Sarah Borchgrevink

October 16, 2017

Newborn

Autumn is here | Fall Inspired Houston Newborn Photography

Sarah Borchgrevink

October 16, 2017

Newborn

Located in Houston, Sarah Borchgrevink has been named as one of the Best Houston Newborn Photographers. Check out this darling full newborn collection inspired by autumnal tones and hues.

Baby Boy M at 7 Days New & Handsome as can be

Check out what M's sweet mama had to say about her newborn portraiture experience with Sarah Borchgrevink Photography:

I can't say enough positive things about our experience with Sarah Borchgrevink Photography. We have chosen Sarah to document both of our children's newborn photos and the results were beautifully stunning photos we will treasure forever. Sarah is extremely talented and professional. She communicated effectively so we were prepared for our session, worked well with our whole family (toddler included) and handled our newborn with care. If you're in the market for newborn photos I highly recommend Sarah!

Howdy to you! Welcome! If this is your first time at my blog , I'm excited to see you're here. If you've managed to find your way here, you may be pregnant and perhaps currently looking around for a great Houston newborn or even maternity photographer. You're in luck! I have many beautiful baby bumps that grace my website and even more squishy newborns!

You may also find these blog posts helpful if you're currently perusing portfolios to see who's a good fit for you:

Rustic Burnt Red for Autumn

Fall is undoubtedly my favorite season. Of course, if you live in the south, we don't have much of an autumn, but we do have a short reprieve in which the humidity levels drop to less than 100 percent and we see some temperatures in the low 80's. As a native Houstonian, I will take this any day! We earn our fall season in the south because it's just so warm year around. One cannot help but be excited about the slight change in seasons; this is when the holidays are closer, a new school year is beginning, there are lots of fun family friendly festivals, and there's just something in the air: anticipation and excitement about what the rest of the year has in store.

However small our changes in seasons are, I cannot help but be inspired when it comes to my newborn fine art sessions. You see, babies are art: sometimes people think newborn photographers just lay babies on a backdrop and snap a few photos, but much more goes into it. We take posing courses, lighting classes, and spend hours mentoring. We learn the best post processing tricks of the trade, invest in thousands of dollars in professional equipment, and are constantly striving to be better at our craft.

This in mind, I ordered a new backdrop to add to my ever growing prop collection. This burnt rustic red is simply divine and really captures the spirit of autumnal hues. I do tend to select classic, timeless pieces and avoid trends at all costs, so color and texture are how I set myself apart. The use of color adds soul and vibrancy to your images, too.

Here are some of my favorite photos from Baby M's full newborn collection! I'll be previewing family later this week so stay tuned to see an adorable older sibling + doting, gorgeous parents.

Wishing you a great week! Come visit again soon!

-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.

Sarah Borchgrevink

October 14, 2017

children, Family

How to Choose the Perfect Outdoor Sunrise Family Session Location

Sarah Borchgrevink

October 14, 2017

children, Family

Tips for finding the best outdoor location for your outdoor family, child or baby sessions

Creating Dynamic and Gorgeous Family Portraits

Howdy, friends! Greetings to you! Today's blog post takes a look into the mind of a photographer. If this is your fist time at my blog, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sarah and I'm located in Houston, TX. I've been a full time photographer since 2013. While every portrait artist has their own methods, these are some tips in how I select locations for your family or maternity portrait sessions. Locations are influenced by many factors, all of which are listed below. I hope you find this post informative and it inspires you to chase the light and embrace modern storytelling.

Choosing the perfect family photo location

Think about the story you'd like to tell

Portrait photography is modern storytelling, crafted with love. Through the use of dynamic and soulful lighting, connected posing, atmosphere, and adorable outfits, you're able to embrace the spirit of the family and show them for who they are. Of course, family, child or maternity sessions will need some direction, so keeping this in mind is how you create images that will be treasured forever.

Your location should reflect the type of story you'd like to tell. For instance, when choosing this location I wanted to showcase a beautiful family who are celebrating their darling baby girl's first year of life. They're young, hip, carefree, and having a wonderful parenthood journey. This in mind, I like to use Hermann Park, in Houston, for sunrise family sessions. You do have to move quickly since the light is fleeting, but oh the light is so delicious and swoon worthy! Hermann Park is also one of Houston's most visited public parks as it's centrally located between Fannin Street and Cambridge Street, right in the heart of the medical district. There are over 5.5 million visits per year and 445 acres since its creation in 1914 (source). This alone should tell you many people marvel at its natural beauty, central location, and large area you may utilize.

Flexibility

You should ask yourself, "Is this location flexible? Will this look nice for all of the set ups needed for a family session?" You see, when photographing families, especially those with young children, the session may not be traditional in the sense where everyone is sitting nicely, smiling at the camera. Gone are the days of stiff portraits. Instead, many photographers, including myself, enjoy encouraging families to interact with one another. I want you to be who you are: connect with your spouse, play with your children, showcase the familiar bonds and connections. Years from now you will reflect on these images and see they are connection to who you are, what you've built, and when your children young. I promise you that will you miss them being small, and I absolutely adore all the photos of my own three little ones. Another aspect of flexibility you may want to consider is if the location is centrally located. In a city that's geographically large, it's nice to have options for parents who live inside the 610 loop.

Does it require a permit?

In the city of Houston, a professional photography permit is often required for nearly all parks and many gardens. According to the Hermann Park Conservancy, their photography policy is:

Any commercial use of any city property requires a permit. A professional photographer must obtain a permit for a photography session in Hermann Park by calling the City of Houston at 832-394-8805. Professional photography is not permitted in the Japanese Garden.

Before shooting at any location, I do make sure I am covered legally. I would never want to be removed from a location, so if you're a professional photographer in Houston, think of permits like this: you would hope your own clients will respect your contract and as professionals, we should all respect the contracts of city parks. I say this as a friendly reminder. It would also be really embarrassing to be "kicked out" of a location in the middle of a session. Always act with caution and perceive risk: if a permit is required, you can go through the proper channels and you'll be glad you did so.

Keep the season in mind

As mentioned in an earlier post this month, in Houston we essentially have two seasons: hot and hotter. However, there is a brief time in October - December where we have these gorgeous mornings in which the weather is in the high 70's. Part of why I love to photograph young families and children during the gorgeous sunrise lighting is because the weather is better. Your location should keep the season in mind by ensuring all outfit styles look nice in the settings.

Dynamic and soulful lighting

The heart of my family portraiture work is providing dynamic and soulful lighting during my sessions. I exclusively shoot during golden hour, which is sunrise and sunset. It's a very short window of time in which the light is soft, golden, and is either coming up over the horizon or setting beneath the trees, depending on if you're photographing a client during sunrise or sunset. This is how you take your images to the next level: while some photographers may say you can achieve this look in Photoshop, I believe your photos should look fantastic straight out of camera. You want to do minimal work and processing on the final images.

Well, folks! That's it for now. Be sure to check back soon for more photography tips I'd love to share with you. These simple yet effective tips will help you find locations that showcase your brand and shooting style.

Newborn Session Flow | Keeping Baby Content during Your Portraits

Sarah Borchgrevink

October 12, 2017

Family, Newborn

Specializing in the art of of newborn photography for Houston babies, Sarah Borchgrevink offers beautiful collections that practice newborn safety.

The Importance of Studio session flow

The session flow is one of the most important parts of your newborn session. Session flow is how we move from set up to set up. During our time together, we will be accomplishing a lot! Even my mini session, with is the entry level newborn collection, is full of variety. By using a flow that is successful, I am able to move effortlessly through the set ups, keep baby safe, calm and happy. I also am able to provide you with gorgeous images of your precious baby!

Newborn sessions typically begin at 11 AM and last around 1-2 hours, depending on your session type. My wrapped minis are usually done in less than an hour while a full session is closer to two.

Sometimes moms tell me they're nervous before the session. They worry baby may be fussy or will not sleep. Don't worry: you're given a prep guide full of great information. I am also formally trained in the custom art of posed newborn photography. I have taken workshops on safety, handling, wrapping, posing, lighting and also post processing of your images. I am extremely comfortable working with new babies and pride myself on patience, safety, and ensuring everyone has a great experience! I am excited to work with you!

White Noise Machine

Once you enter my studio and become seated, I turn on a white noise machine. The white noise mimics the noise baby hears when inside the womb. The perks of the white noise are that it settles baby, it reminds her of a calm place, and also helps her stay asleep as we move through set ups. We want her to be in a deep sleep so she does not startle or jolt suddenly. Newborn safety is of the utmost importance during your session. White noise is the backbone to keeping her content.

Full, Sleepy Baby

Upon arriving to my studio, you'll be seated and we'll begin feeding baby in whichever manner you're most comfortable doing. Some moms formula feed, some pump, and some nurse. If you're comfortable pumping, this is usually the 'easist' way to get the session started, but there's no pressure. I have three little girls myself, and am pregnant with a boy (ha!) so I am well versed in doing what's best for your family. You've also been given a newborn prep guide, so before coming to my studio you know what's going to happen. Once baby is fed, burped, and her diaper is changed so she's clean, we start the session.

A Warm Environment

My studio is kept at around 80 degrees. When you first arrive, I have the air on 77 degrees since family photos take first. This temperature is what keeps baby happy and calm. When she's growing in the womb, she's used to your body temperature, which is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The more your studio emulated a womb-like environment, the better baby does. She will be molded into super curly, squishy poses. After family photos take place, however, feel free to put on a pair of yoga pants and put your hair up into a messy bun - I know it's warm but the photos are well worth it! Also: bring a snack, book, or just hang out. You're welcome to ask any questions and of course, I am excited to chat with you!

Cozy, Secure Wrapping

As soon as you feed and burp baby (I can also help you with this, too!) I'll begin wrapping baby for family photos. I always implement three unique styles of adorable newborn session wrapping. The wrapping immediately gets baby into a deep sleep and makes her easier for you to hold. She also looks like a perfect package!

Baby is now the star

After family photos take place, baby is the focus. I will move through many poses and set ups, so be prepared to see how stunning your little one is! For instance, we go from family into a bean bag set up seen here:

Potato pose & flokati rug

Your potato sack pose and flokati rug set up are next. Baby is super snugly and love this part! Don't forget: all styling is provided by me so you just hang back and watch. No pressure.

Let's Move iT TO THE FLOOR

Squishy, Mold-able and Precious posing

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.