NEW-ISH YEAR, NEW-ISH BORN - BECAUSE THE ONLY “WRONG” TIME TO DO A NEWBORN SESSION IS BEFORE YOU ARE READY

If there is a better way to start the year than with the sweetest, smiliest baby and his lovely parents, I certainly don’t know it! For most Washington DC portrait photographers, the first weeks of a new year are slow and quiet - especially compared to the all out sprint that is Fall Family Photo season - and I for one love the gentle start to the working year because if we are being totally honest, it can take me a while to settle into the rhythm of a new year. As much as I try to fight it, I cannot help starting a new year with expectations - often in the form of goals, intentions or resolutions. This is often the case for a lot of new parents as well, which is why I am sharing (again) my most repeated piece of advice as a Washington DC Newborn photographer: ignore the “rules” about when to take your newborn photos, and wait as long as you want to to schedule your first family photo session.

Repeat after me: do not do newborn photos until you are ready - they do not have to take place within the first 2 or even 4 weeks!

Just as many of us start a new year with “realistic” goals and resolutions, a lot of new parents have their own vision of what life with a baby will be like in their mind. And then reality hits: no matter how prepared or well intentioned you are (not to mention the curveballs life can throw in the form of medical and childcare issues). And in that reality, you likely wont feel like having your picture taken in the first 2 or even 4 weeks. And that is ok. It’s more than ok! It’s a miracle anyone actually does it. There are SO many benefits to waiting six or eight weeks (or longer) after baby arrives, but to me, the most important one is that it gives new parents time to settle in and gain some confidence in this new adventure and bond with their little one as they develop more and more personality by the day. And if you’re still not convinced, this adorable session - taken at three months - should do the trick!

Camouflage…PLUME-style

PLUME Photography (by Amanda Reynolds) is a Washington DC-based newborn, children, and family photographer, specializing in lifestyle in-home newborn photography. Using both analog film & digital cameras, PLUME’s signature style is immediately recognizable both for its artistic aesthetic, and the authentic and genuine connection she captures. Offering an elevated and effortless portrait experience to her clients, PLUME Photography serves the Washington, DC area, including Alexandria, VA, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase, MD, as well as Annapolis and the Eastern Shore. In the winter months, PLUME may be available for portraits on Sanibel Island, Boca Grande, and Naples FL.