gemma : newborn celebration

I have a confession to make. Deep breath. Ok. I’m starting to really enjoy newborn sessions.

Of course, that realization happened while I was shooting the last one on our schedule. We don’t have any coming up that I know of. But seriously… sweet Gemma was just so beautiful and precious. She curled up in my arms, and we were fast friends. Baby girl slept pretty much straight through the session, and these are some of my favorite newborn images we’ve ever taken.

Miss Gemma is so loved. Her parents have waited so long for her to complete their family, and watching Casey & Toni with her was just heart-warming. They truly adore their daughter, and the time we spent in their home last week was peaceful and lovely.

Enjoy some of my favorite shots of Gemma at eight days old :

While I bring props of my own to a newborn shoot, I like to poke around the client’s house to see what I can use that might have a little more personal meaning to them. This tub with Gemma’s name on it was holding bath things in the nursery closet, and a chair that matched brilliantly was on the back porch. Voila!

My favorite newborn images tend to be very simple black & white portraits that capture the peaceful first few days of life. When she stretched in the image below, I was afraid Gemma was starting to wake up. But I cuddled her for a minute, and she calmed right back down.

Big yawn!

The pink & white blanket in this set is one that Gemma’s grandmother knitted for Toni as a baby. I love using heirloom elements in these shoots… what a wonderful thing to pass down!

Casey & Toni, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful girl with us. I had so much fun with her, and hope we’ll get to do it again in a few months!