Questions to Ask Your Mechanicsburg Family Photographer (Before Hiring Them)

05.05.23 05.20.23

Whether you’re celebrating a special milestone in your family’s life or you’re just due for updated family portraits to chronicle this chapter of your family’s story, the photographer you hire will be the most important choice you make in the process. Before you make it official and book a date in a photographer’s calendar, how do you know if that Mechanicsburg family photographer is the right fit for you and your family?

While it’s partially a matter of human-to-human chemistry and whether you feel comfortable with a photographer, there are questions you can ask as well to make sure that a photographer aligns with you and your needs. Ask these questions before you hire a Mechanicsburg family photographer.

Family Pictures Near 17050 by Karissa Zimmer Photography

What Is the Process for Your Client Experience?

This is a biggie! The family photography experience varies significantly from one photographer to the next, so you want to find a photographer whose process aligns with what you want. Some photographers do all the planning over email, send you an online gallery when your images are ready, and have minimal contact with you throughout the process. Others take a more full-service approach with a personal consultation to plan the session as well as an individual appointment to choose your finished images and more. It’s just a question of whether you prefer that your family photos be quick and convenient or personalized and meaningful.

Make sure you also ask about the timeline for the process, especially if you want your portraits for a specific date or occasion. Ask the photographer how much guidance they will provide along the way as well, such as whether they can give you advice and feedback on planning your family’s outfits.

Mechanicsburg PA family poses together in the creek at their portrait session with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Do You Provide Printed Products or Digital Images Only?

As a full-service photographer, I’m passionate about making sure every family has beautiful portraits they’ll enjoy, so I work with you directly to help you design and order your framed prints, canvas prints, photo albums, or other products you choose, and I offer digital images as well. Some other photographers exclusively offer digital images. Make sure to ask your photographer what they offer in advance to make sure it aligns with what you want.

Mechanicsburg Family Photographer archival grade albums and keepsakes

Where Can I Find a Portfolio of Your Work as a Mechanicsburg Family Photographer?

You’ve probably already seen the photographer’s work before you reach out to them, but I had to include this question for good measure! Photography is an art, and just like any other artist, every photographer has their own aesthetic style. Make sure to review some of the other family portraits your photographer has taken to make sure you love their style.

Portraits of Mechanicsburg PA Family Photography Session

Questions About Your Specific Vision or Needs

If there’s anything specific you have in mind for your family portraits or anything unique about your family that may affect the photo session, it’s always best to ask in advance. For example, you might have a specific location where you’d love to take your photos or a theme you want for your photo shoot, and you’ll want to ask the photographer if they can bring that vision to life.

This can also apply to special circumstances regarding your family. Perhaps you have a child who is on the autism spectrum and want to know if your photographer has experience working with kids with ASD. If they don’t have this experience, it doesn’t mean they won’t do a wonderful job, but it’s always best to know in advance regardless.

Family portraits by Mechanicsburg Family Photographer

Am I the Right Mechanicsburg Family Photographer for You?

I strongly believe that the best family photos happen when a family and photographer feel comfortable with each other and when the photographer can capture the family’s personality in the camera. That’s why I think it’s important to speak with my clients in advance to learn more about you and your family and plan a portrait session that speaks to your one-of-a-kind spirit. That’s why the questions above are so important.

To find out if I’m the right Mechanicsburg family photographer for you, let’s chat! Contact my PA family photo studio to learn more or to book your family photography session.

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

02.27.23 04.22.23

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!

How to Use Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photos: 5 Top Ideas

01.23.23 02.02.23

Your Mechanicsburg newborn photos are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture your baby at their tiniest. Some parents find themselves dreaming of their baby’s newborn portraits and when they see their photos, they love them but aren’t sure what to do with them. Those gorgeous portraits that signify such a momentous time of their lives just end up as aging files on their hard drive.

As a photographer, I make sure my clients don’t have that problem. I walk families through every step of the process, including helping them decide how to display their portraits and even ordering the finished products for them so they know they’re getting heirloom-quality portraits and albums.

How can I help you put your newborn photos to further use? Try these ideas to make the most out of your baby’s first portraits.

1. Start a “Baby’s First Year” Album Collection Featuring Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photos

Your baby’s newborn days are just the start of the incredible journey of growth they’ll have in their first year. Consider cataloging their first year in a collection of photo albums. You can start with your baby’s newborn portraits in an heirloom-quality album that I can design and source for you. Then, add albums for their milestone photo sessions throughout their first year. You’ll finish the year with a collection of albums that tell the story of how your baby changed from birth to six months to nine months, and finally, their first birthday.

2. Create Birth Announcements

Mailed birth announcements used to be common, featuring a picture of the new bundle of joy along with their birth basics like their name, date and time of birth, weight, and length. That tradition has faded in recent years, but you may be surprised by how many people would love to bring it back.

With today’s technology, of course, word travels quickly so your birth announcements probably wouldn’t be the first time anyone is hearing about your baby’s arrival. It may be the first time some people have the chance to see your beautiful baby, though, and it serves as a treasured keepsake you can hold dear alongside items like your wedding invitations. I’ll be honored to help you create high-quality birth announcements with your newborn photos.

Mechanicsburg baby photographer, baby photography near me, Mechanicsburg portrait studio

3. Start a Gallery Wall

A gallery wall is a popular trend in home décor and it also happens to be a great way for your walls to tell the story of your family. You can start a special gallery wall dedicated to your baby’s childhood. Your baby’s newborn portraits can be the start, and you can add to the gallery with your baby’s milestone portraits and your family portraits throughout your baby’s childhood. I can help you design and grow your gallery wall with each passing milestone.

4. Create Custom Thank-You Notes Featuring Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photos

Baby gifts are incredibly helpful whether you’re having your first baby or you’re adding to your already well-established family. Your loved ones are sure to appreciate a thank-you card, and they’ll love it even more when it’s a personalized card featuring that beautiful baby who received their gift. I can use your newborn portraits to create unique, custom thank-you cards that will become a memento for your loved ones.

5. Give Special Gifts to Grandparents

As momentous of an occasion as your baby’s birth is for you, there’s an entire village of people who are excited to welcome your new baby into the world too, like your baby’s new grandparents. When it comes time for the holidays, grandparents’ birthdays, or other special occasions, I can use your baby’s newborn portraits to design and source custom gifts that loved ones will treasure forever. Those could include quality framed portraits, photo albums, and more. You can do the same for godparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone else who is important in your child’s life too.

Your baby’s Mechanicsburg newborn photos allow you to, in a way, capture time in a bottle so you can preserve the memories of your baby’s first days. With the ideas above, you can put your newborn portraits to good use in numerous ways to get even more out of this investment in your family’s newest chapter of life.

If you’re looking for a photographer to create your baby’s first professional portraits, I’m happy to help! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography to learn more or to book your Mechanicsburg newborn photos today.

8 Things Your Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photographer Wants You to Know

07.14.22 07.14.22

Your baby is only a tiny newborn for a matter of weeks, and newborn photography is the perfect way to preserve little pieces of this special time for you to treasure for a lifetime. I’ve been a Mechanicsburg PA newborn photographer for nearly 20 years, and I can tell you that we want you to absolutely love your baby portraits!

How can you get the best possible photos (and make your session go smoothly too)? I’ve laid out a few bits of advice your Mechanicsburg PA newborn photographer wants you to know.

Your Newborn Will Guide the Session

Every baby is different – they’re comfortable in certain positions over others, they’re willing to indulge us for certain poses or they aren’t, etc. We go with your baby’s flow during your session, taking breaks when they need breaks and sometimes acknowledging that they don’t want to give us a particular portrait or pose. Know that we can’t guarantee that all your dream poses will be possible.

Your Baby Will Be Safe with a Specialized Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photographer

Newborn photographers need to be trained specifically in safe posing for newborn babies. Feel free to ask your photographer about their expertise with posing safety for newborns. We won’t be offended and we want you to rest easy knowing that your baby is safe.

We Love Inspiration Photos! But Try to Pull Them from Our Gallery

A photographer’s goal is to create portraits you love, so it’s fantastic when you can show us some photos to give us an idea of your taste. Try to look for inspiration in your photographer’s gallery, though. Photography is an art form, so there is some ethical gray area if you show us another photographer’s work and want us to recreate it. Plus, we may not have the supplies to make it happen

Messes are Normal

You might notice that you don’t usually see diapers in newborn photos, but babies don’t stop having bodily functions for their photo session. Messes happen often, and that’s okay! Don’t be embarrassed because I promise you, we’ve seen it all. Do bring an extra outfit for yourself, though, especially if you’ll be in photos with your baby.

Yes, You Really Can Relax During Your Session

Take a load off, Momma! Exhaustion is an unavoidable part of having a newborn, but your newborn photography session is a chance to rest. Baby photographers have plenty of tricks for soothing your baby, and we’ll let you know if we need you to hop in to feed or soothe your baby, but for the most part, you can take a break and even grab a nap in the studio.

We Love When You Post Your Pics on Instagram, but Please Credit Your Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photographer

When parents love their child’s newborn photos enough to share them with the world on social media, it always brings a smile to my face. I’m thrilled that you love your portraits! Please remember to credit your photographer, though, because the portraits are copyright-protected as original artwork.

Our Preparation Guides Benefit You, Us, and Your Baby

When you book your photo session, your Mechanicsburg PA newborn photographer will probably send you a preparation guide. This could include a list of things to bring, tips for making sure your baby is sleeping and in the ideal mood for their session, and so on.

These guides are the result of years of experience and trial and error in creating the best circumstances for your photo session. They’re our best way to get a smooth, stress-free session for you, your baby, and everyone involved, so please take some time to read through them and follow the suggestions.

We Really Do Love to Hear Your Thoughts

You and your photographer are a team – we both have the same goal of creating stunning newborn photos you’ll be able to enjoy forever. As on any team, communication is key. We really do want to hear your thoughts, ideas, and questions both before and during your session. In addition, if you have any concerns about a pose or anything else during your session, please let us know because your comfort is important to us.

A Final Note from Your Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photographer

Getting fantastic newborn photos is a matter of teamwork. I promise you that your photographer is just as motivated as you are to create newborn portraits you love, and the insights above are designed to make that happen. You are the reason we do what we do! If you haven’t booked your Mechanicsburg PA newborn photographer yet, contact my photo studio today and we can start planning your session for truly magical portraits.

Mechanicsburg Professional Newborn Photographer – Tips For Getting Your Newborn To sleep

01.27.22 01.28.22

Mechanicsburg Professional newborn photographer captures image of newborn baby girl smiling during photoshoot in studio — Baby Girl smiles during her newborn photoshoot with Karissa Zimmer Photography near Mechanicsburg, PA

As a Mechanicsburg Professional Newborn Photographer, I know a few things about baby whispering! I can’t hold a tune to save my life or whip up a gourmet meal, but I sure can put a baby to sleep like a pro! After all, that is part of the job description, right?! As you can imagine, many of my clients are first time parents. First time parents who often offer me part time, middle of the night baby sitting jobs due to my baby whispering skills! Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing I love more than snuggling a newborn baby! However, this full time Mechanicsburg Professional Newborn Photographer gig keeps me super busy. So, I’m not really available for a side hustle at the moment! HA!

Mechanicsburg newborn photographer, karissa zimmer photography poses with professional baby whisperer t-shirt in her Camp Hill Pa photography studio — Mechanicsburg PA newborn Photographer, Karissa Zimmer, in her newborn photography studio

Newborn Photographer to save the day! Or Night.

Lucky for you, I am here to help by offering you some of my personal tips and tricks. Some may seem like “no brainers,” but let’s face it…pregnancy brain and new mom brain are a real thing. And that sometimes can make you feel like you lost your real one! Don’t worry. I think it returns sometime, but I can’t be certain since I still have regular bouts of mom brain and my baby is almost 14! We are in this mom thing together and we’ve got to help each other out. This is where my Mechanicsburg Professional Newborn Photographer Tips for getting your Newborn to Sleep come in!

Tips For Getting Your Newborn to Sleep – From a Mechanicsburg Professional Newborn Photographer

Shusher the Sleep Miracle – Sound Machine

baby-shusher-sleep-machine-in-newborn-photography-studio-camp-hill-pa — Baby Shusher Sleep Machine used in Mechanicsburg Newborn Photography Studio

Ok, so this one isn’t truly a tip or trick, but it’s definitely a MUST have little miracle machine. No professional newborn photographer can live without it, and no new parent should have to either! There is just no cell phone App that does the job just like the Baby Shusher. This little guy has even won awards such as: Mom’s Choice Award, Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA), OHbaby! 2018 Gold Award Winner, and BabyList’s 2019 Best Product Award. It uses a legit, real human voice to shush your baby right to sleep. It’s the next best thing to your own continuous shushing sounds, but that gets pretty tiring. And since you’re here I am guessing you might already be a little sleep deprived! Hop on Amazon right now and grab yourself one of these little machines and get yourself some sleep today! You’ll thank me later!

Two Words: THE SNUGGLE

The SNUGGLE is real around here, so the struggle is not! Yeah, I got jokes. Lame ones, but I guess that’s what happens when you work with tiny humans who can’t laugh at your dorky-ness yet! So, this is really just what it sounds like. Snuggle your baby tight. Pull his legs up to his abdomen and tuck his little arms in close while holding him. When my clients are here in the newborn studio holding their new babes I often notice their legs or arms stretched out or loose. It’s not something everyone notices or thinks about! One of the first suggestions I make is The Snuggle. Newborns love to have their limbs squeezed in tight against their little bodies (and yours!) since they just spent the last 9 months that way. It’s what they know best and will often drift right to sleep!

Third eye massage

Believe me, when my newborn clients don’t already know this trick it quickly becomes one the shove up their sleeve for later! There are great benefits to massaging the third eye. I very lightly rum my finger or thumb from the third eye position ( between your baby’s eyes) down the nose. Trust me. This works! It encourages baby to close his eyes and soon drifting off to a (hopefully!) restful sleep! Have pets? This works on animals too. Give it a try to practice if you’re still waiting on your babe to arrive!

Wrapping A.K.A. Swaddling

First, I’m pretty sure there is no newborn on planet earth who doesn’t like to be swaddled. Your baby just spent the last 9 months tightly packed in your belly. Being wrapped tightly in a swaddle is one of the most comforting and secure feelings to a newborn. Sometimes I will have a parent tell me during a newborn session that their baby doesn’t like to be swaddled. I say: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! I’ve yet to find a newborn who doesn’t like to be properly swaddled. Seriously, If you need a solid lesson – call me. I will never turn down the opportunity to snuggle a newborn, whether you’re my client or not! I will happily show you the tricks of this swaddle trade!

Center Yourself

I know it’s tough when you’re lacking sleep and you have a newborn who wants to party all night, but stay calm. If I am not calm during a newborn photography session then my tiny client won’t be either. The same applies to you at home also. No matter how stressful that scream sounds or how emotional it makes you feel try your best to react calmly. Your baby can sense and feel your emotions. Deep breaths, mama.

A full belly = sleepy newborn

It may sound like a no brainer. But I know I am not happy when I’m HANGRY. And, a hungry baby won’t be able to sleep. A full belly is one of the number one keys to a happy, sleepy baby during a newborn session. Feed your baby until she releases on her own.

Cozy and warm

It is warm in the womb! That sauna is all your baby has known for 9 long months. It probably feels a little chilly compared to those tropical-like temps! Newborns are sensitive to cold temps. This is why your baby likely cries when you change his diaper. He is just simply cold. I keep my studio at about 80 degrees during newborn sessions. No, you don’t have to crank your thermostat that high, but be cautious temps dropping too low for baby’s comfort!

If all else fails…

Ask for help! Now, I’m certainly hoping these few tips are helpful in getting you and your newborn on your way to a couple winks of sleep. However, ALWAYS trust your gut! Your mom or dad instinct is almost always on point. If something feels off and your baby just doesn’t seem to settle please do not hesitate to call your pediatrician! It’s possible there are underlying reasons why your baby won’t settle and these little tips are not meant to get you through it all. Your doctor is always a quick phone call away and is there to help you along this new parent journey. No question or concern is too silly. Trust those instincts. God gave you them for a reason!

Newborn photographer near mechanicsburg pa photographs newborn baby girl during studio photoshoot

Newborn Baby girl photographed on yellow in mechanicsburg PA newborn photography studio

Booking a Mechanicsburg Professional Newborn Photography Session

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to document this extra special phase of life for you. There is nothing more special than having images of your precious tiny human to look back on. To learn more about booking a newborn photography session with me, please check out the F.A.Q. section of my newborn gallery!