Why I Chose To Photograph My Own Son’s Session | Jack Alexander

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography, located in Northwest Harris County, is a full time newborn portrait artist serving Houston and surrounding areas. See more fun details about the latest squish, Jack Alexander, and why Sarah chose to do his posed newborn photos.

Introducing Jack Alexander  | The Chief to the Tiny Tribe of Wild Women

Good afternoon, friends! I am really excited about this particular blog post because it's all about introducing the latest member of the Borchgrevink family, Jack! This post also shares why I chose to photograph his posed newborn portraits myself.

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you may remember we announced this pregnancy in July when I was around 20 weeks pregnant. We purposely waited to find out the gender before telling everyone since we already have three little girls. They’re named Lucy, Emma and Amelia, however, we lovingly refer to them as the Tiny Tribe of Wild Women.

It turns out baby number 4 is a BOY! This was a really fun surprise and while all babies are wonderful and ultimately, the goal is a healthy bundle of joy, we truly are excited about adding a chief to the little tribe because parenting a boy is a new experience.

His due date was originally 12/15, which was super fun since my birthday is 12/14 and Amelia’s is 12/9, but he decided he wanted to cook longer and hung out for over a week before making his grand entrance!

Jack Alexander Borchgrevink was born at Cy Fair Hospital on December 23rd, 2017. His official birth time was 1:57 PM. Weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces he is the perfect little man; he was also 20 inches long and his head was 14 and ½ inch, his chest 13 and ¼ inch. All in all, things went very smoothly! While you're here: check out what I recommend for packing a hospital back + must haves for delivering at Cy-Fair Medical Center. It's my fourth baby here, after all, ha! 

When it came to deciding on professional newborn portraits, I did book a fantastic in home lifestyle newborn photographer. After all, I am very excited about adding a new baby to our family and the lifestyle session will have a lot of family photos. I want to be in the images and I am looking forward to having truly lovely sibling shots, too. 

Nevertheless, for the posed portion it felt really personal. Jack is my last baby and this is my gift to him; to photograph him in his most precious state. There is a plethora of amazing newborn studios in Houston Texas, so this decision is not based on lack of talent by any means. The options are endless and I'm thrilled to be friends with many newborn artists who truly shine. While I was pregnant with Baby Boy Jack, I planned his session from the moment I saw the positive (+) sign, ha! I did not know his gender then, but I knew I could not wait to meet baby.

Being a mommy myself truly helps me identify with the exciting emotions surrounding the joy of bringing home a new baby. Whether it's your first or last baby, you spend months dreaming of their face, talking about names, decorating the nursery, preparing your home for this precious little life, and your heart is exploding because you already love him or her so much. It's unconditional love. Hearing the heartbeat for the first time is the most beautiful sound to a mothers ears; seeing their profile on the ultrasound makes you so happy, and sharing that experience with your spouse or partner leads you to feel closer to them. 

This in mind, I had a whole session set up for Jack before he even arrived. I made lists and wrote out a session plan. I broke his session up into about 4 days so I was able to concentrate on different aspects without feeling rushed. 

Day 1: Cozy and unique wrapping such as tootsie, potato, and womb. Check out my three favorite ways to wrap newborn babies, too!

Day 2: Macro Images (up close details like lips, toes, his chin, baby magic, ahhh!)

Day 3: Floor props like bucket, bowl, crate, and a wooden trench.

Day 4: Flokati rugs and naked bean bag posing 

Working with Jack was my love letter to him: one day, when he is married or graduates college, I will have timeless and gorgeous newborn portraits of him, the most precious and tender time in which he entered the world. I spent about 6 hours on these images, but they'll last for a lifetime and I will always have these images in an album to look back on and cherish. Newborn photography is *absolutely* an investment, however, you're commissioning an artist to preserve this incredibly special time for you - it is fleeting and one you can never capture again so by booking someone who specializes in posed newborn portraits you're selecting someone who will treat your baby's session with the utmost care, respect and love. 

Without further delay, present Jack Alexander Borchgrevink + my favorite images of him. If you check back in a few weeks I'll be blogging some wall art options and how we will be displaying these images in our home.

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday. All my joy to you friends!

Warmly,

Sarah

Thanks for visiting my blog to see more of Jack Alexander + tips and tricks to photographing your own newborn baby!

If you liked reading about newborn session ideas and why I liked documenting his first professional session, these topics may pique your interest, too! Enjoy, friends! :-)

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Specializing in timeless posed baby portraiture, Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer serving the surrounding areas including Houston metro & 610 area, Cypress, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, West University, Memorial & Galleria, Bellaire and The Woodlands, TX. See why Sarah offers the Best Newborn Photography. In addition to breathtaking newborn images, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting couples.

Here's Where Sarah's Newborn Studio is Located:

5 Must Have Newborn Studio Props you can find on Amazon Prime

Top Houston Baby Photographer, Sarah Borchgrevink, shares the best 5 Awesome Props for Your Studio and where to find them on Amazon Prime! 

Newborn props, accessories, and ideas to start your portraiture studio

Howdy! Greetings to you! Thanks for stopping by to read about the 5 must have props for any newborn photography studio. When working with sweet little ones, many parents often ask, "Where do you find your props? How did you get started on this vast collection?" I always tell them I began just where everyone else does: at the beginning. It's taken about 5 years for me to curate the huge array of items you see in my studio.

However, today you're in for a treat because I am sharing 5 awesome props that are versatile, affordable, and can be found on Amazon Prime, yay! Who does not love two day shipping? 

# 1 | Newborn Layer & Wraps

Newborn wraps are the number one prop you need! However, a wrap can be made from essentially anything that's a great textile. The wrap above can be found here and I have them in each color available. As seen above, you can use the linked item to wrap baby, use as a layer, or just add variety and texture. 

If you like those for wraps, however, you may also love this one, this chunky knit, or this gorgeous option, too!

# 2 | Rustic and Enamel Metal Bucket or Pail

Every newborn photography studio needs an awesome bucket. I have a selection of wooden, metal or even wire, however, this enamel bucket was one of the first I ever purchased so it has a soft spot in my heart, lol! It fits essentially any baby, is durable, and you can also paint it yourself or add any type of embellishment. It's a blank canvas so the perfect item to start your newborn prop collection.

Here are a few additional options you may swoon over, too!

• Mustard & saffron colored pail
• Large Aqua Enamel Pail
• Pink Round Basin
• Country & Rustic Distressed Round Bowl

# 3 | Flokati Rug (Grey, Cream or White)

Flokati rugs are a huge favorite of mine because they add texture to your session. Plus they're so soft and perfect, just like a new baby. Check out my favorites below! 

The perfect grey flokati rug is a natural grey color, which is adorable for both boys or girls. However, a cream or white option is awesome, too! 

If you like a little more color in your life, though, here is a vegan and cruelty free option that's a soft baby pink you may love or a darling baby boy blue, too!

# 4 | Teddy Bear Hat & Matching Stuffed Animal Bear

These adorable animal hats are such a hit with parents! They're requested often and really are adorable as they lend a sweet and timeless feel to the images. If you like the soft knitted or crocheted look to your photos, you may love these bunny hats and stuffed animals, or cute newborn outfits for your photography sessions!

# 5 | Oval Wire Basket

Finally, every photography needs a classic oval wire basket prop in their studio because it's the perfect way to pose a newborn baby! I pair these with all sorts of things, such as a vintage quilt seen below. They can be used with both girl or boy newborn babies, so they're the best fit for any newborn studio! 

Thanks again for stopping by to see the top 5 items I recommend for any newborn photographer! I hope you enjoyed reading and hopefully found some neat items to get you started! If you enjoyed reading about the best newborn props on Amazon, you may like clicking over to see more information on these topics:

• Check List for Packing Your Hospital Bag + Labor & Delivery
• Using Floor Props to Style Stunning Newborn Sessions
• How to Create Gorgeous Swoon Worthy Light in Studio

Specializing in posed baby portraits, Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer serving the surrounding areas including Houston metro area, Cypress, Katy, Spring, The Heights, Sugar Land, West University, Bellaire, and The Woodlands, TX. In addition to breathtaking newborn images, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting couples.

Feminine & Dainty Newborn Girl Photography | Houston Baby Photos

Houston Newborn Photographer, Sarah Borchgrevink, offers stunning newborn girl photography that is soft, dainty, and feminine.

Hi, friends! Welcome! I'm thrilled you're here to see one of the latest newborn baby girl's I've had in my Houston Newborn Photo Studio. When it comes to working with fresh new babies, their sessions take place in the first 18 days, as this is when babies are most curly and able to be molded into precious images. However, I also offer a plethora of gorgeous newborn wrapping, as this is a cornerstone to all of my baby portraiture. 

When booking, this sweet baby girl's mom requested the session to be soft, neutral, and dainty. After all, what's more lovely than a brand new baby girl? With this inspiration in mind, I pulled many great props from my stash. For instance, for her first set up, I pulled an adorable organic wrap, petite tieback to adorn her little forehead, and a bowl to showcase how new and curly she is.

After her bowl set up, we moved to a gorgeous cream backdrop. This style of wrapping is one of my favorites because it keeps baby happy, safe, and they are able to be "molded" into sweet poses with their hands, especially. It's important baby looks serene and at peace.

For her flokati set up, I really focused on a vintage tie back, seen below, and a classic bonnet. The flokati rug is tan, so it's about as neutral as you can get! While I really enjoy using color, neutrals can be very soothing and will look wonderful with many styles of decor in your home. After all, the photos are meant to be displayed along your walls and albums should line your shelves. You'll never regret having a newborn session. 

I like to use this cradle with both newborn girls and boys, however, the styling can differ depending on the gender. Nevertheless, this lovely sage bonnet and wrap are perfect for this sweet baby girl. You see, green is fantastic because it can be both bold or soft, depending on your preferences. I personally like this sage because it's a little bit muted, which adds to the vintage vibe I like to encompass. This cradle was a great find in my local antique shop! That's where I find most of my floor props - just hunting and looking for treasures, ha!

After the cradle, I pulled a rustic wooden bucket and a grey wrap that also has hints of lavendar. Like green, grey is one of those colors that can be masculine or feminine, depending on the hue. For instance, this one is soft and has more of a heather tone to it, so it's perfect for a little lady. At 9 days fresh and new, baby girls are truly just a dream!

After my floor props, we move to back to bean bag to do the adorable "tucked in" shot and the tootsie wrap. The tucked in shot is a fun way to bring in another color you've seen earlier in the session; this bonnet is perfect because it's the muted sage but also is not distracting. I like the hats to make baby's cheeks look plump and showcase their adorable newborn characteristics, such as full lips or their button nose. Photographing newborns is a joy and I really look forward to each and every session.

This blue wrap, seen further down, was really fun to use because it's nice to pull inspiration from colors not typically associated with a particular gender. For instance, while blue is often thought of as a "boy" color, I do think it looks lovely and soft on a little girl, especially when paired with a tieback. It almost reminds me of Cinderella and her blue gown at the ball, oh gosh! As a little girl, she was my favorite Disney princess, however, my own kiddos are partial to Jasmine now, lol! 

Thank you for visiting my blog to see an adorable newborn girl photo session! I hope you liked reading about I style my portraiture work to be dainty, soft, femineine and inspired by all things vintage. Have a great day, friends! 

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.