Alexandra Hunt Photography – Langley Newborn Photographer » Maternity and Newborn Photography serving Vancouver, BC, and surrounding Lower Mainland areas

What is a composite image in newborn photography?

October 14, 2023

It’s not unusual for clients to ask me how I safely suspend babies in midair for swing images.
The answer – I don’t! My goal is to keep baby safe and comfortable at all times, so I use COMPOSITES.

WHAT IS A COMPOSITE?

A composite is a special type of image that has been created by painstakingly photoshopping multiple images together. This technique allows me to safely put baby into beautiful scenes like swings, airplanes, elaborate floral nests, and more! If parents are assisting a setup, composite editing technique can also be used to remove parents hands from images.

WHY DON’T YOU JUST DO IT “IN REAL LIFE” INSTEAD OF PHOTOSHOP?

Safety! My goal (above beautiful photos) is to keep your baby safe and comfortable. Babies can have unpredictable movements, even during sleep, so it is better to pose baby on safe surface and photoshop than to actually put baby into every type of prop or to hang them from a swing. I know some photographers will try to do this “in real life” but at my studio, safety is my first priority.

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ARE COMPOSITES INCLUDED IN EVERY PACKAGE?

Composites are OPTIONAL parts of a newborn session, no one is obligated to have a composite in their gallery. Two complimentary composites are included in my largest packages. Smaller packages can have a composite added on for an additional charge, if baby slept deeply and cooperated during the session.

I have hundreds of composites to choose from, from simple styles to elaborate movie themes. There is literally something for everyone!

Composites allow for creativity and safety and are an essential part of the “magic” that goes on at Alexandra Hunt Photography!

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Which Type of Newborn Session is Right for You?

September 12, 2023

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SESSION
At my Langley studio, I offer two very different styles of newborn sessions. They are very different, and suited towards very different clients. If your family has cultural expectations or traditions regarding the postpartum period, you will want to read carefully.

POSED NEWBORN SESSIONS (7-14 days old)
Brand new babies are tightly curled, flexible, and able to sleep through almost anything until they go through a growth spurt at 14-15 days old. This very young age (7-11 days is ideal) is perfect for doing adorable sleepy poses, props, and special composites at my Langley studio. Mom will still be recovering from birth, so I do everything and she will spend 99% of the time resting during the session while I work with baby. I supply clothing, props, and accessories for everyone.

OLDER NEWBORN SESSIONS (3 – 6 weeks old)
If you will be confined to your home for the first few weeks after birth, your baby missed the 7-14 day window due to a NICU stay, or are inquiring after baby is born, an older newborn
session will be your only option. These sessions are for babies from 3 to 6 weeks old, and are held in my Langley studio. I take a simple, minimalist approach to the portraits, and shoot in an all-white, light and airy way. Almost everything is white (you can choose an accent colour for baby’s photos). Older babies are bigger, stronger, alert, opinionated, and much more interactive than freshly-born newborns, so they can’t do sleepy poses or on-the-tummy props like beds or buckets. Instead, I take gorgeous phots of them snuggling with parents and capture little details like toes, yawns, and eye contact if baby is awake. If baby is on the younger side and cooperates, I can attempt to swaddle them and/or do a couple photos in safe props like laying in low baskets or a moses basket on their back. This session is heavy on family images.

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6 Ideas for Sentimental Newborn Props

August 30, 2023

Sentimental Newborn Props

At my beautiful Langley newborn studio, I have an enormous collection of props, accessories, and outfits for my little newborn clients. Even so, some parents like to bring in one or two small items from home, which is a great way to add a personal or sentimental touch to their photos.

Check out these great ideas for adding sentiment to your photos!

Blankets

Bringing small knit, crocheted, or quilted blankets with sentimental value is a great idea, especially if someone you love made the blanket!

Something from baby’s nursery

Popular items include a small name plaque, or stuffed animal, or a month blanket.

Memorial items

This is a lovely touch, especially when a grandparent is no longer around or baby follows a loss. Sentimental jewelry, or even a picture can be used to include a loved one in baby’s newborn session.

Maternity photos

If you did a maternity session, you can do some similar poses with your baby and frame them side-by-side in your home or in an album. If you used an outfit or name blocks, ultrasound picture, etc., we can use those props again in these photos, too.

Occupations/Hobbies

If you or your spouse love your job and want to add something from it or one of your hobbies, this will help add a personal touch. Some examples: army dog tags, sports helmets, a baseball, guitar, football, stethoscope, sports jersey, or hat.

Wedding Rings

This is a classic shot for good reason. Baby feet are SO sweet – and placing the rings between their toes is adorable. Also a great idea? Mama’s wedding veil! Wedding dresses are not recommended as newborns can be unpredictably messy. 🙂

What items are you planning to bring to your newborn session?

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Vancouver maternity photographer

May 23, 2023

Golden goddess! Now booking October and November due dates!

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A Newborn Photographer’s Tips for Newborn Baby Sleep

February 14, 2023

I’ve been a baby whisperer for 14 years now. As a Langley newborn photographer, I joke that my job is like putting a baby in a crib without waking them up – and then picking them up, changing their clothes and doing it all over again while keeping them asleep and taking photos! It’s not easy, but there are certain tips that I am always happy to share with new parents.

Top Tips for Helping Your Newborn Go to Sleep

1) You can’t force a baby to sleep. They are little people with needs too!
Making sure their needs are met is the first step to sleepy-town.

Has baby been fed enough (i.e. baby decided to end the feed)?
Is it’s diaper clean and dry? Usually newborns need a change before and after a feeding.
Are they comfortable? This could be clothing, position, temperature. Mom tip: check toes and fingers for hairs or fabric fibers that can get wrapped around them.

2) Have realistic expectations

Babies are born with their day-and-night flipped. They are used to mom’s movement (= sleep) throughout the day, and stillness (= baby awake!) during the night. Out of mom’s tummy, that pattern can persist for a while. The tiny size of their tummy also means that they will need to eat often and wake up often. As they grow, the time they can go between feedings will change.

3) Make their environment sleep-friendly.
It’s unrealistic to expect your newborn to sleep through the night, but you can help them learn about sleep habits while they are little.

Keep things darker at night, brighter during the day.
Resist the urge to interact too much at night, leave playtime for awake daytime periods.
Try giving a warm bath in the evening.
Introduce the beginning of a bedtime routine. Reading to baby, listening to soft, soothing music, all of these things can be done regularly or occasionally (realistic expectations!)

4) Be flexible and willing to try new things.
Some babies respond well to swaddling. Some babies love to be held and rocked. Some love having their noses or eyebrows stroked. Some babies want to be “worn” in a baby carrier or sling. Some babies like to be walked up and down stairs – don’t do that – site holding baby on a bouncy exercise ball instead! Some babies want to be placed in a crib and left alone. Be open to trying new things – and realize that you are not failing if something doesn’t work. As you get to know your baby, you will start to learn their preferences. Every baby is different, just like we as adults are different in what we like at bedtime!

Vancouver newborn photographer takes photo of smiling baby girl

5) Don’t keep your house TOO quiet.
It’s better for everyone that baby is able to sleep with some noise – otherwise it can be very difficult to be more social or travel when baby is older. You don’t need to blast loud music, but don’t tiptoe like a mouse. Newborns respond well to SHHHHHH noises – you can try an app, or even youtube videos!
I highly recommend the use of white noise or better, a sound conditioner. I have multiple of these and use them in the studio as well as at home and when I travel:

MARPAC DOHM sleep conditioner

Read more tips from a valuable resource here: https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/sleep-problems/31-ways-get-your-baby-sleep-and-stay-asleep/

Alexandra Hunt is a full-time newborn photographer near Vancouver, British Columbia. She is also the proud mother of 4 (including twins). Alexandra Hunt Photography specializes in creating beautiful newborn and maternity portraits for her clients and is always happy to share tips with new parents.

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