Baby Fiona Lifestyle Newborn Session

Welcoming a newborn into your family is a beautiful, emotional time. As a newborn and family photographer, I love when I have the opportunity to document these early days as everyone in the family gets to know its newest member. That’s why it was such a real pleasure to meet up with Molly, Sean and Fiona to welcome baby Fiona with a newborn lifestyle photography session in their home.

Welcome Baby Fiona

Welcoming a new baby sister can sometimes be daunting for older siblings, but not for Kiera! Kiera is SO excited about being a big sister. She was so happy every time Fiona did something cute… or silly… or anything really! Kiera would break out into giggles, which was super cute. Photographing a newborn lifestyle shoot in a family’s home means that we can include all members of the family. So, for this session, they included their dog, Scrappy-doo in the photoshoot. Scrappy-doo is a super excited Great Dane, but he was also so sweet and so gentle with little, tiny Fiona.

In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Photography

Part of why I love in-home newborn sessions is that everyone can be more relaxed and comfortable. Plus, I get a chance to see the beautiful nurseries! I loved the custom-made Fiona decal that Molly had ordered from Etsy! It was so elegant against the rich navy blue of the walls.  

While Molly and Sean opted for an in-home session, we did an add-on to their newborn session with the white studio images. I was able to recreate the studio backdrop and lighting in their home, since they live so far away from the Indy Family Photo Studio. This gave us the perfect way to capture every aspect of the newborn phase, combining candid lifestyle images with gently posed studio newborn photographs. Fiona only slept for a few wrapped photos, and then started giving us some wide-awake photos, which meant we could see her gorgeous eyes! She was such an inquisitive baby. Even though Fiona is tiny, she is already rocking an incredible amount of hair!

Molly and Sean opted for a beautiful photo album with a rich navy colored leather. It will look gorgeous with Fiona’s nursery décor! Everyone in the family will be able to enjoy these photos for years to come. I can already picture the two sisters sitting together and looking through it!

Molly and Sean, thank you for inviting me into your home to document these precious moments with your family. I am so happy I got to meet your beautiful girls.

Sentimental Activities to do Before Baby Comes

Pregnancy is such a beautiful, exciting time in a woman’s life. The weeks and months before baby arrives are filled with exciting milestones. Before you know it, that sweet little bundle will be here, changing your world in all-new adorable ways.

There are so many precious moments during a pregnancy. The moment you find out you’re expecting, the reveal to friends and loved ones, the moment you find out the gender, the very first kicks and flutters as you get to know the tiny human within you… they are all so special, no matter how many children you have. In the work we do at Indy Family Photo, I get to meet a lot of wonderful expecting women. To celebrate the happiness in pregnancy, I wanted to share a few special things you can do before baby comes.

Write a Letter to Baby

One sentimental activity you can do before baby comes is write a letter! All these beautiful feelings that you are feeling, you can write down and share with your little one when they are older. Write a letter to them to share how excited you are to welcome them to the world and to your family. Hold onto it and gift it to your little one on their 10th birthday, or another important milestone! You can even include it in your baby album and it will be a wonderful keepsake for your little one to appreciate.

Celebrate the Siblings

Another special thing to do before baby comes is to throw a "big brother" or "big sister" party for your older child(ren). It’s a nice way to make sure they feel special during this time. Guests can include family members, family friends, and their own friends! Have everyone write advice on "how to be a good older sibling" on scrapbooking paper, and maybe even have them decorate it. After the party, bind the papers into a fun book!

Book a Maternity Photoshoot!

There’s no better way to celebrate your upcoming bundle of joy than scheduling a maternity photoshoot with us at the studio. Our maternity sessions can be customized to you, whether an intimate in-homes maternity session, a studio session, or a maternity session at a place of your choosing. A maternity photoshoot is as unique as you and your pregnancy, so I will work with you to style the photo session of your dreams. The best time to schedule a maternity shoot is around month seven or eight of your pregnancy. That’s the pregnancy sweet spot, when you’re glowing, but not too exhausted.

Have a Date Night

Go out on a date night while it's still just the two of you! Have fun dreaming about the days to come. Write out guesses as to what your life will be like — and what your baby will be doing — when they are 3, 6, 9, and 12 months old. Read the lists when you hit those milestones to see how wrong (or right) you really were! And… maybe grab a laugh at how soon you thought baby would be sleeping through the night ;)

Book a Newborn Session

We have so many options for newborn photography, both lifestyle newborn photography and studio newborn photography. It’s never too early to book a newborn photography session and at Indy Family Photo we make it as easy as possible for you. We know that you and your family are adjusting to a new normal, so we take time and care to make sure that your little one is safe, warm and happy all through the photo session. It’s a common misconception that you need to have a baby before you book your newborn session, so feel free to call to schedule a consultation!

A Special 'Thank You' to Our Families this Holiday Season

As we look back on the year, it's a time to reflect on what really matters. To us at Indy Family Photo, it's family — and preserving those memories and celebrating those relationships.

Thank You — From All of Us at Indy Family Photo

We are so grateful that you’ve given us the opportunity to meet each and every one of you. We’ve had a blast documenting your children’s unique and beautiful personalities! Getting the chance to deliver heirloom art that will be enjoyed for years to come by your families has been a lifelong dream of ours, and we feel truly blessed every day that we get to make that dream come true!

Our main hope is that every time you look back at the photos we’ve created with you, you can relive those moments and memories all over again. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.

So from the bottom of our hearts, we wanted to thank all of you for allowing us to celebrate family with you this past year.

And as we head into 2020, we’re so excited for all of the new wonderful and beautiful memories we plan on helping to create over the next year.

We’d like to wish everyone a happy holiday as 2019 comes to a close — and what a fantastic year it has been! We hope everyone can spend the end of December enjoying the company of family and we can’t wait to see what the future holds in 2020!

Here are some of our favorite photos from the past year!

The Lund Family Lifestyle Photography Session

As a child and family photographer, it is both a joy and a privilege to capture and document the precious moments of childhood. But what’s even better is when I can build a relationship with a family so I can photograph them through the years, sharing moments and documenting memories. When it comes to the Lund family, the relationship we have goes back much further. Amanda, the mom, has been my friend since seventh grade! I met up with Amanda, her husband, Stephen and their three children: Sam, Abby, and Matthew in their home for a family lifestyle photography session!

In-Home Family Lifestyle Photography

Originally, we planned on having this family portrait session outside at a park. But the weather did not agree. You know how it goes with Indiana weather! The winds were VERY high, so we went to their home instead, which was wonderful. Lifestyle photography sessions are a great way to be able to capture natural, candid moments. I get to meet the family in their own space, where they are the most relaxed. This results in real, genuine smiles, laughter, and reactions.

For this family lifestyle shoot, we picked a few activities that each of the family members love to do. Abby loves painting her mom’s nails and her own, so we started the session with that. Sam loves excavating dinosaur skeletons from his play archeological dig kit, so he and dad worked on digging together. Matthew loves snuggling in mom and dad’s bed, so we all piled onto the bed next and read a dinosaur book together! We also braved the wind and headed outside to take a few photos outside in the field near their home.

Mom wanted a special photo of each of the kiddos with their lovey in black and white. She hung these three portraits side by side in the hallway to forever celebrate their special relationships with their bunny blankets. All too often, photos stay on phones and thumb drives, so it really makes me happy to know these precious images will be seen and appreciated. Family photography sessions are all about capturing the magic of childhood, so I’m thankful I could be the photographer for this family lifestyle photography session!

Thank you, Amanda and Stephen, for inviting me into your home and into your lives!

Lifestyle Photoshoot: Inside our Indianapolis Studio

Not ready for a photoshoot in your home? That's ok, we've got you covered! You can still get that cozy, lifestyle feel by hanging out in our studio. We've got a family bed, perfect for snuggles (or some jumping!). Holly and Justin brought their sweet baby Ellie to the historic studio for this shoot, taking advantage of the exposed brick and homey feel. We also ventured outside at the end for a bit of that fall color, without needing to spend the entire session out in the cold. Ellie even brought out her raspberry blowing skills for the session!

Indianapolis Senior Photography: Fall Color

Let's dig out one of my favorite fall photoshoots, shall we? Nigel had his senior photoshoot at a park in the near nothside of Indianapolis, where the fall color is chalk-full of yellow and gorgeous fall color. We even snuck his sister in there for a shot for mom (they are basically models!). In addition to the leaves and forest shots, we brought in some architectural elements. Recognize those ruins? It's Holiday Park! Fun fact: full fall color in Indianapolis is Halloween. Nigel, I hope you're enjoying college!

Outdoor Farm Maternity Shoot in Indianapolis

Three adorable boys? Check. Perfect pregnant belly? Check. Completely in love couple? Check and check! This maternity shoot was focused on family, family, family - they were growing by one, and ended up adding a girl to all of those boys! How exciting! This styled shoot took place at the Fixer Upper farm, northeast of Indianapolis. The farm was the perfect backdrop for this gorgeous shoot. They snuggled in a grove of trees, looked at horsies, and played with a picnic quilt. Those boys loooove their daddy, and my favorite shot is when Dad and his sons are all tickling each other! Lindzi, we hope your boys are busy loving on their sister!

A Darling Indianapolis Newborn on White

I had the honor of photographing Colby and her gorgeous daughter, Abriana. Colby is extremely studious and was actually set to graduate barely after her due date! Luckily, she was able to attend her graduation, making little Abriana the world's best graduation present. I was excited to use my new bonnet for this sweet babe, and she was nice and sleepy for some photos with mom. Colby, you are gorgeous and so is your darling daughter!

Indoor Indianapolis Photography Session: Mommy & Me

Denise and little Silas came into the studio recently for a Mommy & Me photoshoot. You may recognize him from some of my posts about these Limited Edition sessions - he was such the little cutie with tons of personality! 

These sessions include two looks: a modern, simple look with a gray backdrop, and a light & airy setup. We focused on their relationship - both silly and sweet. The bond between little boys and their moms is incredibly special. One minute, those boys are pestering mom, and the next, they're proclaiming their undying love to the most beautiful woman they've ever seen. Silas, I hope you always show your mom how much you love her! 

Indianapolis Lifestyle Shoot: Tea Parties, Reading, and Karaoke

Kye welcomed me into her home to photograph her family with a lifestyle photo session. These sessions are less about posing and looking at the camera, and more about authentic interactions. They held a tea-party (complete with invisible tea!), and read their favorite book, The Book With No Pictures.

Their interior was an amazing backdrop for this shoot. We captured not only those everyday moments of life, but also their beautiful house that they've worked hard to make a home. Thank you guys so much for letting me document your family!

Adventure shoot: Raquel

This fun adventure shoot at the studio included confetti, jumping on the bed, and snuggling with Daddy. I blogged about it on our old site, but we're fresh here, so let's take another look! This is one of my favorite sessions of all time.

Like most of our adventure shoots for girls, I supplied some beautiful dresses. One was rented from The Borrowed Boutique up in Fishers, and the others came from the studio's wardrobe. 

We started with jumping on the bed, and playing with some star confetti. One of the things that rocks about having a studio bed made for jumping is that we get rid of that nervous energy right away! Raquel had a blast playing.

Lastly, we finished up with some special daddy & daughter images. These two just love each other completely, and it was so sweet to see them interact.

If you'd like to have an adventure shoot for your child, I'd love to hear from you! 

- Amy

Moms: Get Back in the Picture!

Moms, I'm writing to you today about something really important:

Your kids are being documented without you. 

We take hundreds, thousands of photos of our children, but rarely do we step in the photo with them. There are so many excuses - I don't have makeup on, I need to lose ten pounds, I don't need a photo of myself....

I get it. I really do. As a mom of three boys myself, I understand the pregnancy weight gain, the stretch marks, losing my pre-mom body, and being constantly covered in spit-up. I don't feel pretty when I just spent the day chasing children, wiping their noses, and collecting balls from the roof. I love my kiddos, but getting a photoshoot done with them sounds like an hour of herding goats while they eat my clothes. And why do I need to be in the photos, anyway? 

Because here's the thing: those photos are important.

They're important because your kids should be able to have photos with their mom.

When they grow up and look back through albums, will your children have any photos with you? Every moment of their young lives, they looked to you for snuggles and comfort, and depended on you for everything necessary to thrive. That was their life, and that's how they will remember it. Those precious little kisses, hugs, and silly faces you make at each other is something they deserve to have photographed, to hold onto and look back on as they age.

These photos are important because you are beautiful.

Even when you don't feel beautiful, you are beautifully their mother. They don't look at you and think, "Gee mom, you should really lose 5 pounds." They look at you and think, "That's my mom and I love her." 

They think, My mom can do anything. She makes every owie better. She is the world's greatest snuggler, and no mommy anywhere in the world is better than my mommy. She is the prettiest mommy I've ever seen, especially in the morning in bed, when I jump in to wake her up with kisses. 

You are beautiful because of who you are, and your children know that. 

I know it, too. So please mommas - don't hesitate any longer. It's time to document your relationship with your little ones before they grow up.

Sincerely,

Amy

Ready for your Mommy & Me Session with Indy Family Photo? Check them out here!