Birth photography is one of my favorite things to do. It is such an honor to be there when someone takes their very first breath. I became a doula when I was 21-before I even had kids-because I loved pregnancy, birth and babies so much. Put that together with my love of photography, and it is perfect. In fact, I always said that I wanted to someday be a midwife, and someday be a photographer. So, it is a wonderful way to combine the two. I don’t do doula work anymore, only birth photography because I really could not help but capture the birth in photos if I was there as a doula. It would be hard to just focus on being the support, and not document such a momentous occasion.

So, this strong mama is Stacy Ziegler, another fabulous Boulder photographer and good friend. I arrived at the hospital at 10:30pm, went home for a couple hours to take care of Amelia, and then came back in time for her to have her baby early that morning. Alexander (named by his very cute big brother), was 8lbs 11ounces, much bigger than we expected. And they look IDENTICAL. My mother, who had five children, always told me that my second baby would be so, so very different from my first, and that I would be so surprised when the baby came out. But, both of my kids look identical as well. People comment that they look like twins but years apart. While they are totally different creatures as far as their personalities, they do look eerily similar. And baby Alex and big brother Robert could not look more alike. Can’t wait to see little R being a big brother!

So that first photo of the baby was literally a second after he was delivered. The doctor was amazing (Eryn Munks from Boulder Woman’s Care). Congratulations Stacy and Brad and thank you for letting me be a part of your birth!

Well, the first two are mine anyways. That is Ms. Amelia, age 18 months, feeding bug-the-dog. The second is my Elijah, age 5, though he is six now, and his best friend Robertito. How cute are they? They are almost always that sweet-except when they are crying and telling each other they are not best friends anymore. But that is how you roll when your six, right? The rest are children from the neighborhood.

On nice days, we sit outside in the sun and watch all the children running around and I *usually* have my camera with me.  For those of you who have not heard it a million times before, we live in cohousing, which is a little near-utopian neighborhood where all the kids can run outside and in and out of everyones houses, having fun and being safe. The whole community is based on the idea that we have lost that essential need in our lives to have supportive people around us-especially as we are raising kids. Ameila basically has a second mother here. Elijah has a bunch of different adults he can go to for different things. Like he will go to one person when he needs help with a science experiment, another who teaches him gardening, and one that kicks the soccer ball around with him. So all that pressure that we have as parents in our society today is a little bit alleviated. And I really needed that last year when my baby was almost too much for me to handle on my own. It is really wonderful, and I feel so grateful to live here. Oh, and no one cares if your 1 year old is walking around with no clothes on:)

I will no doubt be posting tons and tons of photos of these kids this summer. It is just too hard not to. I am a children’s photographer, and the kids here are so free and happy, and the houses are all different wonderful colors and we are right near the foothills. So, I feel like I have to take pictures.

Expect lots and lots of blog posts next week. I have 6 sessions this weekend(4 of them are mini sessions:).  Cross your fingers that this snow that hit Boulder today is gone by tomorrow!

I just *needed* to post a few more photos of this beautiful baby girl. This was such a beautiful, perfect shoot. The light was gorgeous, Ella was super happy and totally in to whatever we were doing, and even though it was still winter, it was a warm day. If I knew how other photographer’s posted full galleries on their site, I would do it for this one, as every photo was just precious.

There are three spots left for my mommy and me mini photography sessions.  Those filled up super fast and I opened up the 22nd for sessions as well. The spots left are April 16th, at 5:30pm and 6pm, and April 22nd, at 6:30pm. April 23rd is all full. Contact me if you would like to set one up!

xoxo stacey

Hazel, such a perfect name and such a beautiful baby! Her birth was not an easy one, but she has a super strong mom so all is well now. At 39 weeks pregnant, mom found out that she had preeclampsia, so they did an induction right then and there. When Hazel finally arrived, she was not breathing, which had to be the most terrifying moment of her parent’s lives. BUT, they got her breathing soon after and she is now in perfect health. Whew. I have no idea how scary that would be and I know it is one of those things that every pregnant mother worries about. But she is totally fine now and healthy and thriving! And just a gorgeous newborn. Usually, babies look a little wrinkled and smooshed right after being born, but Hazel has the most gorgeous little round face and is so peaceful! I love doing hospital newborn photography.  These sessions take about 20 minutes, since mom and baby are still just needing to rest and get to know each other on their own, and the package includes all the digital negatives. So sweet to be one of the first people to meet a baby on her very first day of life.

I photographed a birth last week, too, and will be posting those photos soon!
xoxo stacey

You probably remember the gorgeous mama that did maternity photos for a few weeks ago.  Well, she had her beautiful little baby boy! And I guessed it right-boy. I am usually right, so if you are dying for me to guess the gender of your baby, I would be happy to:) My mother is right 100% of the time, I kid you not. It runs in the family.

Axel is such a sweet, calm, aware newborn. He was happy with whatever we did with him, you know-until he was not. He got a little overtired at the end and cried a bit, but this was after we got the most beautiful photos! Such a lovely little family, I have really enjoyed spending so much time with them over the last month. Congratulations Katarina and Mike! He is just perfect.

On a side note, if you are thinking about booking one of my spring mini photography sessions I just about booked up the dates so I opened up one more evening- Friday, April 22nd. They will be at Wonderland Lake in north Boulder. Email me at boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com or call 720-310-0336 to book one.

xoxo stacey

Well, I just photographed a birth yesterday. It was amazing!!! The baby came out in two pushes, easy peasy. Mom did not even bat an eye. I love how strong women are. Which is one reason why doing maternity photos is so near to my heart. I love everything birth and baby. So here is Sarah, she is not the one that had her baby yesterday, but will be soon! And I get to do the newborn photos as well! Just love my my job. And Sarah is soooo beautiful too!

So, I am getting caught up today and tomorrow. Yesterday was rough, as I was at the hospital for the birth throughout the whole night the night. I was kind of walking around in a daze yesterday-so if we chatted and I made no sense whatsoever, that is why. I am actually going in today to-gasp-do my taxes. My, ahem, 2009 AND 2010 taxes. Which is no easy thing as I am super unorganized and own two businesses. I am getting the jitters about it, but just need to get in there an DO IT. Please, please, please send me some good getting-your-taxes-done energy around 1pm today. If you have ever had a huge block getting something done, if you just freeze up thinking about a certain something, then you know exactly how I feel about taxes.

I will be photographing a sweet newborn boy tomorrow (Katarina and Mike’s new baby!), and have about 5 sessions I still need to put up on the blog. If you want to see some of the birth photography I did yesterday, I have posted it to my Facebook fanpage here. I will also be doing this newborn baby’s photos this weekend! Wow, so many newborns and pregnancy’s. It IS spring, after all, though, right?

More to come!

xoxo stacey

Mommy and Me Mini Photography Sessions!

Wonderland Lake, Boulder, Colorado

I was thinking that the best kind of mini session to do this spring would be a mommy and me session. At almost every family session I hear from the mom “I just want to make sure to get one good photo of my baby and I-I am ALWAYS the one behind the camera.” And this is so true. How many million sweet, beautiful images of do you have of your husband playing with the kids and how many do you have of you? I often set my camera settings for my husband, and tell him to shoot away at me and the kids. Usually, we can get one decent photo out of him clicking about 30 times.

I also make it a point now to often get photos of just the kids and I from a professional photographer.  Even though I feel fat since I had Amelia, and my skin is not perfect (thank you photoshop!), and I am always so tired because my 18 month old STILL does not sleep through the night (not even close), the ones from this past year are already some of my very favorite photos in the world, and I know they will mean so much to my kids one day.

Really, every child will one day become an adult and cherish the photos of them with their moms. They won’t be wishing that you had waited just a little longer to lose the post partum weight. They won’t care that you look a bit tired and worn out from staying up all night with a teething baby. They will see how young and beautiful you look, and how much you loved them, and there is NOTHING more precious than that.

Really, the sweetest thing you have is that special connection between you and your child. Remember it. Photos are not only the perfect mother’s day gift to you, but to your own mother and mother in law as well, so that is an easy task to get out of the way.

These mommy and me sessions will be held on Saturday, April 16th and Saturday, April 23rd from 4:30pm-6:30pm at Wonderland Lake in north Boulder. I will have a few spots open on April 23rd in the a.m as well.

$150 includes:

20-30 minute session

10-15 images in an online gallery

1 mounted 11×14 print

2 mounted 5×7 prints

The fine print:

*extra prints and digital negatives can be purchased separately.

*rain dates will happen the week of 4/25/11

*limited availability

Call me at 720-310-0336 or email  me at boulderbabyphotography@gmail.com to schedule