Your Harrisburg Studio Newborn Photography Questions Answered

02.14.23

Newborn portraits are one of the most precious treasures for so many parents. Your baby is only this tiny once, and only for a short time, so these portraits forever preserve the magic of those first weeks with your little bundle of joy. If you’re growing your family, I’m happy to help not only by taking your newborn photos but answering your questions and helping you know what to expect. Check out these answers to your top Harrisburg studio newborn photography questions.

How Is Harrisburg Studio Newborn Photography Different from Lifestyle Newborn Photography?

There are two types of newborn photo sessions: studio sessions and lifestyle sessions. Studio sessions are performed, of course, in my professional portrait studio. The focus is largely on your baby, with Mom and Dad included in a few portraits as well. These are the cozy posed portraits you see most often. A lifestyle session, on the other hand, is taken at your home and focuses more on your family as a whole. If you enjoy both types of sessions, though, you can have both!

Why Do Poses and Portraits Vary So Much from One Baby to the Next?

There are a few reasons for this. First of all, every family is unique and I want to create portraits that speak to their sense of style and suit their home. Second, it’s always a question of what the baby will allow. Your baby guides the session, and some babies are more comfortable in certain types of poses compared to others. Ultimately, your newborn portraits will be one-of-a-kind for your child and your family.

Why Is Harrisburg Studio Newborn Photography Expensive?

It’s true that newborn photography tends to be pricier than most other types of photo sessions like family portraits and senior portraits. This is because newborn photo sessions take longer, allowing time for your baby to settle and fall asleep as needed. Newborn photography also requires specialized training in baby safety and posing for newborns, as well as certain equipment like cushions, wraps, white noise machines or other items for helping babies to sleep, and so on.

Booking Your Harrisburg Studio Newborn Photography Session

Ready to book your own studio newborn photo session? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat!

Mechanicsburg Baby Photographer Answers Your Top Questions About Sitter Session Photography

02.14.23

As adults, it’s easy for a year or two to pass without our lives changing much at all. Your baby, on the other hand, will only be a baby for a short time, so you want to preserve as many memories as you can from this special, fleeting time. That’s exactly what I do! As a Mechanicsburg baby photographer, I want to help you know your options so I’m answering some of the top questions about sitter session photography.

When Should You Take Sitter Session Portraits with a Mechanicsburg Baby Photographer?

Sitter sessions are meant for a specific developmental stage: when your baby can comfortably sit up on their own but they aren’t yet walking and, ideally, they aren’t crawling yet either. Generally, this is between 6-9 months of age.

Why Take Sitter Session Portraits?

A sitter session marks a fun point in your baby’s developmental journey, but it’s also done for logistic purposes. At this stage, we can get all those adorable seated poses but your baby isn’t so mobile that we’re chasing them around the studio or struggling to keep them in one place. It’s a “sweet spot” for baby photography!

What Sitter Session Outfits Should I Bring for My Baby?

As a baby photographer, I have an abundant client closet with beautiful baby outfits for my clients to wear, so you don’t need to worry about planning outfits. In fact, I’ll custom style your entire photo shoot, from the sets and props to your baby’s outfits and accessories. However, if you want portraits in a particular meaningful outfit like an outfit you wore as a baby, bring it along and I’m happy to use it.

Booking Your Sitter Session with a Specialized Mechanicsburg Baby Photographer

Celebrate this beautiful stage in the adventure of your baby’s first year with custom sitter session photography! To book your session, contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today and let’s chat.

A Mechanicsburg Outdoor Fall Maternity Photography Shoot: Pros and Cons of Outdoor Maternity Portraits

02.14.23

Have a baby on the way? Congratulations! Maternity photography is a phenomenal way to celebrate this one-of-a-kind stage in your family’s life, honor your body for the beautiful work it’s doing, and create mementos you will forever treasure. What type of maternity photo session is the best fit for you? Should you book a Mechanicsburg outdoor fall maternity photography shoot?

All of my maternity photo shoots take place on location, either at an outdoor location we can choose together like a local park or, for a more intimate setting, at your home. Both types of sessions have the potential for absolutely stunning and meaningful maternity portraits; it’s just a matter of your personal preference. To help you decide, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of outdoor maternity shoots.

Mechanicsburg Outdoor Maternity Photography

Pro: Beautiful Natural Scenery for Mechanicsburg Outdoor Fall Maternity Photography (or Spring or Summer)

I have the honor of living in an area with incredible natural beauty and with pronounced seasons that each have their own look, and I love taking advantage of this for my client’s benefit. You can have effortlessly gorgeous backgrounds in your photos.

The look of your outdoor portraits will depend on the location we choose, and I’m here to help. You and I can choose a location together based on the aesthetic you want for your portraits and the season when your session will take place. I have plenty of location recommendations around Mechanicsburg, whether you want vibrant fall colors, open green space, misty lakes, or even an outdoor urban look.

Con: Difficulty Taking Semi-Nude Portraits

Some moms-to-be love those semi-nude maternity portraits that showcase their baby bump in all its glory and celebrate their body for the incredible work it’s doing. These often turn out to be my clients’ favorite portraits in their collections, and rightfully so!

Taking these intimate portraits outdoors can be a bit uncomfortable for some women, though. Depending on the season, you might be physically uncomfortable and self-conscious as well about being partially undressed outside. Some moms-to-be prefer a photo session at home for these types of portraits.

Pro: Create Special Family Memories

An outdoor maternity session is more than just a means to an end for getting the maternity portraits you want. It’s an adventure! An outdoor photo session gives you and your family a chance to enjoy a new experience together in a park or other fun spot.

This is especially fantastic if you have other children you’re bringing into the portraits too. Your family gets the opportunity to not only create beautiful portraits but to make new memories together at the same time.

Con: Potential Weather-Related Challenges for Mechanicsburg Outdoor Fall Maternity Photography

The same thing that makes outdoor portraits gorgeous is the thing that makes them unpredictable: the outdoors. Natural landscapes are lovely but you never know for sure what the weather will do. There’s always a risk that you’ll need to reschedule or make accommodations for rain, strong winds, or other weather changes.

Pro: No Need to Prep Your Home

Lifestyle portraits at your home are always unique and special, and I tell all my clients that your home doesn’t need to be spotless by any means. Still, it can be stressful for some moms-to-be to have a photo shoot in their home, and some women just don’t think their home will be very photogenic. Maybe you’re still working on your baby’s nursery or other projects around the house and you don’t feel like it’s camera-ready. For some families, it’s just more comfortable to take their portraits elsewhere.

Con: Wardrobe Limitations

Some clients who come to me have been dreaming of their maternity portraits for months and have an idea in their mind of the exact wardrobe they want to wear. I love when clients are excited about their portraits! It’s important to keep in mind, though, that for outdoor portraits, your wardrobe will depend on the weather. For instance, for Mechanicsburg outdoor fall maternity photography, you’ll need to wear something fall-appropriate so that your outfit aligns with the fall aesthetic (and so you’re comfortable, of course).

Creating the Mechanicsburg Outdoor Fall Maternity Photography of Your Dreams

I love working with moms-to-be who are thrilled to celebrate their pregnancy and this special time in their lives with maternity portraits. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today and let’s start planning your dream photo shoot!

Mechanicsburg Newborn Photography for a Baby with Clubfoot: One-of-a-Kind Beauty

02.14.23

Every parent has a vision for what their baby will be like when they finally meet them after all those months of feeling them growing. Even a fairly common birth defect can throw you for a loop, but it just makes your family’s journey that much more unique. In my Mechanicsburg newborn photography studio, I recently had the honor of taking newborn portraits of a beautiful baby girl who was born with clubfoot.

Beauty and Awareness Through Mechanicsburg Newborn Photography

Along with showing off this gorgeous baby girl’s newborn photos, I’d like to use this blog as an opportunity to spread awareness of clubfoot and the basics about this treatable condition.

What Is Clubfoot?

The clinical name for clubfoot is talipes equinovarus or EV, but it’s best known as clubfoot. In a baby with clubfoot, their foot points downward and inward. It actually happens more often than most people realize – about 1 in every 1000 babies is born with clubfoot. It may not be common, necessarily, but it isn’t as rare as you might think.

It’s typically treated in a child’s first years of life, though, so by the time they go to school, no one would ever know that they were born with the condition. In fact, there’s a good chance that you know someone today who was born with clubfoot, even if you don’t know it!

What Causes Clubfoot?

Clubfoot is actually a very simple condition: it’s just a short Achilles tendon. This is what keeps the baby’s foot from flexing. It’s largely genetic, but doctors don’t really know why some babies have it and some don’t.

How Does Clubfoot Affect a Child?

Any birth defect is scary when you first discover it, but clubfoot doesn’t have any serious health risks. It’s also very treatable, so babies born with clubfoot can eventually have perfectly healthy, active lives. This little girl has a bright future ahead of her, especially with all those proud big brothers who will help out throughout her treatment!

Treating clubfoot essentially involves stretching the Achilles tendon little by little throughout the first months of the baby’s life so the tendon lengthens to a typical size.

The treatment starts with a process called Ponseti casting. A week or two after a baby is born, the doctor will put their clubfoot in a cast that is designed to slightly stretch the Achilles tendon. Every week to 10 days, the doctor replaces that cast with a new cast that stretches the tendon a bit further, since the tendon has adjusted to the cast it’s in.

That progressive process continues for about a month to six weeks. At this point, the doctor does a small in-office procedure to further lengthen the Achilles tendon, and then puts the baby in one last cast for a few weeks.

After the baby has “graduated” from their last cast, the doctor will fit them for a brace to maintain their longer Achilles tendon. The baby will wear the brace throughout the day and night for two months, and then they only need to wear their brace while they sleep until they reach kindergarten age.

Treating clubfoot can be a long road, but ultimately, your child can have all the function and ability they would have had if they hadn’t been born with clubfoot.

Honoring Every Chapter of Your Family’s Journey with Mechanicsburg Newborn Photography

My Mechanicsburg newborn photography is all about celebrating this incredible time in your family’s life. I want to chronicle your authentic journey of welcoming this precious new child into your family, and sometimes that involves unexpected twists like clubfoot. I’m honored to tell your family’s story, whatever that story may be, and surprises like clubfoot just make your story that much more unique.

I loved capturing these memories so this lovely family can always look back and recall the journey they’ve been on, and I would be thrilled to do the same for your growing family. Reach out to my Mechanicsburg newborn portrait studio and let’s chat!

Harrisburg Baby Photographer Shares Tips for Cake Smash Portraits

02.14.23

The first year of your baby’s life is an incredible time of learning (for both you and your baby) and constant changes from one day to the next. Their first birthday is an incredible milestone, so why not celebrate with the time-honored tradition of cake smash portraits? As a Harrisburg baby photographer, I love celebrating little ones with these one-of-a-kind portrait sessions!

If you want to make sure your baby’s cake smash session is as smooth and successful as possible, you’ve come to the right place. Follow these top tips for your cake smash portraits.

Harrisburg Baby Photographer Cake Smash

Consider the Photography When Ordering Your Smash Cake

The cake, of course, is an essential prop for cake smash photos. While I’m happy to source a cake for you for an added fee, most of my clients prefer to get their own cake so they can get exactly what they want.

If you’re getting your own smash cake, though, make sure you think about how the cake will photograph. I suggest cakes with either white or pastel icing. Chocolate cake doesn’t photograph well, nor does chocolate icing or red icing. Frosting with very deep colors and strong dyes can stain your baby’s skin, and we want to make sure they look fantastic for the rest of their portraits.

Make sure you also tell the bakery that it’s a smash cake so they don’t put anything inside the cake to stabilize it, like a stick which can be dangerous. I also recommend that you don’t get a cake with fondant because this can present a choking hazard.

Consider a Practice Run Before Meeting Up with Your Harrisburg Baby Photographer

Not sure how your baby will react to the smash cake? You can do a practice run to let your baby try it out. Get them a small cake or a cupcake a day or two before your photo session and let them play around with it, discover that it’s tasty, and figure out how to dig into it.

Don’t Stress About Your Baby’s Reaction to the Cake

Every parent wants those adorable pictures of their baby covered in cake and giggling with absolute glee. I’d love to get those for you too! Truthfully, though, some babies love their cake smash and others don’t. Your baby may just not like the feel of the cake or frosting on their fingers.

All of that is okay! I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve to get great portraits, and honestly, portraits of babies that aren’t quite sold on their cake can be precious too. They’ll bring back memories you can laugh about, so don’t worry about how your baby will react to the cake.

Plan Your Schedule Accordingly

Over my years as a Harrisburg baby photographer, I’ve learned that you can’t rush portraits, especially when there are babies involved. Your baby might need some time to get comfortable with me and get comfortable in front of the camera, and that’s perfectly fine. Just make sure you plan your schedule accordingly so you’re not feeling rushed.

I also do my first birthday portraits a bit differently from some photographers. I take the cake smash photos in my studio in the morning and then you go home to get your baby cleaned up and rested. We’ll meet back up in the late afternoon for some gorgeous outdoor portraits. Make sure you arrange your day so you can take your time and enjoy the milestone experience.

Bring Outfit Options – Your Harrisburg Baby Photographer Can Help

Trying to figure out what you should have your baby wear for their cake smash portraits? It’s always a good idea to bring several different options. You want your baby to be comfortable and be able to be their active, mobile self, and that might mean that your favorite outfit isn’t the best choice. I can help you decide between your options at the studio.

Relax and Enjoy!

This is your baby’s first birthday – have fun! You earned it! Relax, enjoy the session, and be joyful. It will make your baby’s photos even better because they take their cues from you so they’ll be happier and more relaxed too.

Booking a Harrisburg Baby Photographer for Your Baby’s Cake Smash Photo Session

If your baby’s first birthday is coming up, let’s start planning! Book your cake smash portrait session at my Harrisburg studio today.

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