There are sessions when I spend a whole hour just trying to get a big sibling in the same FRAME as their newborn brother or sister.  Not with this family!  Big sister A loved being in front of the camera and loved showering her new baby brother with kisses.  Newborn A was just as content as could be.  This session was especially fun to look forward to because I was let in on a little secret that no one besides the ultrasound tech knew… a BOY would be joining the family.  I could barely contain myself during our pre-session as mom talked about flowers and gardens and all along I knew this would be a session filled with blue!  I was sure I was going to slip and call him a “he.”  Finally, I could talk to mom again when the secret was out.  I am overjoyed looking at all of the sweet moments we captured of the W family welcoming their new baby boy.  Big sister rocked every possible sibling photo I could think of for this age and then she played so nicely for the rest of our session.  Newborn A rocked his individual portraits too, but he mostly just loved to be cuddled.  I can’t wait to show you the rest mom and dad!

I’m a pretty good secret-keeper… when I have to be!  From new pregnancies, to gender reveals, to proposals, we often get to be “in” on some of life’s best surprises!  I was so excited to be let in on the secret of J’s pregnancy back in the fall.  I’ve been photographing their family of 4 for a few years now, and I know just how much this baby will be adored (and already is!).  Big brother and sister are all ready to welcome new baby and I could feel the excitement they had throughout our session.  They are some of my 2013 baby-planners, so get ready to see this baby celebrated into 2014!  Enjoy your sneak peek!

Mama-to-be C was up for anything, and she got so much variety at her shoot! This time last week, we were just seeing the start of sunny, warm days, so I wanted to keep the whole shoot light and springy. C and S rocked it. We did most of the shoot indoors, then headed down to the bay to let their Boston Terrier, O get in some shots! Love her pink flower and leash.

We can’t wait to see them back in the studio in a couple weeks to meet their baby girl!

~M

Seems like we just photographed this session for Heidi’s family yesterday, but it’s definitely a Throwback- this was from last October!

Joe Maggiolo, our videographer, was there to capture Heidi’s family with me. Have you seen the video yet? Check it out below, and Heidi’s account of her experience:

“I wanted to wait until I lost the last 15 pounds of my pregnancy.  I was too busy to plan and execute the perfect wardrobe.  It was our busy season and it seemed virtually impossible to leave work an hour early, tear Shaun away from his desk, round my kids up during cranky hour, and pull together a family shoot.  I was overwhelmed being a new mom all over again while also running a growing business during our Holiday rush.  Then, I looked down at Grace, already almost 5 months, and realized that NONE of that stuff really mattered.  What mattered is the joy I felt in my life, in my family, in the moments with my children.  I had to capture it.  Looking back at these photos, I don’t even see the extra weight, messy hair or tired eyes… I just feel the joy all over again.  We watch the video in my house all the time.  I cry every time.  Giuliana always asks, “mom, why are you crying?” because she loves to hear the answer.  “I’m crying because I’m so lucky to have all of you” I say, and to have it captured in this way is a gift.  It is a gift I feel grateful for each time I look at the photos or watch the video.  It is also a gift to my children who I know will love having these keepsakes handed down to them.  People stop me everywhere I go to tell me that our family video brought them to tears.  Mariah and Joe allowed us to just be ourselves and made our whole time together so fun and easy.  I want everyone I know to do this for their family because I know how much they will treasure both the experience and the keepsakes.” ~ Heidi

Video Portaits from Heidi Hope Photography on Vimeo.

If you’re interested in a video portrait for any session booked with us, check out the Video Portraits Page.

PS- Photogs, if you’re not using Indesign for blogboards, definitely consider it! Maybe we’ll do a Tuesday Tips for Indesign layouts.

I’d like to introduce you to Grace’s future husband!  I say that not just because he is unbearably adorable, but because his mom and I have been besties since college.  When we were expecting together, she a boy and I a girl, naturally we immediately started making plans to marry them off to each other.  We like to pose them together every opportunity we get and then inevitably giggle “this one is DEFINITELY going to be displayed at their wedding!”  Somehow while Grace has been growing, I still picture S as a newborn, yet here he was already 6 months old!  He is one of the happiest babies I’ve ever photographed and he was a great audience for my funny faces and odd sense of humor (just like his mom!).  He practiced his ball skills, sitting up alone, and taking a ride in our wagon.  The whole session was too perfect until he was so happy, he tipped right over!  I think when the only thing you can say went wrong was that your subject was too happy, you’ve had one amazing session!  Enjoy your sneak peek.

I had the best week last week!  We had so many adorable babies in our studio, I couldn’t even contain my excitement.  I have my own little 9 month old at home, yet I want to pack up each of these cuties and take them home with me!  Baby B was so much fun to photograph last week.  He was fascinated with the camera and all of the silly faces I was making behind it.  At our pre-session mom had mentioned that they loved snowboarding, so naturally I said “bring the snowboard!”  Is there anything cuter than a naked baby in a winter hat?  I’m pretty sure there isn’t!  Enjoy your sneak peek!

We’ve been working for years with the very talented Kristen Marrah as one of our stylists before HHP sessions.  When I found out she was expecting last year I was over-the-moon excited!  I couldn’t wait to meet her family and help welcome their new baby girl.  3 month old Q was born to be a model.  She is one of the most beautiful babies I’ve ever seen and she loves having her picture taken.  I had heard so much about big sister M as well.  She was amazing with her new baby sis.  She helped feed her, hold her, and showered her with kisses.  She loved dressing up and posing for the camera too.  These two are sure to be voted most photogenic!  I wonder where they both get it from mom???  Enjoy your sneak peek!

This maternity session was almost 4 years in the making.  Mom and dad first found Heidi Hope Photography when they moved to Connecticut and were expecting their first daughter.  They booked a maternity session with me, but baby A came very early and our maternity session never happened.  We had an amazing newborn session and I’ve enjoyed taking their family portraits ever since.  When the W family found out that baby number 2 was on the way, mom called us right away to make that maternity session happen this time around.  We scheduled it much earlier than usual just in case “newt” (as they affectionately call baby number 2) decided to make an early appearance like his/her big sis!  It was a good thing we did because mom was put on modified bed rest a few weeks ago.  When we spoke on the phone she said “I’m taking it easy… the only thing I’m going out for is our session!  I just have to make it until then!”  And she did.  In fact, not even Blizzard Nemo could stop us.  Nemo came blowing in on the day of our session, but we kept and eye on the weather and moved our shoot up to early morning so we could squeeze it in before the storm started.  By the end of our time together, snow started lightly falling outside the studio windows.  We couldn’t shoot on the day of a historic blizzard without heading out into the snow for a photo or two.  This family was up for anything!  I had a hard time choosing favorites for this sneak preview because I love them all.  Enjoy your extra large sneak peek.  I hope it was worth the 4 year wait!  ~ Heidi

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This session made my whole week! These girls are just the cutest, sweetest things, and little N actually clapped for the first time during the session. We were all clapping and cheering for her as she played with blocks, and she suddenly started clapping for herself. Her face is the best- disbelief and looking at her mama, who was cheering even louder for her! 

As soon as big sisters S and M put those pettiskirts on, they were dancing around the studio. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the studio so full of giggles and they danced and posed together. Little N actually clapped for them as they danced, too!

Loved hanging out with you, M family! So happy to have caught a milestone for you!

~ Mariah

I was so thrilled to see one of my 2012 newborns back in the studio last week to celebrate his first birthday with a cake smash.  He started off our session feeling a little shy, but I must say, some of my favorite portraits were from when he was hanging on to his dad.  Something about those just perfectly captures the curiosity of a 1 year old and the way they want to explore the world without getting too far from mom and dad.  It didn’t take long for J to warm up, as you can see!  He set the record for the fastest cake tip in Heidi Hope history with the cake turning over in just seconds.  J was much more interested in playing with the cake than eating it.  He created a true masterpiece out of frosting!  I think we have a little artist on our hands.  Enjoy your sneak peek!