Newborn session | Baby Felicity| Newborn photography MA

Baby Felicity came to her newborn session with her Mom and Dad, and her big Brother Mason.
As usual, we began with Family and Siblings Portraits.




Felicity slept like an angel during the whole session. Her two-year old brother Mason, on the other hand, was very curious and actively explored the studio. We eventually managed to direct his attention to a tennis ball he could play with next to his sister while I snapped a few photos.







Sometimes babies sleep like a dream, and with this easy going baby anything was possible. I can’t remember her being upset or fussy at all!








Mom was interested in classic bean bags shots and a composite image on a swing. For these basic Bean Bag Photos, I used two color schemes: white and dusty pink














To accomplish the Composite Image, I photographed Felicity on a curved bench and moved her to the swing during post-processing.
Curved bench shot for a composite:



Final result:




I always do Prop Shots at the end of a session. For these images, Mom picked out a couple of baskets and layers of felt, which helped create beautifully artistic imagery. Doesn’t Felicity look magical, as if wrapped in a flower petal?







Thank you, Baby Felicity and her Family, for the beautiful and peaceful photo session!

Book your newborn, baby or maternity photo session: http://www.polina.pictures/contact-form

                                

Massachusetts Newborn Photographer|Newborn Photo Session|Baby Danica

A new baby changes the dynamic of the family as parents and siblings adjust to the new family member and the new routine, each in their own way. I love photographing families during this time of adjustment and capturing moments of interactions between siblings. Occasionally, these interactions give us a glimpse into the baby’s budding personality and the siblings’ love for each other.


Baby Danica visited my studio with her 2 older siblings: big brother Dimitri (4.5) and big sister Selena (2.5). As they entered the studio, it was clear that Dimitri and Selena deeply cared about their little sister and were very attentive to her needs.


We began by choosing colors, props and outfits for Danica as well as a dress for Selena from my studio wardrobe.

I typically start with sibling images to allow the older brothers and sisters some free time during the baby’s solo part of the session. During this part, Danica was simply full of smiles; she especially loved being hugged and kissed. Even asleep, this little girl was so expressive, you could practically see her personality shining through.

Dimitri, who took the initiative to shake my hand and introduce himself at the very beginning, was taking his sister’s well being seriously, asking questions like ”Why are you swaddling her?” “When will this be done?” Why are you holding her like this?”. Although it turns out, even protective big brothers can giggle - he loved tickles!

During every newborn session, I use a white noise machine (The Baby Shoosher) to keep the babies calm and sleepy. Danica’s big sister Selena was very curious about the device. Once I explained it to her, she put her finger to her lips just so every time it was on. Such a precious moment to capture on camera.




After the sibling poses we took some family images and Danica’s solo images on a beanbag….

….and with some props and flowers

I love working with families. Thank you, Danica, Selena, Dimitri and their parents for sharing your family’s precious moments with me.

Booking  maternity, newborn or baby sessions in our Westford 

studio:  http://www.polina.pictures/contact-form

                                

The Happy Baby Plan

Baby Sessions

We are thrilled to announce our new photo package - The Happy Baby Plan! 

What is The Happy Baby Plan?
The Happy Baby Plan helps you capture your baby’s milestones over the first 2 years of life and preserve those special memories for years to come. The package includes two 1-hour Milestone Sessions and one complimentary Family Session in our comfortable studio:

Session 1: As your baby learns to sit up, often around seven months.

Session 2: As your toddler starts standing comfortably, often around one year.

Session 3: A complimentary family session during your child’s second year.

We also include a personalized year-end gift, a Fine Art First Year Album (a $550 value)!

Can I get prints and digital copies?

Absolutely! You can purchase prints, products and digital files from each session with a “Create a Collection” package or “A La Carte” digital files package. Pricing for each can be found here: http://www.polina.pictures/pricing_pkp.pdf

How much does it cost?

The Happy Baby Plan is $400 if purchased separately and $350 if purchased with the Newborn Package.  Prints and digitals are sold separately.


To reserve your baby’s milestone sessions with The Happy Baby Plan, contact us today!

Why I love and treasure newborn photography.

I love babies. They are irresistibly cute and quite messy. They command full control of your life yet are helpless and fragile. They are our tomorrow. Their smiles make the toughest of us melt inside. They also change every day, and our memories fade each year.

I am a mom of three. My kids were growing up in the time of smartphones and digital cameras and I diligently took tons of pictures and lived my life happily. But at some point, we needed to replace home computer, and I went through old files and pictures. That night I realized that even though I had all those pictures, I didn’t really have them -- they were hiding in an old computer and I only discovered them by chance. Many of these pictures I had shared via email and on Facebook, which turned out to be even less discoverable than old folders. I suddenly was acutely aware that I wanted to see my kids all the time, reminding me of last summer, first day of school, first steps they took.

This realization set me on a mission: bring those memories into my house first, and than help other parents remember the warmth they once felt, make them smile every time when they glance at a familiar picture.

As all artists, I strive to make the world a little better. I feel humbled and honored to have parents’ trust and permission to create something that will stay with them for years and years to come, something that will decorate their homes, that will touch their hearts every time they see it.

Book your newborn session: http://www.polina.pictures/contact-form

More info about newborn sessions: http://www.polina.pictures/newborn-baby-photographer-Boston

A Newborn Photography Session with Baby Riley and Her Big Sister Ariana.

A few months ago I shared a photo of the 9-day old baby Ella, a composite image created using a digital background by Luisa Dunn https://www.luisadunnphotographyshop.com/.

The original image is on the left, the composite is on the right.

Compositing is an old photographic technique of layering or blending two images into a single scene, often creating an illusion of a whimsical but technically impossible photograph. Composite photography goes back to the late 1800 and is widely used in newborn photography.

Some of my favorite backdrops come from Luisa Dunn, a well known newborn photographer and a fantastic artist. Incorporating her designs into my work allows me to keep my newborn models safe and comfortable while creating an enchanting scene.

Shortly after my post about baby Ella, I received a Facebook inquiry from a mom expecting her second baby. The mom fell in love with the colors in the photo and requested a similar setup. After baby Riley was born we scheduled a newborn photo session for both of her girls.





At the time of the photo session, Riley was 6 days old. Her big sister Ariana took an active part in the photo session, helping out with “her baby” wherever she could and being an all around amazing big sister.








The girls’ mom loved the results and left a glowing review about their newborn session on my Facebook page.

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9 Things to Expect at Your Newborn Photo Session 

By the time you book a newborn session, you may feel like an expert at posing for professional photos. From engagement shoots to wedding photos, from maternity sessions to Christmas card pictures, many parents walking into a newborn photographer’s studio have a half-dozen or more professional photoshoots behind them.

But, no matter how often you’ve had photos taken in the past, you’ll soon discover that a newborn session is quite different from any other photoshoot. Even the studio will look different from the commercial photography spaces or high-traffic mall studios you may have visited. Filled with adorable props and outfits, it may remind you of a boutique more than a photography studio. Here are 9 things to expect when you bring your new baby in for his or her very first close-up.

1. The studio might be warmer - and noisier - than you’re used to
To keep babies happy, a newborn photographer’s studio will be warm - perhaps as high as 85F. Other strategies for creating a baby-friendly environment may include a white noise machine running in the background.

2. The pacifier is your friend
Pacifiers can be lifesavers during newborn sessions, even if you don’t use them at home yet. A pacifier helps keep a baby calm when the photographer moves him or her from pose to pose or changes their outfits. If you have a pacifier, don’t forget to bring it with you! Some photographers might have a spare one on hand, but it’s best to bring your own just in case.

3. Baby may need to be fed mid-session
During the session, baby might get hungry; if this happens, the photographer will take a break for a feeding. If you’re nursing, you will feed the baby. If baby is on formula, the photographer will probably ask to feed her. This is standard practice among newborn photographers: it helps them make sure baby stays sleepy throughout the session rather than perking up in your arms. You will be by the photographer’s side watching the entire time.

4. Family photos come first
If siblings and parents are participating in the shoot, many photographers will want to do these photos first, before turning their focus to the newborn.
After family photos are done, it is best for one parent to take older children to the nearest cafe or playground instead of keeping them in the warm studio for hours. You can ask your photographer to recommend kid-friendly places near the studio.

5. Accidents happen

Babies cry, pee, poop, and spit. This is all totally normal. Don't worry about the photographer’s outfits or blankets! Professionals have seen it all - and have a plan in place to wash and sterilize the props and the space after each baby.

6. A quiet, calm environment is best

Many newborn photographers don't talk much during newborn sessions to keep a positive, calm energy in the studio. As a parent, you can help by keeping your phone on silent, making any phone calls outside the studio, and just relaxing! Remember, your baby can feel your mood.

7. You may need to help with posing

It is essential to have a spotter for some poses. While some photographers will have assistants, others may ask you for a little help.

8. You may not be allowed to take photos during the session

Some newborn photographers request that you do not take photos of your baby during the session. If your photographer has such a policy, remember: you’ve entrusted her to capture these once-in-a-lifetime moments, so let her be the one taking the photographs! Other photographers may allow only behind-the-scenes shots of them working with your baby.

9. Patience is key

Sessions usually last 2-3 hours, so be patient, relax, and enjoy this special experience with your newborn. In just a few weeks, your baby will seem like a whole different person, so savor these moments!

More info about newborn sessions: http://www.polina.pictures/newborn-baby-photographer-Boston