What to Wear for Family & Newborn Photos | Yuma, AZ Photographer

Deciding what to wear to your photo session can be so stressful! I’m here to tell you to relax. My sessions are not focused on what you’re wearing. Instead the focus will be on your love and connection. My work is meant to preserve your memories of what it feels like to love deeply. If you’re drawn to my work than you probably feel like I do, fashion is lovely but capturing emotion is far more important.

Having said that, there are a few things you can do that will simplify the decision process and make your photos even better.

3 Easy Tips Styling Tips to Remember for Your Family, Newborn, or Maternity Session:

1. Don’t put everyone in matching clothes :)

   It’s better that your clothes compliment each other instead of being too matchy-matchy. Gone are the days of putting everyone in a white tee and jeans. We’re going for a more natural look, like you’re hanging out with your family but the style is just slightly elevated.

2. Avoid logos, graphics, and words on clothing.

   The eye will be distracted by that instead of focusing on your love and connection. Choose a color palette and aim for simple prints and solids. A pop of color on mom, a child, etc. can be a gorgeous addition.

3. Wear something that you love and makes you feel good about yourself.

   I want you to look back on your photos and feel gorgeous. Wearing a trend or something you would not usually wear probably will make you feel uncomfortable. You may not feel connection to your photos if you don’t like what you’re wearing. Choose something that you love and that makes you feel good. If fashion is totally not your thing, choose a simple outfit that’s just a step up from what you wear everyday. Many of my families use clothes they already have!

I invite you to take a peek at my Family Gallery HERE and my Newborn & Maternity Gallery HERE. You can see how there’s a wide variety of styles that look beautiful while keeping the focus on the family connection.

I hope these tips help you feel more relaxed about the process. When you book a session with me you’ll receive even more styling info to help with the process. And I offer assistance with decision making if you need it. Mostly though, I want you to know that all you need to do is hang out with your family and let me capture your magic in photographs.

One last thing! Remember to have fun and let the kiddos be a part of the styling process, even if you break a rule. They’re going to enjoy the experience and love the photos even more if they feel good in what they’re wearing.

Mother's Day is Hard | Yuma Family Photographer

Mamas,

Mother’s Day is a holiday that’s wrapped up in so many complicated feelings. We love our babies (of course) and genuinely enjoy celebrating an incredibly meaningful role: Motherhood.

And yet.

Some of us are grieving the loss of our own mothers.

Some of us are mourning the loss of babies.

Some of us are sad that we have complicated relationships with our mothers, or none at all.

Some of us never had a mother at all.

Some of us are meant to be mothers and are unable to.

Some of us are overwhelmed by complicated family dynamics.

I’m writing this to you, mama, to tell you that you are not alone. We’re all feeling this way and struggling. It’s ok and we’re all normal! Feeling a mix of emotions on Mother’s day or even disliking the holiday doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.

In my photography I get to photograph many mothers and I’m always blown away by their strength and love. We’re all doing the best we can.

I see you, mama. Take care of yourself the way you do your babies. Your heart deserves love and tenderness just as much as they do. You matter.

Love,

Vanessa

The Importance of Family and Newborn Photos | Yuma, AZ Photographer

This is what I know for sure, all of us need the love of another human. Our bones crave to be held, our skin to be touched, our heart to be squeezed with love. The kind of love we seek is unconditional. It’s the kind of love that hurts and breaks and heals to become even stronger. It’s the kind of love that a parent has for their child.

This is why I photograph families. To me, there’s nothing more important on this earth to document. 

If we were lucky, we felt the warmth on unconditional love as children. This parent/child love is fascinating to me because I believe it’s possibly the strongest form of love. This time is fleeting and we expect and encourage our babies to grow up and away to create their own families. While our children will always be the most important thing, our job as parents is to fall into the background as supporters of our kids’ own journeys. They will always love us, but not as much as we love them. 

I’m experiencing this with my own children as teenagers. Those years where I held their tiny bodies close are behind me and I can hardly believe it. I hold them now but it’s not the same! Have you ever held a teenager? They squeeze me tight and then rush away to do important teenager things. I’m so glad I took thousands of photos when they were little because the memories can fade no matter how precious. One look at a photo of my baby nuzzled against my chest can reduce me to tears. 

This feeling is what I channel with my families. I want to show them the love that I see in them. They are feeling the same things that I did for my little ones. I know they want to hold them close and never let go. I know the smell of their newborn’s head is better to them than any rose. I know that for a child, the best place on earth is in the arms of their parents. To be seen by them, acknowledged and validated. To be loved, unconditionally.