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Category Archives: Family

Posted in Newborn & Babyby

You’re having a Baby! Congratulations! 

As you prepare to meet your little one, be sure to schedule a newborn photography session. You’ll want to have all of their tiny little details documented once they arrive. Your newborn will grow and change each and every day and you’ll want to be able to look back and see how small they once were. Today I’m sharing 5 tips to prepare your newborn for a photo session. 

The length of your session will really depend on your baby. I never rush newborn sessions, as I want everyone to be relaxed and feel comfortable. We can also take as many breaks as needed. Most newborn sessions last anywhere from 2-4 hours (and possibly longer for twins). 

I typically photograph baby first and then do portraits with the parents, including solos of each parent with baby. Siblings are definitely welcome to join in the fun as well — I love photographing the whole family with their newest member.

Keep in mind that we never want to force images – so we will work with kids so everyone feels comfortable and at ease throughout the session. When older siblings are involved we begin with them, so they can be done first. It is very helpful to have an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or close family friend along to help with siblings after they are finished with their portion of the session — this way parents are free to stay and take more photos with the new baby without needing to tend to big brothers and sisters. 

I hope these tips help you feel comfortable and prepared for your newborn photo session. If you are unsure about something, just ask! I’m always here to help. 

1. Timing

I recommend contacting me at least three months prior to your due date to reserve your spot on my calendar. Once you complete the booking process I block out dates on my calendar around your due date. I only take on a limited number of newborn sessions each month, so the sooner you reach out the better.

Once your due date is blocked out, reach out to me within the first 24 hours of your baby’s arrival (texting works perfectly!) so that we can confirm your session as quickly as possible. 

The best time to get your baby into the studio for their newborn session is within the first five to ten days of life. They are the sleepiest during these days which allows for a low-stress session. 

If your baby is born early and needs to spend time in the hospital, we will plan on getting you into the studio for your session within the first seven days after you get home. 

All sessions begin at 10am for the best natural light. 

2. Awake Before

It’s best to keep your baby awake for about 2-3 hours before your session. This will help them feel extra tired during the session. You can to give them a bath, tickle their toes, let them kick with only a diaper on, or try some tummy time. You can continue to keep baby alert by having you or your partner ride next to them in the car on your way over to the studio. 

Even if you think your baby is a great sleeper during the day, it’s important to not skip this step. The goal is to have your baby ready to sleep through their newborn session. 

3. Full Belly

A full baby is a happy baby! We want baby nice and full right before we are about to start. The best thing to do is to arrive at the studio 30 minutes early so you can feed them before we begin. 

We want to continue to feed baby as much as they want. This will keep them sleepy and calm. A newborn session is a bit of a free-for-all in terms of feeding, but I promise it won’t wreck any regular feeding plans! 

If you’re nursing, you can nurse baby as needed throughout our session. If your baby is taking a bottle I can feed your newborn, keeping them in photo session mode. Allowing me to bottle feed is usually quicker, but we’re not in a hurry! The most important thing is for your baby to stay happy and full. 

4. What to wear

‘What should we wear for our session?’ This is by far the question I get asked the most. The key is neutral colors and simple solids. 

Baby should arrive in a short-sleeve white onesie. While they will be swaddled for much of the session, I will also do some white onesie photos.

Parents and any older siblings should wear solid neutral colors and avoid patterns. We want all of the attention and focus on your beautiful faces! Heavy patterns are a distraction. My studio is all white, so wearing really soft tones like beige, cream, white, and light grey work really well and keep your family the focus of the image. I suggest picking 1-2 colors and then coordinating different tones of that color together. And I always recommend bringing a change of clothes for newborns and toddlers in case any major blowouts happen!

Women also have the option of borrowing a dress from my studio client wardrobe. I have maternity style dresses that come in various sizes. You can view them here. I’ve  hand picked each dress and they photograph beautifully! If you’d like to borrow a dress, I suggest you come into the studio before your baby is born to try on and reserve your favorite one. 

See the photos below for some inspiration!

5. Relax

I get it. Prepping for anything with a newborn can be stressful, not to mention getting everyone photo ready after another sleepless night! 

Babies can easily pick up on our energy, so if you are nervous or anxious the baby will sense that and not settle easily. My goal is that as soon as you walk in my door, you’re able to relax knowing that I’ve got you. You can feed your baby and then pass them off to me — a professionally trained newborn photographer, with safety as the first priority.

You know your newborn better than I do, so please don’t hesitate to bring up any concerns or suggestions. Just remember patience is key. Crying, inability to sleep soundly, bathroom breaks, and the need for more feedings are all normal during a newborn photography session.

During the session you are welcome to watch me photograph your newborn or relax on the couch with your phone, a book or magazine, or the most popular option – take a nap! 

I look forward to documenting all of your baby’s tiny details so that you will always remember how little they once were!

The images below are from a recent newborn photo session taken in the studio. 



Ready to schedule your newborn photography session with Ashlie Behm Photography? Click here to fill out my contact form and let’s start chatting about capturing all of your baby’s tiny features.

Posted in Family & Childrenby

two moms with their preschool son and daughter sitting on the couch with musical instruments Mothers rule because they:

  1. keep going even on little sleep.
  2. laugh in times when they feel like crying.
  3. make the world better with a simple smile.
  4. see the beauty in their child’s creativity
  5. want to make a difference
  6. sacrifice their own needs
  7. will listen to the whole story, even if it takes forever and starts multiple times.
  8. drive here and there and everywhere and back to here and there and everywhere again.
  9. invent amazing meals from limited ingredients.
  10. understand the art of playing games at the right pace so that everyone has fun.
  11. have the ability to translate toddler language.
  12. can find the one clean pair of socks in the house.
  13. can make broken things work again.
  14. know the exact variations on voices that make stories come alive.
  15. believe in their kids and their dreams.

 

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:
My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family & Children

toddler boy walks with his pregnant mom through a field in downtown Portland, caption reads, "Suddenly you know it

Spring has sprung! The magic of beginnings – it’s everywhere. What do you see?

 

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:
My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family & Childrenby , , , , , , , , , , ,

Toddler is playing peek-a-boo behind a newspaper which, poignantly, is all about the upcoming election

This session happened the day before election day. The whole world was on edge. And, in this house, we were taking a break from the world and playing a rousing game of peek-a-boo by the fire! I love that the mood of the day is written all over the paper he picked up to hide behind. And I also love how much unbridled joy exists on his moms’ faces, because HE is what its all about. <3

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:
My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Newborn & Babyby , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It

I can’t even with this photo. From the smooshy newborn face to mom’s loving attention to the hand in the heart tattoo… even the lighting feels beautiful to me, despite the fact that it’s fluorescent overhead light. You’ve gotta work with what you’ve got and, in this case, I think we did A-OK.

 

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:
My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family & Childrenby , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
mom and toddler blowing bubbles together, laughing Close-up photo of a toddler with berry juice all over his face

There’s a special place in my heart, and in the hearts of most northwesterners, for the summer here in our part of the world.

Oregon summers, although they can mean hot sunny weather, ice cream, and swimming like in many other places, are a special time when families can experience a lot of joy outside together. Summer is berry season. It’s river season. It’s bubble season.

What represents summer in Oregon for your family?

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:
My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family & Childrenby , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A photo collage featuring a young boy and a yellow tulip - the text reads "Flowers are born in the dirt. They rise up and bloom where they

I have been having a blast creating photo mosaics and posting them over time on instagram. You may also know this phenomenon as the “Grid Collage”.

Have you seen this technique and wondered how to make it happen? It takes a little planning, but anyone can learn to do it. How fun would it be to create a grid collage out of one of your own family’s pictures? This article is what got me started: https://thepreviewapp.com/perfectly-split-instagram-grid-4-easy-steps-twigyposts/

As she says at the end of the blog, “This method may sound a little crazy or time consuming…and it can certainly feel that way in the beginning.  But, I promise you.  Once you get the hang of it…you will love it!”. She was not joking…

Discovering this way of posting was what got me hooked on instagram. It’s so much fun! If this kind of photo geek-ery tickles you as much as it does me, maybe you’ll join me! See what other antics I’ve been up to. :)

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:

My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

If you place a high value on your family, and on creating a sense of unity and belonging for yourself and your children, you will love this unique way of looking at lifestyle photography.

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family & Children, Newborn & Babyby , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mom flying toddler/baby through the air while his Mama watches, laughing

Every time you point your camera, you’re about to tell a story. What story do you want to tell? This image is all about the fast life of a toddler. Boundless energy shows on his face, while his moms, positioned behind him, are clearly happy…and just a touch exhausted. 😂

 

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:

My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

If you place a high value on your family, and on creating a sense of unity and belonging for yourself and your children, you will love this unique way of looking at lifestyle photography.

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family & Childrenby , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Two preschool boys wearing bright colored red and yellow snow suits play in the snow outside in a portland oregon park

Snow is rare in the Northwest. So when there’s snow – even if it’s just half an inch – there’s no messing around!

It’s all or nothing.

 

Snow in Portland is a precious commodity. We’re lucky to get a day or two of playable snow in an entire winter. Last year, the snow was too powdery to make into snowballs or snow men, and then it turned into ice for days on end. So imagine the delight for kids this year when the perfect packable snow fell and stuck right here in PDX!

Last year, at just over 2, the little guy in red was VERY skeptical of snow. He was ok with being pulled in a sled, but did not really want to stand in the snow, even with boots on. The year before, he was horrified by it. It was tantrum-inducing and not at all intriguing. This year he’s all in – feet first, face first, it doesn’t really matter! Without a question, he and one of his best buddies ran out and started playing hard. And I was lucky enough to be invited to witness the joy.

 

 

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:

My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

If you place a high value on your family, and on creating a sense of unity and belonging for yourself and your children, you will love this unique way of looking at lifestyle photography.

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Maternityby

Fall-Outdoor-maternity-photography-session001

When I asked a dear friend of mine why she decided to wait until birth to find out the sex of her baby, she said to me “…because there are few true surprises in life” and that has always stuck with me.  So when Andrea and Stefan told me they were waiting to find out the sex of their first child, I was so excited for them knowing the true surprise they had to come.

See more from this fall maternity session, or let Photography by Cambrae help you plan your own, visit us at www.photographybycambrae.com/weddings

Posted in Family & Childrenby

two-year-old boy playing in the kiddie pool and laughing

“Don’t tickle my tummy!” he shouts.

Then, “Tickle my tummy again!!” Oh, to be a toddler…

This child is two and a half now, and we have known each other since he was only a few weeks old. The power of focusing on relationships first is that there’s no pretense. No prodding, or directing. No need for negotiations or bribes like there always were when I worked in the studio world…This little boy is at an age that many people are terrified of.

Because at two and a half everything has to be on his terms. And yet, he is engaged fully with me. He truly wants me to play with him! That authenticity is what makes the child’s true spirit shine through. It’s through that connection that we are able to see his true joy.

And, now that he has a new baby brother who is taking a lot of attention, these joyful memories are going to be all that much more important for him and his family.

 

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:

My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

If you place a high value on your family, and on creating a sense of unity and belonging for yourself and your children, you will love this unique way of looking at lifestyle photography.

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family & Children, Maternity, Newborn & Babyby

Lesbian couple hanging out and laughing outside their home with their newborn baby and two black and white cats.

#1: Do you like them as a person?

In order to walk away with pictures that will trigger good memories, you need to have a good time taking them! You need to be comfortable with your photographer, and enjoy being around them.

#2: Does their work make your heart happy?

Make sure to look at your photographer’s portfolio. Do you like their work? All of it? If some of it sits the wrong way with you, that is a huge red flag that you might be hiring the wrong photographer. You should love everything they put out! That is the only way to feel confident that you will love the work they do for you, too.

#3: How much is this worth to you?

Just like with most things, the more you pay for family pictures the more you will get out of them. Are you wondering why some photographers charge a lot more than others? It’s usually for two reasons. First, they have enough experience to know that they can deliver on their promise. Second, they are running a legitimate business and doing things by the book, so they have calculated what they need to charge to pay their business expenses.

For more tips, including the number 1 question to ask yourself before selecting a photographer, and the number 1 mistake people tell me about, click through to the original blog, “What To Look For In A Family Photographer: The Important Stuff”

Serravision Photography works with families to create custom storybooks featuring their life and their words.

From Serra:

My formal training is as a documentary filmmaker. I am a storyteller who uses photography as my tool. I love making client’s stories come to life, and I make it happen with minimal effort on your part. It’s a bit like magic!

If you place a high value on your family, and on creating a sense of unity and belonging for yourself and your children, you will love this unique way of looking at lifestyle photography.

Free consultations always.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Newborn & Babyby

0 Months - Nursery-2491 Hi, I’m Emily, one of the regular contributors to Photographers of Portland. I just wanted to share a little personal life update with you all. A couple of weeks ago, we added a new family member. Please say hi to Sonia and check out her super-cool Dr. Seuss nursery. I’m taking it easy for the next few weeks, but I’ll be back at work soon!

Posted in Newborn & Babyby , , , , , , , ,

Black and white photo of a newborn sleeping on his tummy with a blanket and mom

This image of mom’s hand on her baby’s back has a calm feeling of connection. Because of the non-traditional angle, the focus of the image is really on their relationship more than it is on either mom or baby.

So you have a baby at home…awesome!

You may have just realized that you desperately want to share this new baby with the world but you can’t seem to get a good picture of them. What gives? You obviously SEE how beautiful your baby is. In fact, it’s almost impossible to get over the feeling of awe you feel. So why don’t any of your pictures seem to come close?

Don’t worry, it isn’t just you! Most people are no good at taking pictures of babies. And it isn’t necessarily because it’s super hard to do it – it’s that we are not used to doing it. With a few simple things in mind, you can dramatically improve the photos you take of your baby.

  1. Find good light
  2. Get the angle right
  3. Think about the story you’re telling
  4. Make sure there’s nothing crazy in the background

Sound too good to be true?

For some easy tips for taking pictures of your newborn as well as a list of commonly overlooked photo opps, click through to the original blog, “Newborn Photo Tips – Hooray, You’re A Parent!”

Serravision Photography specializes in teaching families how to improve the pictures they take of their kids, and in capturing lifestyle photography of families : step into your life and experience the truth, the joy, and the beauty that is already present every day.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family, Family & Childrenby , , , , , , ,

happy mom and two kids playing on a see-saw in the park Do you feel like it’s too late to start taking family pictures?

Many of us struggle with this idea of it being too late to start something. Too late to learn something new, or start a project, or write a journal, or make a new tradition.

For me, I think this ties into a sort of “perfectionism” – wanting to get it “right” from the start.

The thing with life is, though, that there’s never a clear start. When does your family story begin? When you’re a child and dream of having a family? When you are pregnant or exploring? When your first child comes home?

Your story starts now. It always has.

 

Click through to the original blog, “Do you feel like it’s too late to start?”

 

 

Serravision Photography specializes in teaching families how to improve the pictures they take of their kids, and in capturing lifestyle photography of families : step into your life and experience the truth, the joy, and the beauty that is already present every day.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family & Childrenby

Rockaway-Beach-Photographer

Who’s ready for spring!?!? All this snow and ice this winter is making me long for the warmer days of spring! This is a fun capture from an extended family portrait session in Rockaway Beach, Oregon. They thought it would be a wonderful time to capture their family when they all gathered from across the country on their annual Spring Break family reunion vacation to Rockaway Beach. The whole family pulled together shades of blue and neutrals to coordinate their wardrobe rather than matching each other. I love when my clients follow this advice! I also love being able to capture true personalities of my clients by allowing them to interact with one another in a natural way. The beach is the perfect place for a family to have a good time together and capture the fun being had by all. You can plan a blanket picnic, bonfire, toss a football or frisbee, or fly a kite during your portrait session. The possibilities are endless! Set the stage for fun beach activities and I’ll handle the rest!

Photography by Jaime Kae Hazen, Portland and Rockaway Beach Photographer, traveling nationwide.

Posted in Maternityby

Awesome joy-filled "maternity" photo of family, dad is holding their toddler son upside down and pregnant mom is laughing.

And how to make sure you love them.

 

1. Your body is amazing!

You may be one of the lucky ones who loves being pregnant! You might be sick every day. Being pregnant might be everything you dreamed of, or it may not be what you expected at all… No matter your path, trust me. This is guaranteed to be something worth looking back on.

2. You can never get to go back.

Whether you love being pregnant or not, it is a major (and temporary) change in your life!  Humans remember things they focus on, and forget (or don’t even notice) the rest. Photos give you a way to look at your life through new eyes. They give you a way to keep connecting with the moment.

3. Do it for your child. 

These memories belong to all the people who love you, not just to you. The more time passes the more you will want to share this journey. With your partner, and especially with your children. As time passes, you will meet new friends you meet down the road who didn’t know you while you were pregnant. You never know when you’ll want to (or be asked to) share these remarkable memories.

4. This is your life. 

This is about capturing who you are right now. It’s about you as a whole person. It is about more than just the shape of your belly. It’s about your life changing in an unimaginably big way. It’s about remembering a time, just like any other, that is impermanent. It’s about who you were before, and it’s about who you are becoming. It’s about your joy. So when you approach maternity pictures keep that in mind, and make the pictures about more than just how your body looks during pregnancy. Make it about your relationships and the activities you love. Make it about the funny foods you enjoy, or the odd exercises you’ve taken up. Make it about you.

5. Sharing your story is fun.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.

You don’t have to take pictures of your pregnancy.
You get to take pictures of your pregnancy!

And I’m here to help you do it right.

 

Photography Tips and Tricks Header Image Click through to the original blog, Why You Should Take Maternity Pictures, to read more and get ideas for what moments to capture and tips for how to make sure they come out beautiful!

 

 

Serravision Photography specializes in teaching families how to improve the pictures they take of their kids, and in capturing lifestyle photography of families : step into your life and experience the truth, the joy, and the beauty that is already present every day.

#seeyourjoy
#getinthepicture

Posted in Family, Family & Childrenby

familyphotographyportland25

Having your portraits done in a natural setting is a double win because you get a beautiful landscape to compliment your beautiful family.  Courtney Delano Photography loves to combine the gorgeous Oregon outdoors with fun and loving families.  Some tips for having a successful family session with a little one: schedule the session for after nap time and don’t forget to bring snacks and water.  Babies pick up on your stress, so let go of the idea of being perfect and just play with and love on your baby.  A good lifestyle photographer will help keep you calm and allow you to be yourselves. Visit Courtney Delano Photography to see more of her work or to book your session!

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