I have been studying the ways of the greats the past few months.  One artist that has struck me as being the best newborn photographer in the business is Carrie Sandoval. Technically, I have felt that I could make a baby photo that cute but little did I understand the complexities of working with a human subject only 8 days old.

When a best friend asked me to photograph his new baby, I jumped at the chance; figuring this is my chance to cut my teeth at newborn photography. I had planned out this great list of amazing poses I wanted to capture. The cute stuff like Carrie does .

I picked up some cheesecloth, assembled a massive collection of knits and furs and all things kush. I even practiced with one of my son’s stuffed animals on how to sling a baby. I was ready.

Four and a half hours into the session her mom (Heidi) and I throw in the towel. She had stayed awake the whole time. I was totally flamboozled.  This was not normal, this was not the way I had rehearsed it in my mind.   I felt like I was not prepared to make an awake baby look cute.  Carrie even provides her admirers with tips on how to make a baby sleep comfortably naked. We had the room heated up to what seemed ninety degrees but that baby wasn’t sleeping. Nursing, humming, swinging, swadling, rocking, gliding, we tried it all.

In the end, I left feeling like I had came unprepared and thought I had maybe one or two good ones.

Turns out newborns are cute when they are awake too.  Particularly Stella Sophia Robertson.

Congratulations Travis and Heidi Robertson on their new addition. Thank you for the opprotunity to experience your new joy.