Being a newborn photographer in the digital age offers us so many opportunities and challenges! As artist we are inclined to take a piece of work and keep improving and making it better while maintaining the true subject. I tend to edit images as true to color and reality as possible. Babies are of course perfect just the way they are. Naturally they are going to have some flaky skin, some baby acne, some redness and sometimes bruising. I am not only a photographer here in Colorado Springs, I am also a digital artist. Through the use of Photoshop and Lightroom I seek to create a beautiful image that can be printed and maintained forever.
Newborn photographers have a few extra expenses and obstacles than natural light, outdoor and family photographers. For me, I have invested thousands of dollars in cute props, blankets, backdrop, rugs, outfits and then all the studio equipment necessary to safety capture your newborns. Along with allll of this equipment I also have taken the time to intensely understand posing and photoshop through continuing education over the last 6 years.
One of my main sources of income, since we are a military family that moves a lot, has been working with other newborn photographers as a free-lance editor. I take their images and process them through Lightroom and Photoshop. While it isn't a glamorous job and requires me to sit at a computer far more than I would like, I have been able to learn from all of them and am constantly striving to create new and better art.
Newborn babies are not just a subject in a photo. They need to be snuggled and shushed and fed and changed. I keep my studio area around 75-80 degrees so they don't get startled by any chill. I also am sure to take breaks if a little one starts showing hunger signs or gets upset with me keeping them from their peaceful slumber. I know that my job is to not only get a perfect image but also make sure that you are comfortable with me handling your most precious baby.
Here is a quick little video of what goes into just one image in post-production. This is 11 minutes in reality, sped up for your viewing.
Shelly specializes in maternity, newborn, milestone, cake smash and family photography. She offers both studio and on location photography to the Colorado Springs area, including Fort Carson, Broadmoor, Briargate, Broadmoor Bluffs, Peterson Air Force Base, USAFA, Air Force Academy, Fountain, Manitou, Cascade, Woodland Park, Monument, Pikes Peak.