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:

Behind the Scenes | See what a Newborn Studio looks like Post Session

Located in Houston, Sarah Borchgrevink is a studio newborn photography specializing in custom posed sessions.

Photography Humor 101: Before & After an Appointment 

Styling newborn sessions are one of my favorite tasks! I delight in designing beautiful setups filled with curated props reflecting vintage and classic tones for a perfectly timeless final product. For instance, through the use of cozy, unique newborn wrapping and stunning baby poses I create a gorgeous gallery for you to love, treasure, adore, print as many times as you like and also share with loved ones and friends. 

Moreover, my pricing is very transparent with flat rates so parents know exactly what they're investing: no hidden fees, either. For instance, all collections are fully inclusive, meaning sibling, family and parent photos are included in your newborn session without any additional costs or add ones to your collection.

Most parents book their session in the second trimester, too, to ensure availability since I take 15 due dates per month. Once you've signed your contract and secured your due date on the calendar through a retainer invoice, we get to designing your session, often beginning with inspiration through nursery colors. Your styling questionnaire is very helpful and is where I begin at to set up. 

This brings us to the before aspect of a newborn session: session colors reflecting everything you adore! For example, for the "before" images of this blog post, you'll see all things "Tuscan teal" (which is a very popular Benjamin Moore paint color, lol) and aquamarine, light blue, etc.

Before you arrive in the studio, everything is set up and ready to go for a seamless experience! I provide all props and items - your job is to bring the baby, ha! Everything looks neat and orderly but by the end of the session things are a little messy, but this just goes to show we used a ton of props and had a huge amount of variety in your final gallery.

I enjoy sharing styling details with you because I love my job! It is a complete dream to work with little earthside cherubs and their parents. Photographing a monumental milestone, such as bringing home a new life, is an honor because the session encompasses the unconditional, true love of new parents as they dote on their baby. The little one will never be this small. You will look back on the photos and marvel as to how your baby fits in the palm of your hand.

Before You Arrive

After the session: chaos and creativity 

Final Images from these sessions

After the session takes place

When your session is complete, I help you pack up and get baby into the car. You're welcome to stay at feed or nurse baby again, too, of course! I then start the cleanup process which includes:

• Washing all textiles such as backdrops, wraps, hats, and bonnets

• Sanitizing the floor props like buckets, bowls, crates, baskets

• Mopping

• Sweeping

• Wiping down the doorknobs

• Vacuuming couch (I like it to be clean, lol)

• Running the A/C to clear the room of heat since the sessions are photographed at 77 degrees.

Followed by this, I back your images up into the cloud for safe keeping. Your final product is delivered 2 weeks (or 10 business days) after your appointment takes place. Your prints are also immediately ordered, too, so you may enjoy the tangible products!

Thanks for stopping by to see information on what a newborn photography session looks like before & after the baby. I take great pride in my attention to detail, providing amazing and breathtaking set ups, while ensuring a great experience for all my clients. 

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Creating a Soft, Natural Light Look through Artificial Studio Lights

Update: as of June 1st, 2019, Sarah is in a new commercial space and no longer utilizes the space below.

Houston Newborn and Baby Photographer, Sarah Borchgrevink, uses artificial light in order to create soulful yet natural looking portraits. 

Artificial Lighting Tips for a Natural Light Look

Greetings, friends! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm really excited you're here because today's post is all about using artificial light. You see, as a Houston Newborn Photographer, one of which specializes in professional baby portraiture, I work with light on a daily basis, but in the beginning of my photography journey, I was really intimidated by studio lighting. I did not understand it or how to work within these perimeters. However, have no fear! I am excited to talk to you about the type of lighting I use, how I set it up, the camera settings and gear you'll find, and why artificial light is truly special. 

First things first: please allow me to introduce my studio to you. It's 400 square-feet over everything you need for adorable baby and newborn studio sessions from props, a huge wood wall, a plethora of prime lenses, and a huge array of hats, bonnets, head bands, and vintage inspired pieces. 

However, many times clients are truly shocked to know there is absolutely zero natural light in my Houston Newborn Portrait studio. It's simply a dark room. In fact, artificial light is the only type of light source I use and over the years, I've learned how to create soft, diffused lighting during my newborn sessions in order to be super consitent and manipulate the light to suit my tastes and style. 

A few reasons I enjoy using artificial light are:

• I can take sessions any time of the day, no matter the weather. If there are clouds or stormy skies, there may not be enough light to shoot. Also, this allows me to work at night and accommodate clients travel and work schedules.

• Consistency is very important when working as a professional newborn baby photographer. Clients must receive what they see on your website. Artificial light allows me to have the same lighting in all of my galleries.

• Zero stress. Because I know how the light will look, I can also focus more on posing, wrapping, working with clients, and perhaps putting energy where I am needing to improve. I know the light will be nice no matter what I am doing.

Light is Light, no matter the source.

When I first began photographing newborns, full time, I thought I needed a huge natural light studio. While this is nice if you happen to have an unlimited budget, north/south facing windows, and many other factors, now that I've been working with artificial light, I would never switch over. Light is light, no matter the source. I don't even use an expensive or complex set up. I am currently using constant lighting, which means they're not strobes. They have several bulbs which are always on. It does make my studio a little bit warmer, but during newborn sessions I want the room to be 80 degrees so this is not a huge factor to me. 

In my studio, I have 4 lights. They are inexpensive and I purchased everything from Amazon. 

• I purchased (2) sets of these at $164.95 and removed the softboxes so I could use bigger ones

• I purchased (4) Black and Silver Reflective Parabolic Umbrella with Neutral White Diffusion Cover

I placed the PLM (references above) on the lights linked above and bam, instant lights.

In my studio, I have 20x20 feet of space, thus giving me 400 Square feet. It's just a big white room. 

I had a 5" PVC Pipe installed across the ceiling and use these curtains to diffuse all of my light. The lights are behind the curtains at all times and diffuse the light to create soft images, shown below. I purchased about 30 pairs of these inexpensive, Ikea curtains. 

When I am not working, the lights are off and it's pitch black, as there is not a single window in my studio space. 

How to set up artificial light for back lit sibling portraits 

Sibling photos are often requested by parents. I have three little girls so understand completely how precious it is to see your babies together! As a mama, it makes my heart sing to have photos of my own kiddos taken, so believe me: I want these images to be magical! Back-lit family or sibling images are my favorite to do during your newborn sessions. 

To set up artificial lights so they look like natural light is very simple:

• Make sure your lighting set up is diffused behind curtains, like the sheers I linked above. This will mimic windows, thus resulting in a natural light look.

• Lower lights via your stand so they're close to the ground. Child will be sitting on the ground.

• Place whatever type of rug underneath child, in this case, a white flokati rug I have.

• Photograph little one and encourage them to interact/pose newborn however suits your taste. Since this blog post is about lighting I won't bother you with how I wrap newborns for their sessions, but we'll talk about that next month I'm sure, ha! For now, let's stick to lighting.

When working within my studio, I use professional grade equipment, so the settings I am going to list are based off the type of equipment I use such as (2) Canon Mark iii bodies, a professional grade 50 mm lens, 35 mm lens, 24 mm lens, and 20 mm lens, plus a 100 mm macro lens.

For these particular shots, my settings are typically 1/200 (to allow light in), f/2.0 (with the focus point on baby's face), and then ISO 1/800. This is with 2-3 lights, depending on how large I want my set up to be.

Then I raise my lights again when I move to family or parent images, but use the same settings of course. That way the background is blown completely out and when we get into processing, there is very little work to do on the actual image.

For side-lit images, my settings are a little different. As you can see from the photos below, the curtains are still there diffusing the light, but the subject is standing perpendicular to the light set up. My subject is always around 3-4 feet from the actual light.

These sets up are typically photographed at ISO 400, F/2.5 and shutter speed of 1/160.

And that's it! Creating a natural light look through the use of constant lighting kits does not have to expensive or difficult. I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit of my creative process and how I set up for your newborn sessions! If you're a photographer, feel free to let me know how these worked for you, too! 

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