Welcome Baby Gina

I knew from my maternity shoot with Julie and Dante, they would be great parents! They were so relaxed, especially considering they were expecting their first baby in a few weeks! When they scheduled their newborn shoot, I was so excited to meet baby Gina. If she was anything like her parents, she would be laid back and fun! I was right. Gina was a doll. A sweet little girl, who didn't find the need to sleep through our shoot as newborns usually do, she was inquisitive and didn't want to miss a thing. No crying, just a diaper change, I heard it was impressive (I opted to stay in the other room), a little feed, and all was good with Gina. I loved seeing Dante and Julie both interacting with Gina, in their own way. Such love in their eyes. There really is nothing like a newborn baby.

I really see how much the parents vibe translates to the baby. I have had a lot of newborn sessions lately, I think we are in an official baby boom. I have seen calm and confident parents, and it translates to calm confident babies. I don't mean babies that don't cry, or sleep perfectly through the night, that would not be a newborn baby. But, I see babies that are easily calmed and that seem content. It is one of the most important things I think you can do as a parent. Try not to over think the situation. Give your baby food and love, keep them clean, and don't overstimulate, but most importantly, trust your gut, and don't think too much about doing things the right or wrong way. Your baby trusts you, trust yourself.

I've Got Competition

One of the things I love most about my job is that it is never boring or predictable. This was definitely the case last week when I went on a maternity shoot. This was Heather's second pregnancy. She told me that she had a little boy that was almost 3. I let her know that I am very comfortable with little boys and we would do our best to get some good shots of him, but not to expect too many of him looking at the camera. She let me know he was used to getting his picture taken and he should cooperate.


I still did not expect much. When I arrived at their home, Harrison met me with smiles and instant chatter. I was already a fan! He was too cute. He likes to be called Harry Potter.  Most kids are at least shy when I first arrive, and then warm up. Not Harrison, he made me instantly at ease. His dad told him to get his camera, when I was getting my camera ready. He came out with a little toy, digital camera. Apparently you can even hook it up to the computer to view the photos. So, he stood along side me and took some pictures of his mom and dad, with his camera.



He was an angel through the whole shoot. When I asked him to look and smile, he did. When I asked him to look at mommy's belly, he did. He was full of hugs and kisses for his baby brother or sister. We had such a fun shoot. Working with 2 and 3 year olds can be a bit of work some times, but Harrison made my job very easy. Mom and dad told Harrison he needed to put his camera away, and head off to preschool. It was Hawaiian shirt day. Dad took Harrison off to pre school, and I finished the shoot with mom. When we finished I went to put my camera in my camera bag. I opened it up to find Harrison had put his digital toy camera in my camera bag! I almost died. He put his camera away, where he thought it belonged, in a camera bag, with the big cameras. Makes me smile every time I think of opening my bag to see his little camera there. Hopefully he continues to take lots of photos, he will be a master by time he is 4!

It Takes a Village

Four times a year, the Homeless Prenatal Program http://www.homelessprenatal.org throws a baby shower for the expectant moms that use their services. Different groups come host the baby shower, providing lunch, diaper bags loaded with essentials and positive encouragement, for the moms to keep hope for the future. I went to the shower in March, to distribute the photos I took the previous month. I love when I get to see the faces of the moms when they see their photos! They see themselves in a whole new light. Beautiful, powerful, strong. Priceless.

I have been to many of their showers but this one really touched me. I met Lisa Truong, the director of Help A Mother Out. She was there to distribute diapers to the families of HPP. She told me about the non profit she founded last year, Help a Mother Out. Did you know that diapers and other hygiene products are not covered by WIC or food stamps? Pretty unbelievable to me. They collect diapers to distribute to those who need them. They will take any unused diapers off of your hands (even if it is not a sealed, full package) and get them to those who need them. They have drop boxes around the city. Check out their website. What a great need they are filling in these touch times. http://www.helpamotherout.org

I also met Jaon and Jan from the Baby Love Ministry. Joan Rocha founded Baby Love Ministry. They were there with a table full of hand knitted baby hats and blankets. They let the moms choose a hat and blanket to bring their baby home in. They are looking for knitters to knit hats and blankets for babies born at SF General Hospital. Many of the babies born at SF General are born to one parent families and placed in Foster Care.The blankets have little hang tags letting the baby know that someone prayed for them while knitting the blanket and they are already loved.
They provide yarn, if you need, and the patterns.  Such a wonderful gift for a newborn baby. Watching the moms read the hang tags and hold the soft, beautiful, hand made blankets was so touching. Please look at their website and pass on to any knitters you know. http://www.grace-episcopal.org/ministry-babylove.html

There were many more volunteers there. Linda Hannawalt teaches HPP clients to quilt. They go to classes a few times a week, create amazing baby quilts and then donate them to the pregnant clients who attend the prenatal education classes. Clients giving to other clients, what a concept. Each mom got to choose a quilt to take home for their baby. The quilts were exquisite.

There was a couple there that has dedicated there time specifically to raising money and awareness for HPP. I could go on and on. You see what I mean...

I feel so blessed to be involved with the Homeless Prenatal Community. Seeing all of the people involved with this organization is so inspiring. When we watch the news at night, they love to show the doom and gloom, and all things negative. If the news media started focussing on the amazing things regular people are doing in the community to strengthen the bonds of their community, I think we would all be inspired to do good, knowing it is not a loosing battle. I always walk away from HPP feeling so lifted. As they say, "It takes a village". Get involved in your village today.
A year ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time. A year ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time. ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time.
A year ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time. year ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time.

Lucciano's Newborn Shoot

There is nothing like the smell of a newborn baby. If there is a newborn baby in the room, any mom will find her way to the newborn and ask to hold it. Usually some head sniffing occurs too. There is something so sweet and innocent about a newborn. I had two newborn shoots this week and it really is amazing to see and remember how tiny your baby was at 10 days old! My kids are almost 14 and 12 1/2 and it seems like yesterday they were so tiny. How do they grow up so fast?

It was a true pleasure photographing Lucciano and his parents. I have to say they were some of the most relaxed parents I have seen in a while. It was refreshing to see how comfortable they were with this little boy they had only known outside of the belly for 10 days! I must say, Lucciano was relaxed because of their comfort level with him. It was fantastic.

What a little doll he was. Handsome and sweet. We had a really fun shoot and I think that shows in the photos.

Stranded on the Roof with my Pregnant client!

Everyone who knows me knows how much I love San Francisco! Being a photographer, what's not to love with all of the amazing photos opportunities, everywhere you turn. My client Rachel told me that she would love to do some pregnancy shots on her roof, in the Marina. She said she had easy access to the roof with sweeping views of the bay. I was so excited to have a new place to shoot.

 We proceeded to climb up the interior stairs to the roof. She said that the door was rigged so it would not lock you out, but she would bring her keys anyways. We went out onto the roof and the door closed behind us. It was a bit windy, so we thought we would do the indoor shots first, then come back up.

We pulled on the door and it did not open. The duct tape that had blocked the hole, so the lock wouldn't latch, had worn a hole right through it! I thought duct tape was indestructible.

Rachel tried the key, they had changed the lock! We realized that Rachel did not have her phone with phone numbers in it, to call a neighbor to come help us. I had my phone, but no one really to call. We tried to yell down into the light well, but no one heard us. We laughed and though how it would sound to call 911 to tell them we had a pregnant lady on the roof for a photo shoot and we were stuck on the roof, with no way to get down!

We decided to work on picking the lock. Ironically, I had just finished a book called "The Spellman Files" that morning. It is about a woman private investigator and she picked a lot of locks. It was very ironic! Rachel used her Gold's Gym plastic card and I pushed the door as far as I could so we could slip the card in between, and lo and behold, we opened it! What a relief!

We went on with our shoot, and returned to the roof when the wind died down. We propped the door, to be sure it would not close, and went on to get some fantastic shots on her roof, with my favorite city as our backdrop! I will never forget this shoot, that is for sure. Rachel was a great sport and didn't panic. She is going to be a great mom!

Madeleine Turns Two!

One of the best things about my job is that I have met so many amazing women and made so many  friends. Photographing a woman when she is pregnant is a very intimate experience and it brings me a level of closeness with so many of my clients, that I never expected. Then, being able to document their babies growing up, is icing on the cake. Most of my clients have not had the easiest time getting pregnant. I have heard so many heart braking stories along the way. This is why the photographs are extra special, these babies were very wanted and the pregnancies so carefully nurtured.

Miss Madeleine turns two today, and I had the pleasure of photographing her along with her family, last week. I will never forget the first email I received from her mom. She was so excited to photograph her pregnancy. Through the past two years I have photographed Maddie and her family several times and each time I love them more and more! Maddie has a sparkle in her eye and warmth from within. I know that comes from being wanted and loved so very much. Happy Birthday Maddie!

The Magic of Bubbles and Tutus

I was on a shoot recently with one of my long time clients. I shot Amanda's first and second pregnancies and many others in between. I did a family shoot with all four of them last week. We went don to Levi Plaza to get some fun candid shots. When we got down there Amanda pulled some bubbles out of the bag, and the fun began! Bubbles bring on the smiles. Her little girl could not get enough of them, and oddly enough, I couldn't either. It was so fun to see her face light up each time her dad blew some bubbles. Each time was like the first. With my kids being 12 and 13, we haven't had bubbles out in awhile. Now, I see age shouldn't stop us from getting the bubbles out and having some fun.

Next out of the bag was the tutu. Again, big smiles. I remember when the tutu was a part of daily fashion with my daughter. Before I had children I would think how weird it was to see a child dressed up in a a full tutu, with tiara and all, at the mall on any given day. Once I had my daughter it all made perfect sense! The mom or dad had no real say when their 3 year old wanted to wear a tutu to the mall, and they realized it was not going to hurt anyone and it usually brought smiles to the people shopping. It brings us all back to when our children were little and that sense of fun and fairy tale. We all need that once in a while. Bring on the tutus!