The Quiet Season
Welcome!
For nearly twenty years, I’ve stood quietly behind the lens, watching life begin and unfold — first breaths, tiny fingers curling around a parent’s hand, the way a newborn instinctively settles into the safety of familiar arms. I’ve learned that the most meaningful moments are rarely loud. They live in the pauses, the stillness, the in-between.
As an internationally award-winning photographer, my work has traveled farther than I ever imagined — from publications and collections to spaces far beyond our small town roots. But the moments that have shaped me most have always been the smallest ones: the hush of a newborn session, the weight of a sleeping baby, the soft realization that time has already begun to move.
With two decades of experience comes intuition — knowing when to slow down, when to wait, and when to gently guide. Newborn photography isn’t about posing perfection; it’s about preservation. It’s about capturing not just how your baby looked in those first days, but how it felt to hold them when the world was brand new.
Over the last year, my work has evolved alongside my own life, shifting away from the fast pace of weddings and into the quiet, layered storytelling of early parenthood — moments that are fleeting, sacred, and impossible to recreate once they’ve passed.
As a mama of three, I understand how quickly these seasons move. I know how easy it is to be in survival mode, unaware of which moments you’ll ache to remember later. This guide was created to help you slow down, feel prepared, and thoughtfully consider the memories you may not want to miss during your baby’s first days and the years that follow.
It’s never too early — and never too late — to begin preserving what matters most. I would be honored to walk alongside you and help you capture these first chapters of your parenthood story.
The Maternity Experience ✨
Maternity sessions are calm, empowering, and intentionally unhurried. This season is a sacred pause — a moment to honor strength, softness, and the life growing within you. Sessions are gently guided, never forced, allowing space for connection, movement, and emotion to unfold naturally 🤍
Timing & Best Stage ✨
Maternity sessions are best photographed between 28–34 weeks, when your belly is beautifully defined and you’re still comfortable moving with ease. If you’re carrying multiples or have medical considerations, earlier scheduling may be recommended.
What to Wear 🤍
Earth Tones, or Soft, neutral tones photograph best — think cream, ivory, taupe, warm gray, and sage, rust, navy, evergreen tones. Flowy fabrics and fitted silhouettes highlight your shape beautifully. Avoid bold patterns, logos, or neon colors for a timeless, editorial look.
Client Closet & Styling ✨
A curated selection of maternity-friendly gowns are available for use during your session. These pieces are chosen to flatter, move beautifully, and keep the focus on you. Simplicity is intentional — less distraction, more connection.
What to Bring 🧸
Please bring:
Any outfits you’d like photographed
Neutral bra and underwear
Optional sentimental items (ultrasound photos, heirlooms)
Everything else is taken care of 🤍
Including Loved Ones 🤍
Partners and children, and even pets are always welcome. These images often become the most meaningful — capturing the love that already surrounds your baby before they arrive. I’ll guide interactions so everything feels natural and connected.
During the Session ✨
You don’t need to know how to pose — I’ll gently guide you through flattering movement and positioning. Sessions are relaxed and encouraging, with breaks as needed, always honoring comfort and confidence.
Sentimental Touches ✨
Meaningful details are always welcome — baby name reveals, heirloom jewelry,
or quiet symbols of connection.
Birth Photography ✨
Birth photography is a quiet, reverent form of storytelling — focused on strength, connection, and the moments that cannot be recreated. My role is to document your birth with sensitivity and respect, preserving the story as it unfolds, without intrusion or direction 🤍
What Birth Photography Captures ✨
From early labor to first breaths, birth photography documents:
Strength and vulnerability
Quiet anticipation
Hands held, tears shed
The instant your baby enters the world
Every birth is unique. The story is told honestly, gently, and with intention.
Availability & On-Call Window ✨
Birth sessions include an on-call period beginning at 38 weeks and extending until your baby arrives. I remain ready day or night during this window and arrive once active labor is established, in coordination with your birth team.
Environment & Boundaries 🤍
Birth photography is unobtrusive and partner-aware. I work quietly within the space, respecting medical staff, birth plans, and emotional boundaries at all times. If at any point you need privacy or a pause, that space is honored immediately.
What to Prepare ✨
Please ensure:
Your care provider and birth location allow photography
I am listed with your birth support team if required
A designated contact is available to notify me when labor begins
No props or posing — just presence.
During the Birth ✨
I photograph only what feels respectful and appropriate in the moment. There is no expectation to perform. You focus on bringing your baby into the world — I take care of documenting it with care, artistry, and discretion.
After Birth 🤍
Photography continues through first breaths, first touch, and those sacred early moments of connection. I typically remain for a short period after birth to document introductions, details, and quiet bonding.
Emotional Considerations ✨
Birth imagery is raw, honest, and deeply powerful. These photographs are not about perfection — they are about truth, strength, and love. Viewing your gallery can be emotional, and that is completely normal 🤍
Delivery & Privacy ✨
Images are carefully curated and delivered privately within the timeline outlined in your investment guide. Your story is yours — images are never shared publicly without explicit consent.
A Note of Trust 🤍
Birth is unpredictable, powerful, and sacred. If you choose birth photography, know that you are choosing to honor your story exactly as it unfolds. I am there to witness it with respect, care, and deep gratitude.
Newborn Sessions ✨
Newborn sessions are calm, unhurried, and entirely baby-led. There is no rush and no pressure — we follow your baby’s cues, pausing for feedings, soothing, and snuggles as needed. The focus is on timeless imagery and quiet connection 🤍
Timing & Best Age ✨
Newborn sessions are ideally photographed within the first 7–14 days after birth, when babies are naturally sleepy and comfortable being swaddled. Sessions outside this window are still meaningful and focus more on connection and expression.
What to Bring 🧸
Please bring:
Diapers & wipes
Baby’s food source (breast or bottle) 🍼
A pacifier (even if rarely used)
That’s all you need 🤍
What to Wear 🤍
Parents are encouraged to wear neutral, simple tops — soft whites, creams, tans, warm grays, or muted earth tones. Clean lines and minimal textures photograph beautifully and keep the focus on connection.
For Your Baby ✨
All wraps, swaddles, and soft textiles are provided. Everything is curated for comfort, safety, and a timeless, editorial aesthetic. No outfits or props are required.
During the Session 🤍
Sessions are relaxed and flexible, allowing plenty of time for feeding, soothing, and breaks. Fussiness is normal. There is no expectation for perfection — just presence.
Sentimental Details ✨
Meaningful items are always welcome — heirloom blankets, keepsakes, or small details that tell your story. Come rested if you can, arrive with grace for the moment you’re in, and trust that you’re in good hands 🤍
Studio Comfort ☕✨
If you need a refreshing sip or quick treat, the studio is located two doors down from Southern Squeeze, a local coffee and lemonade shop perfect for a short pause during your visit.
Multiples are warmly welcomed, with no added fee for additional babies. As a twin mom, this is a small gift from my heart to yours.
Cake Smash Sessions 🎂✨
A Joyful Celebration of One
Cake smash sessions are playful, light-hearted, and full of personality. Designed to celebrate your baby’s first year, these sessions capture curiosity, laughter, messy hands, and all the tiny expressions that make this milestone unforgettable 🤍
Timing & Age ✨
Cake smash sessions are typically scheduled when your child is 10–11 months old. This allows time to enjoy the images before their first birthday and ensures little ones are sitting confidently and engaging with their surroundings.
What’s Included 🎉
Each cake smash session includes:
A styled setup that can include any decor you plan on using for the birthday party
Time for exploration, play, and messy fun
A clean-up or post-smash portrait (if applicable)
Every setup is designed to feel cohesive, joyful, and timeless.
What to Wear 🤍
Simple outfits photograph best. Neutral tones, soft textures, or a classic birthday look keep the focus on your child’s expressions. Avoid large logos, characters, or busy patterns. An outfit matching your child's birthday is encouraged.
A second outfit for clean portraits is encouraged.
The Cake 🎂
Parents are responsible for providing the cake unless otherwise noted. A simple, smash-friendly cake works best — light frosting, minimal decorations, and no hard toppers.
Please inform me in advance of any allergies or sensitivities.
During the Session ✨
Not all babies dive in immediately — and that’s okay. Sessions are relaxed and baby-led, allowing time for curiosity to build naturally. Smiles, messes, and moments unfold at their own pace 🤍
Sentimental Touches 🎈
Feel free to bring a small birthday detail — a favorite toy, a name block, or a special keepsake. These thoughtful additions often become client favorites.
The newborn days are only the beginning of your story. After that first birthday comes a season filled with movement, curiosity, and personality — first steps, first words, wobbly confidence, and the quiet moments in between that shape who your child is becoming. These milestones are just as fleeting, and just as meaningful, as those first sleepy days.
For families who want to continue preserving their story beyond the newborn stage, I offer thoughtfully designed milestone collections — a way to intentionally document your baby’s first year and beyond with the same care and storytelling approach as your newborn session. Because this chapter doesn’t end here — it simply keeps unfolding.
The First Year Collective
A curated way to document your baby’s first year — from tiny beginnings to confident independence.
Includes:
3 milestone sessions during baby’s first year (commonly scheduled around 3–4 months, 6–9 months, and 12 months)
Baby-focused sessions with the option to include parents & siblings
Priority scheduling
Session planning guidance for each stage
The Growing Story Collective
Designed for families who want to preserve milestones beyond the first year — sitting, standing, walking, and early childhood moments.
Includes:
2 milestone sessions (any time after newborn through toddlerhood)
Flexible scheduling (use within 18 months)
Ideal for birthdays, sitter milestones, or personality-focused sessions
Milestone Mini Sessions
For individual moments worth remembering, please note these can't be booked for a newborn session. Perfect for one-off milestones when you don’t need a full collection.
20-minute milestone session
Baby alone or with immediate family
Families who book a newborn session are welcome to add a milestone collection at any time during baby’s first year. These collections are designed to make planning easier
— and ensure no meaningful chapter is missed. That's a wrap!
Thank you for trusting me with these first chapters of your story. Whether you are just beginning to plan or already holding your baby in your arms, know that there is no “right” way to do this — only your way. My hope is that this guide leaves you feeling prepared, confident, and at ease, knowing you don’t have to rush through a season meant to be held gently. When you’re ready, I’ll be here — to slow things down, to guide you, and to help preserve the moments that will one day mean everything.
xo,
Kristin LaRue