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

02.27.23

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!

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How to Use Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photos: 5 Top Ideas

01.23.23

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 had 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.

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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.

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8 Things Your Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photographer Wants You to Know

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.

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What to Bring to Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photo Session

05.29.22

When I’m planning a Mechanicsburg newborn photo session, I know that these sessions inevitably happen when your family is in the middle of a huge adjustment period. You just welcomed a brand new family member into your home, and that family member needs a lot of time and attention. No matter how experienced you are as a parent, every newborn is different, so you never know exactly what to expect.

That’s why I aim to make the newborn photography process simple and stress-free for you. This is an incredible time in your life and you’re capturing photos you’ll treasure for the rest of your life, so the beauty of this moment shouldn’t be sullied by chaos and anxiety. For that reason, I make sure to have a thorough discussion with every family who schedules a newborn photo session with me to discuss the process ahead, how they can prepare, and what they should expect.

If you’re preparing for a newborn photo session, what should you bring with you? While every photographer has their own supplies and recommendations, I’m sharing a quick list of the top items you should plan to bring.

What You Should Bring to Your Newborn Photo Session

While I provide just about everything you’ll see in your baby’s finished newborn portraits, there are some items you can bring to keep your baby and your family comfortable. My newborn sessions can last up to six hours because we give your baby as many breaks as they need to eat, rest, get changed, and more. To make sure you have an enjoyable and relaxed experience, I recommend that you bring:

Anything your baby will need to be comfortable throughout the session, such as extra diapers, pacifiers, and so on
Any items you need to comfortably feed your baby during their session, including bottles, a breastfeeding cover, a breastfeeding pillow, etc.
An extra change of clothes for any family members who will be in the photos…because accidents happen, especially when nude newborns are involved!
Any special items you want to incorporate into your newborn photos, like family heirlooms, a family member’s armed services or first responder uniform, or other pieces
Items to keep you comfortable during your session – remember, we’ll spend much of the session photographing your baby solo while you relax, so feel free to bring snacks, drinks, a book, or even a pillow if you’d like, as well as your breast pump
Anything that may help entertain your baby’s siblings if they’re coming to the session, like books, games, puzzles, a tablet for watching videos, and so on –make it easier on the entire family, though, I recommend a sibling add-on session instead for “big siblings” under the age of five, which allows us to get sibling photos with the new baby at home so your kids can stay home or with a sitter instead of attending a lengthy newborn photo session

What Your Photographer Will Supply for Your Newborn Photo Session

As a newborn photographer, I will of course have all the photography equipment I need to create stunning newborn portraits. In addition to the obvious items, though, I also supply:

Cushions and fabrics to create cozy backdrops for your baby’s portraits
Wraps for your baby in countless colors to customize your color scheme, as well as complementing accessories like hats and headbands
Props needed to create sets that align with your desired theme

Booking a Stress-Free Mechanicsburg Newborn Photo Session

If you’re in the exciting and life-changing time of preparing to bring a new baby into your family, I would love to help you commemorate this experience and chronicle your baby’s first days with custom, one-of-a-kind newborn photos. Schedule your Mechanicsburg newborn photo session with me today for a simple, easy experience with outstanding results.