Laura Babywearing | Mikaela Joy: El Paso Portrait Photographer

It's been a long, stressful couple months.  Since I last posted we packed up all our stuff, sold our house, and moved to El Paso Texas.  As you can imagine,  that was a lot to happen in a very short period of time and I got a bit behind on blogging. 

So it's time to catch up!  Over the next span of weeks, I will be sharing lots of older sessions, mixed in with the newer ones.  This one is from 2016, but its one that I'm still very excited about!  We had so much fun!

At the start of this session I had a very specific vision.  I had recently received a woven wrap (Pavo etini magnolia, in case anyone is interested) that I thought would go perfectly with my newest tulle skirt creation.  I had the image shown above in my head and sought out to create it.  But with such a beautiful family in my studio, I obviously couldn't stop there.  We had a lot of fun with some family shots and individual portraits as well.

Aren't these girls just wonderful?!

If you are interested in your own babywearing or family session, please contact me to set up your complimentary consultation today.

Julie Babywearing Session | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Portrait Photographer

You all know I love babywearing sessions.  There is nothing more beautiful than a bond between mom and baby and there's something really special about the way that babywearing helps strengthen that bond. So of course I was excited to work with these two for a studio babywearing session. 

This little guy, on the other hand, wasn't all that excited.  Luckily he had his mom close for lots of cuddling and tickling to keep his mood in check.  Aren't they cute?!

If you'd like to book your own portrait session please contact me to set up your complimentary consultation.

Reina's Family Photos | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

This was another one of those sessions that consisted of just about everything I love.  Reina is a friend of mine and I photographed her little guy (who is not little anymore) as a newborn. She is a breastfeeding, babywearing, super-mom with a big family to care for and I was thrilled when she asked for updated photos of her youngest, as well as some family portraits.  

This session was great- I got to use the perfect location (which happens to be their backyard-jealous), a gorgeous high-end baby wrap, and to work with this beautiful, amazing family.  We had a great time, and I'm excited to do it again when they are ready for another update.  It's so much fun watching these kids grow up!

Kristin Motherhood Session | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Portrait Photographer

Breastfeeding photo sessions always end up being my favorites, and this one was no exception.  Kristin and her little boy are coming to the end of their breastfeeding journey, and wanted to commemorate the bond they shared with some photos.  It's a bond like none other and deserves to be remembered. 

Breastfeeding is a lot of things.  It's full of drool, and spit up, leaky boobs, and getting kicked in the face.  It can be frustrating, painful, and monotonous, whether it's the hours spent on the pump or when baby wants fed for the third time in an hour. But it's so much more than all of that.  There's something so amazing about being able to provide everything a little person needs from one's own body.  It's about those late nights when the baby falls asleep on your chest and sweetly suckles in his sleep, or those moments when you make eye contact and he smiles up at you.  Breastfeeding is a crazy, frustrating, never-gonna-end/is-it-over-already roller coaster.  And it's damn beautiful, too.

I'm so happy that Kristin trusted me with these memories.  It was so wonderful to meet these two strong, beautiful people and share this time with them, because moments like this shouldn't be forgotten.

Prepping for your Babywearing Mini | Mikaela Joy Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

Here at Mikaela Joy Photography we are gearing up for more babywearing minis!  Have you booked one yet?  If not, please get in touch because we still have a few openings.

As I'm fielding the inquiries, I've been getting a lot of questions about how to prep for the sessions, so here are a few tips to get you ready.

Carrier Choice

I've been getting a lot of questions about what type of carrier to use for minis.  Is my tula ok? Is my ring sling ok? My definitive answer is yes.  While your babywearing mini is somewhat about the carrier (how could it not be with some of the beautiful textiles we use to hold our children), what it is really about is the bond between you and your child.  I want you to wear something that both of you are comfortable in, something that makes you smile whenever you put it on.  Whether that is a baby bjorn or an expensive handwoven wrap, we will use it to take some beautiful pictures of you and your child.

That said, there are a couple considerations for how to hold your child.  Back carries work well for portraits, but often don't show a lot of interaction between mom and baby.  Front carries are good for interaction and snuggly photos (if you have a snuggly baby).  Hip carries can be the best of both worlds if it's a position your baby likes.  Ultimately you know your baby best and know what will work for you two.  We will have time to switch carries once during your session, but any more than that will be tight.

Clothes

When it comes to clothing for your mini session, simple is generally better.  We want you, your baby, and your carrier to stand out.  So choose your carrier and plan around that.  A good idea is a plain tee and jeans or a simple dress/skirt. Keep in mind how chest belts and other carrier features will interact with your clothing choices. For example, loose clothing will often look better with a chest belt whereas a waist belt may cause the same clothing to sit strangely.

Don't forget to pay attention to detail!  Chipped nail polish, a hairband around your wrist, or bra straps sticking out can really detract from an otherwise beautiful photo.

Makeup

Makeup is an important consideration for photos. I've asked Abbie, a fellow VBE with Savannah Slingers as well as a licensed esthetician and makeup artist, to create a video with makeup tips for your session. You can check out more of her stuff here

Posing

This is one thing you don't have to worry about.  I've got you covered.  You'll probably hear me asking you to bring your forehead forward, chin down, lean forward, etc and it will feel super awkward.  I know it does. But just trust me that it will make your portrait look that much better.  Sometimes I won't pose you at all.  My favorite photos are the ones that show interaction between you and your baby.  I want it to look natural.

Are you as excited for these next couple rounds of mini sessions as I am?  So far they have been an absolute blast and we've come up with some great pictures.  As I mentioned before, we still have a few slots left, so sign up while they are available!

And don't forget to like my facebook page to see all the updates about future mini sessions, casting calls, and other great deals.  You don't want to miss out.

The Little Moments & Getting in the Picture | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

There are constantly moments where I think "God I wish I had my camera."  I see things every day that I frame into a photo in my head but never take the shot for various reasons (no camera with me, no patience for my photography shenanigans from the people I'm with).  Usually these are passing moments with strangers that I won't ever think about again, but often they are moments in my own life- moments that I would have loved to have captured and printed. Being a photographer means that the lives of the people closest to me are very well documented.  I have taken several pictures of my son for every day of his life.  I do photo shoots with him every month.  I take pictures of any friends that will let me and bring my camera to most events I attend.  But I'm hardly ever in the picture.

I think a lot of moms can relate to this.

It's so easy to get caught up in capturing every moment of your kids lives.  But what about one's own progress during this time?  Being a mom completely changes a person.  When I look at photos of myself before and after having my son, I see an entirely different person.  My body has changed, my outlook has changed, everything about my life is a little bit different.

Obviously, I believe in the importance of photography.  I want my son to look back at old pictures of us with amazement- at both the changes in himself and in me.  I want him to see the way I smiled at him as he "helped" me cook, the proud look on his face as he takes his first steps.

This is why I place my focus in lifestyle photography.  When I look back at posed pictures from my childhood I laugh at the way we all looked and the clothes we all wore, but it doesn't represent my life to me.  The pictures that resonate are the ones in a baby carrier strapped to my father as he gives commands to the family dog, or the photo of my brother and I playing together, me standing in his work boots.

As I capture these moments for others, I've been making a point to be sure they are taken in my own life as well. Whether it's through the art of self portraiture (and some  plain old lselfies, too) or by handing off my camera on occasion, I want to be sure that these memories are saved.  They are too important to miss.