently folded beneath her chin are the final touches needed.

The colors I generally pull inspiration from are soulful, moving, vibrant and rich. Jewel tones are especially some of my favorites because they illuminate the baby's skin in the most gorgeous way! While I will use a soft neutral or organic tone sparingly, the more dynamic the color scheme is, the more I adore the image. Parents who are seeking vibrance are a wonderful fit for me from an aesetic perspective. 

Simple and Fresh Posing

Newborn posing can be tricky because baby must be very sleepy and new. Part of the reason newborn sessions take place in the first 14 days of life is because this is when babies are most mold-able. They've recently left the womb, and while in there, baby was in all sorts of cute positions, thus making little one super flexible. After all, there's only so much space there and so they're curled up with their feet near their faces, for instance. I choose to pose my newborn sessions as simply as possible; I do this by ensuring baby is the star of the image. I will use a cute tieback or head band (shown below) to suggest the gender of baby, but I remove as many elements as possible so baby is the focal point. The more props you remove, the better your posing has to be because there's nothing to distract the viewer. Instead, the hands need to be gently placed on their face or folded beneath their chin. Their little bodies look lovely when curled up and we can see all the squishy aspects of your brand new little love!

Cozy & Unique Wrapping 

Creative, cozy and adorable wrapping is a cornerstone to all of my newborn sessions. I cannot express how precious this wrapping is and how comfortable and happy it keeps your baby. This wrapping is a favorite of mine and I always do a majority of the session in many different styles. Parents are often in awe when they see how well their babies sleep and we're able to move through the session very quickly and efficiently. Babies love to be wrapped because it reminds them of being in the womb; it keeps them cozy and comfy! Remember: baby spent 9 months in a tight environment at 98.6 degrees, so my newborn sessions emulate this for the comfort of baby.

Here's what this mother had to say about her newborn portraiture experience with Sarah:

The newborn session was great. You could tell that Sarah was very experienced with newborns. I LOVED the rich jewel tones colors that Sarah chose for the session. I'm ecstatic with the results and look forward to having these captured moments displayed in my home.

Thanks for stopping by to read information about styling your newborn session! I hope you found this post to be informative and understand why I use the colors, texture, props I do in order to come up with creative yet classic designs of your little baby! Wishing you a wonderful week!

Warmly,

Sarah

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer specializing in gorgeous posed newborn sessions. Her studio is located in Northwest Houston. 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 North Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, Jersey Village, The Woodlands, Magnolia, Conroe, Willis, Montgomery, Humble, Kingwood, Porter, New Caney, Waller, Memorial & West Houston, Katy, Fulshear, Sugar Land, Pearland, Hempstead, Richmond, West University, Rice Village and Porter TX. Connect to chat with Sarah today! Please consider booking your session at your earliest convenience in order to secure your appointments on the calendar.