Category: Session Styling

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Styling Session: 5 favorite girl newborn “props”

I am so lucky to have a little niece who was born right around the same time as my little man because it meant that I got to spoil a little girl and use all my fun girly props on her. Being a mom to a little boy doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate everything lacey and girly because I do! I  actually have more girl props that boy props in my little collection. Every newborn photo session is different and every little girl deserves to have her own style during her photo session. I love styling each session to fit with the little lady I’m photographing. But I do have a few items that I love using more frequently than other items.

Pink Wrap

  1. Pink Wraps

While gray is my favorite color for boys, pink is my favorite color for girls. There is something so classic about putting a girl in pink. I know for some it may be very traditional but that is what I love about the color. I have one wrap that is my favorite one to use, because of it’s shade of pink and delicate texture.

Bows

2. Light Pinky / Peachy Bows

One of the best parts of photographing newborn girls is getting to play dress up with a real life doll. Playing dress up means getting to change out the headbands as many times as I like…it’s a good thing I have a plethora of pink / peachy colored bows to work through during a photo session. My favorite bows are tiny bows that just add a sweet little touch of color to the photo session.

Strechy Bows

3. Stretchy Bows

I have tried numerous bows and headbands to find my “go to” headband. These headbands are the perfect size, color, and fit. They slip easily on every little one’s head, which is super important when trying not to disrupt a sleeping baby. I love how sweet and simple these little headbands look on newborns…they aren’t too big and aren’t too small, just like Goldielock’s they are just right.

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4. Gray flower Headband

Women love flowers and what newborn photographer would I be if I didn’t have some form of a floral prop for newborn girls? My favorite floral headband incorporates my favorite color, gray but with a nice sweet little twist. This headband isn’t too large for any little lady’s head.

Daddy Arms

5. Daddy’s Arms

So I’m going to cheat again like when I was sharing my favorite boy props but this time talk about Daddy’s arms. Similar to the relations of boys and their moms you have girls with their daddy’s.

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Session Styling – New Studio Location {Libertyville IL, Newborn Photographer}

Studio Space - 1

So I have some exciting news to share with everyone! I’m expanding…and no, not physically – I’m trying to retract from the pregnancy.

Kate Fredrick Photography is expanding!

I now have a studio that I can capture amazing images of you and your little one in!  AHH…how awesome is that. The studio space is located in Libertyville and it is just pure perfection.

Why did I get a studio? The reasons are many…we live in the midwest where it’s freezing cold 90% of the time, you are a busy family and prepping for a photo session is hard enough to plan clothing wise to add cleaning to the list can be overwhelming, we live in the midwest where it rains, etc…

But the main reason I decided to get a studio space was to be able to capture more amazing images of your family. I fell in love with taking images of my little man in our guest bedroom…just him, a white blanket and beautiful light. I wanted you to have the option to get those same types of images of your little one and family.

Don’t worry…I will still be offering sessions at your home and outside but now there is also the option for a studio set up!

I hope you’ll join me in the studio!

Studio Space - 2

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Session Styling: Things that inspire my photography

Everyone sees the world differently, just like the old saying of the glass being half full versus being half empty. The reason we all see things so differently is because of who we are…our experiences, our personalities, our passions. A big part of the journey to becoming a photographer is understanding how you see the world and capturing that in a photo. For some photographers it can happen quickly, for others they will make multiple twists and turns to find their view…and in truth, a photographer’s view can be ever changing. For me, I’ve figured out a few things that have really helped me with how I view my world and how it has shaped my photography.

Andrew - Newborn 11

  1. My baby

Becoming a mom has greatly changed my world and photography. I have a new found understanding of all the little details and nuances specific to a baby. I want to capture photos of my little man regarding who he is, his personality, his little details so I when I see them years later I am brought back to those moments and memories. Our children are only little once and they seem to grow at lightning speed. When I photograph your baby I want to capture images that you will be able to look back at and recall just who they were at that moment in life.

2. My personality

I am a quiet, calm, simple person. I’m not a large crowd type of person and would much rather stay home with my husband and son to going out to a bar or club. This calm, quiet, simple side of me is carried through my photography with soft colors, simple set-ups, and classic poses. I love working with newborns because they too do best in calm quiet situations. Newborns and I are a match made in heaven.

3. My guest bedroom

I am a natural light photographer…what does that mean? It means I love to use the sun as my light source instead of flash or any other external light. When we moved into our new house I found that our guest bedroom had the most amazing light coming through the windows and it’s where I spend a majority of my photography time capturing memories of my son. It’s the type of light that adds a soft glow to my images and an almost dreamy feel. I search for this same light in your home and my new studio. Clean white light is how I want my photos to look.

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When you think of your life, what inspires you? Is it your kids…your job…your hobbies?

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Styling Session: 5 favorite boy newborn “props”

After becoming a mommy to a little boy I have to slightly confess that I fell in love with photographing little boys. Don’t get me wrong I love all the little bows and frills that come with girls but boys can have some special photo props as well! I want to share with you 5 of my current favorite boy props that I use during each photo session. Which of these do you like? One, Two, or all of them?

Andrew - Newborn 17

  1. Packer Outfit

I got this outfit for my little boy when I found out I was pregnant. We are a big Packer family and I couldn’t just resist getting it as a surprise for my husband. Once it came I fell in love with how sweet it looked on my little man. What Daddy doesn’t want to imagine their little boy as an NFL player? I must also confess that I recently got a little Bears Outfit…it’s only fitting since I technically live in Bear Country.

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2. Gray wrap

Gray is one of my favorite colors for little boys. It’s a nice neutral color that goes with any nursery pallet and is a timeless color that will always be “in fashion”. This wrap is also one of my favorites because it has such a sweet tiny detail texture. So combined together this wrap is one of my go-to’s for little boy sessions.

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3. White background

This one is a given because I love to photograph all my sweet fresh babies on white. For me, the color white represents freshness, newness, purity…all things that I associate with newborns. White is such a nice base pallet to have because it allows you to add any little pop of color or keeps things very clean and simple. My favorite white blanket for boys has the tiniest of textures to add a little extra pop of softness to the images. I do actually have a girl version of the white blanket that is a little different.

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4. Teddy Bear

I love tiny stuffed animals and this teddy bear is such a perfect little thing to tuck under a little boy’s arm.  It’s the right size, not too big and not too small. When you think of your childhood it was very likely that you had some stuffed animal or blankie that you took everywhere with you…right? This little teddy bear brings me back to remembering my own blankie and stuffed kittie. I can’t help but wonder what item(s) each little baby of mine will have as they get older.

Jessica - Newborn 36 BW

5. Mommy’s Arms

OK…so maybe I’m cheating here but what baby doesn’t look good in their mommy’s arms? I love putting a baby in mommy’s arms because the look on a mommy’s face is pure love and joy. It also works in reverse and when a little boy is in his mommy’s arms a wave of peace and comfort comes over their faces. There is a special bond between little boys and their moms.

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Session Styling: My favorite newborn photos {Lake County IL, Newborn Photographer}

During a newborn photo session I aim to capture 20-30 images of your little one and provide you with a beautiful gallery showcasing your newest addition. When it comes down to the truth though…I have my favorite photos / poses that I always capture with every little baby. These “poses” are the ones I envision hanging on the walls in your house or being used on your birth announcements. These are the images that I personally loved the most from my own son’s newborn gallery.

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The Simple Head Shot

This photo is my absolute favorite one to capture! It’s a simple photo that focuses on your little one’s face. This photo gives you the chance to see which features came from mommy and which ones came from daddy.  Does he have mommy’s lips? Does she have daddy’s nose? It’s also a great photo to be used as a birth announcement and the one we ended up using on my son’s.

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The Tiny Toes

Baby feet are my weakness…their softness, chubbiness, general adorableness get me every time. Even now, as my son gets older, I love to tickle his little feet. We all have some part of our little one that we become obsessed with…maybe it’s their kissable lips or their chubby fingers. Capturing the little details gives you the chance to remember all the little pieces of your baby that you fell in love with.

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All The Squishy Goodness

Every baby is squishy…even the tiniest 5lb baby has little baby rolls. I love this pose because it brings me back to those times when my little guy would tuck his legs up under his butt and fall asleep curled up against my shoulder. This squishy phase doesn’t last forever and I love having this memory captured.

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Side Sleeper

When I think of newborn babies I always think of a peaceful sleeping baby. (I will admit, my little man isn’t a big crier so I never experienced any colic episodes so maybe my vision is slightly skewed…) This pose though makes you fall in love with your sweet sleeping newborn. This was the pose my grandma loved of my little guy because of how sweet and simple it is. You don’t see any risky naked pieces and instead you see a peaceful little baby.

 

Which pose do you love the most? Share below in the comment section!

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