Luca [Newborn]

Mr. Luca - I have known his mama since we were kids! Our moms were very close friends and her and her twin brother were in the same grade as my little brother! When Gabbie reached out to me about capturing her newborn session I was sooo excited and honored… and when he came in, he did soooo good! And how adorable are his parents!?

Interested in booking a newborn session with me? Head over to my contact page and fill out the contact form! I cannot wait to talk to you about your session!

xoxo,

nina

Olivia [Newborn]

Little Miss Olivia! I have a questionnaire I send out to all my moms when they book to get an idea of colors they want, if there are any specific props or poses they want me to try and accomplish or anything they want to bring to their session. Mom said that she loved the naked poses but she wasnt a huge fan of baby being naked and also really liked outfits. Little miss was pretty content when they arrived so I knocked out a couple naked images before putting her in an outfit, then added an outfit, did wrapped/props and then did their family images in an outfit. Mama is also wearing a dress from my client closet and is always an option for your session!

Check out more from Little Miss Olivia’s session.

Interested in booking a newborn session? Please fill out the contact form and I can’t wait to talk to you about your session. Mama also upgrade to a BeanSprout Package during their ordering so I will get to see little miss for her sitter and smash cake sessions as well this year!

xoxox,
Nina

Charlotte [Newborn]

Mom + Dad had booked a full newborn session which includes my naked (beanbag), wrapped/prop, and family/sibling poses. I send out a questionnaire for all my parents to fill out to give me an idea of their overall vision for their session. Mom requested my macrame swing prop and sometimes, baby takes a while to settle. SO! I asked her when she arrived if she would be okay with a mostly wrapped session, then family with an outfit and end with the swing so we can take as much time as possible to get the swing prop. Not only did the outfit with family end up AMAZING, the she did so good in the swing too!

Check out some of my favorites from the session!

Want more information about a full newborn session or a petite wrapped for yourself? Jump over to my contact form and I will set up a phone call with you!

xoxox

Nina

Chelsae [Maternity]

When mama said she wanted to add a more casual look at the end of her session in addition to the two gowns from my client closet, I was actually pumped and they ended up being some of both of our favorite images! Your maternity session is YOURS! If you want it to be casual, cool. If you want to wear a gown, awesome. If you want to do a self love session at the studio, amazing. Whatever YOUR vision is for your session, I am just here to capture it and bring it to life!

Ready to book a maternity session or a bundle? Fill out the contact form on my contact page to inquiry and set up a phone call with me!

xoxo,

Nina

Tiana [Maternity]

When mama first reached out, she originally was looking at just booking a newborn session. However, after we went over all the bundles, we were able to squeeze them in for a maternity + newbie bundle. Which I am sooo glad we were able to make it work. They absolutely killed it and mama to be is absolutely stunning.

Buuuut lets touch base on the maternity + newbie bundle for a minute. This is probably one of my most sold bundles BECAUSE you get to capture your maternity session as an add on to your newborn session and it includes 8 digital images! This allows you to capture and forever remember the short period of time of you growing a human, but save most of your budget for your newborn session.

Also, can we talk about this SUNRISE sunshine! Ugh! Im obsessed. More sunrise sessions please.

BUT enjoy some of their favorite images from their gallery!

xoxo,

Nina

Crew [Smash Cake]

Crew! When mama reached out about her cake smash session she said she wanted something neutral and not over the top. She wanted to make sure that little man was the center of attention and a giant, extravagant smash cake set was not going to overtake him. AND if you’ve been following my work for a while you would know that I always keep my sets simple and to theme but keep baby at the center of the image.

We went back and forth about what we wanted to do from my vision to moms and ultimately we settled on balloons and neutrals with a pop of green in Crew’s outfit.

He enjoyed his cake, loved to splash and overall was such a happy kid. I was so honored that mama chose me to capture this session for her. Check out some highlights from his session!

So, if you are looking for a photographer to bring your cake smash theme to life with a simple set, I’m your girl and I would love to talk to you about a session.

xoxox, Nina

Casey [Full Newborn]

Sweet baby Casey did so well for her session. These 2021 and 2022 babies have been HARD to say the least but little Casey was a dream, literally. Mom and dad were so chill and easy to work with and allowed me to just do my thing and gave them time to relax.

I always try and give mom and dad some time to recharge and work with an assistant most of the time because having three tiny humans myself, it is so nice to just allow parents to have some time to not worry about caring for a tiny human for a couple hours. A time for them to just hang out and reconnect a little bit. Have conversations about things they need to discuss that doesn’t involve who’s turn it is to change the diaper or make a bottle.

When I tell you Casey was a DREAM to work with, I think we had her entire session knocked out in about 2 hours. I always prepare my parents to stay at least 2-3 hours in the event we have a lot of feeding breaks and settling with baby, but Casey was sooo good. We got through 2 blanket colors (4 poses), 4 wraps/props, parent poses AND an outfit at the end.

Newborn sessions are where my heart lies and even some of the fussiest babies make me love my job, but every once in a while when I get a really good dreamy, sleepy baby, it just makes this job even more enjoyable.

Your Favorite Detroit Newborn Photographer ;)

xoxox, Nina

Maternity Session: When To Book

Are you expecting a baby? Trying to figure out if a maternity session is something you want to do? As a mom and a photographer, I highly recommend it. And you may be thinking, I don’t feel like I’m glowing or I just don’t have that cute bump all the other pregnant mamas have. Look, no one carries their baby the same, and no one “feels” good pregnant, but when you put on a maternity gown, do your hair and make up and show up to capture this session, I promise you, you will be so happy you made the choice to book this session.

FAQs

1. When should I book my session?

   1. You want to book your session during your second trimester for around 30-36 weeks. We want you to be showing enough to see your bump but not wait so long that you are overly uncomfortable closer to your due date.

2. Can my significant other and/or older children attend?

   1. Absolutely. Your significant other and your kids are gaining another member of their family too. We want to capture their excitement as well as yours.

3. Can I do the session by myself?

   1. If you just want to have a couple images of yourself to capture your pregnancy, that is also totally fine. I have mamas all the time book sessions just for them, because they want to capture this time.

4. Do you offer wardrobe?

   1. I do actually. I have a very small client closet but I am always looking to expand. If I have a dress currently that you want to wear you are more than welcome to use it for your session. If I don’t have one you like or in your size or your style, I have a photographer account with a great gown company and can always order you something to add to my client closet after your session.

5. Do I have to wear a maternity gown?

   1. Of course not. If you want to wear maternity jeans and a tshirt, you totally can do that. I want you to feel comfortable during your session.

Whether this is your first or 10th child, I highly recommend having a maternity session. It might not be something you think you want right now, but I promise you won’t regret having this time of your pregnancy captured in print, to have and look back on forever.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me and ask all the questions. I can also add on a maternity session to a newborn session or a Bean Sprout Package for a smaller session fee. ;)

Your Metro Detroit Newborn and Family Photographer

xoxo

Nina

How To Choose A Session Location

You're planning on booking a family session, which is, in most cases, stressful as it is. You already know you need clothes for your whole family, but I ask you what your vision is and if you have a location in mind, and you have no idea. Let me break down some of the spots we can do any session in and how to determine what location would work best for your family and your wall art.

First, what kind of people are you? Are you a Starbucks family that enjoys the city and drinking coffee together? Are you more causal and laid back and homebodies? Or are you adventurous and like to go hiking and be outdoors? All of these questions are very important in choosing a location that is right for YOUR family.

If you are a more urban family that enjoys going downtown and spending time window shopping, I would recommend a downtown/urban area for your session. Downtown Detroit has so many cute little gems of areas to have your session in, and we can explore with your family. Family sessions are not stiff and overly posed with me, I want you to be you and I want to capture who all of you are and your personalities and if we need to take it downtown and get coffee or ice cream, lets go!

Next, if you are homebodies and love staying in and making pancakes on Saturday mornings, followed by board games or bike rides, I want to capture that. If you have pizza night every Friday followed by popcorn and Disney+ on the couch, lets capture that. These moments are a season in your life, and I want you to be you, captured in your truest form. If you don’t wear dresses or want to frolic in a field chasing your kids, then don’t do it. Make your session about you and your family and what you enjoy doing together in the right now.

Most commonly we picture family sessions outdoors and in a field with mama wearing a beautiful flowy dress and all the kids are matching or coordinating perfectly. If this is you… fantastic. Let’s go play in a field, which is my personal favorite spot to be. There are so many varieties of things we can do when we are outside and in a field, which is why I most commonly recommend this. Playing outside and letting kids be kids, is the best. Also, it allows for bubbles, and honestly, who doesn’t love bubbles? In addition to a field, a beach or a creek are also a great way to add some variety to your session. If you have a session booked in the middle of the summer, lets head to the creek and splash!

If you need help choosing a location, do not feel like you cannot ask for recommendations and don’t feel like you need to be in a field or in the woods if that is not somewhere you are comfortable. I want to capture your family just the way it is and where you like to go. And, regardless of location, we are going to have fun and you’re going to have beautiful images/products to hang on your walls to enjoy for years to come.

Your Metro Detroit Family & Newborn Photographer,

xoxo Nina

Angelina [Full Newborn]

Baby Angelina was such a beautiful baby to have in the studio but I want to note a couple things that happened during her session that happen A LOT but it’s not talked about much. Baby girl was SOO gassy and uncomfortable for about the first hour of her session. Every time I tried to pose her with any sort of pressure on her belly she would just scream. I tried ALL the tricks in the book to help her gas move down and out, leg kicks, belly rubs, even knee to chest rolls to try and push it out, but nothing worked.

So, what do you do in this situation? Well, she was comfortable just laying on her back, so I grabbed an outfit and just let her be. Sometimes, with even the best prep and following my prep guide to get baby ready for their staring role, they just do not cooperate and/or are gassy, cluster feeding etc. It happens.. and it happens a lot. BUT I have been trained by the best and started teaching newborn posing and wrapping as well and have the experience necessary to still get you a full gallery of timeless images for you.

What happens if she wouldn’t settle? In my experience baby’s will almost always settle. And 9/10 times they always settled while wrapped because they are so used to being swaddled at home and inside mom for 40+ weeks. Newborn wrapping is an art all it’s own and its such a great tool to help soothe and calm babies down.

As you can see, even though we started off a little crazy and uncomfortable, we were able to still capturing timeless, amazing images for mom and dad as well as an awesome bucket shot as a bonus at the end.

Newborn photography takes a lot of patience, especially with a fussy, gassy or awake baby but truthfully, I would not want to be specialized in anything else. I LOVE all the babies that come into the studio and I am still in awe that I get to capture these moments and memories for you to cherish for years to come. :)

xoxoxox,

Nina

Your Metro Detroit Baby Whisperer

Smash & Splash: How To Prepare Your Child

Smash & splashes can be a lot of fun for both baby and mom/dad, but sometimes they can be a disaster. We all want that kid that loves their cake and smiles and laughs the whole time, but sometimes, that doesn’t always happen. There are a couple tricks to help get your child prepared that I am going to share with you but I also want to share with you some of my tricks in case we have a meltdown!

First and foremost, do not let the cake smash session be the first time your child tastes frosting or feels the texture of cake. Sometimes the sugar and sweetness from the frosting will put them off right away, and the texture of the frosting can be sticky and also start a meltdown. About 2 weeks prior to your session, make some cupcakes and let baby have some sensory time with it. They will be able to feel the different textures of both the frosting and cake as well as taste it, because we all know babies put everything in their mouths. If they are totally cool with it, awesome, don’t worry about the cake being an issue, if they do have a meltdown or don’t seem to like it, try again the next day or a couple days later, so they know that it’s okay and also can adjust to the feeling and taste.

Secondly, let me know ahead of time if baby has stranger danger and takes a while to warm up to new people. I always try to spend a few minutes, or more, when you arrive to get baby used to me. 8-12 months is prime age for your child to start developing a sense of anxiety around new people, especially if they do not attend a daycare or aren’t around many other people in general. Just let me know ahead of time so I can spend extra time getting your babe to warm up to me.

Third, send me their favorite song(s) or show so I can try and have something ready to go in case of a meltdown. Sometimes just singing “Baby Shark” or “ABCs” will do the trick and sometimes they need to see something on a screen or a favorite toy over my camera.

Forth, bring their favorite snack or puffs to hide in the back of the cake. Sometimes even with all prep work, they will not touch the cake and that’s totally okay. Hiding puffs or Cheerios in the back of the cake will allow me to capture your baby “grabbing” their cake, when really they’re just reaching for their snacks. I always have Cheerios readily available when needed but if your child prefers something else, bring it. No harm in trying all the tricks.

Also, start giving your child snacks while they are seated on the floor. Why is this important? When a baby is constantly put into a chair for snack or meal times, sitting on the floor in the studio with a cake in front of them can be another whole obstacle to tackle. I am not saying to give your child ALL the snacks on the floor because mess, BUT a few snacks here and there leading up to the cake smash is a good idea to make sure the smash cake session is not the first time they are eating while sitting on the floor.

Lastly, don’t stress, I got you mama. I handle everything from the cake to the outfit and set up. You express your theme, I will do the rest. I am more minimalistic when it comes to cake smashes because I want your baby as the front and center of the session, not the dramatic set up. Sure those set ups are cute, but I’m always drawn to how extravagant they are, and not the baby. I want you to see your sweet little babe.

Overall, cake smashes can be an amazing additional to your child’s first year milestone sessions but sometimes we have to do some work to get the amazing out of it, and that’s okay. And please remember, not crying is a WIN! Not all babies come in and are happy and excited and smile the entire time. But if your child looks at me, even with a straight face, and does not cry, MAMA that is a huge win for this age.

xoxoxox

Nina - Your Metro Detroit Newborn & Family Photographer

Books & Shows During Social Distancing.

Alright, the truth is, no one knows what’s going on in the world out there. We are told to stay home and out of crowds but for those of you who are not accustomed to staying home, I have some good news for you! I have been a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) for 3.5 years now, and some days are obviously harder than others but the good news is, you can get through this!

Don’t have kids? Perfect, I am actually writing this more towards you! I have a list of shows and books for you to binge during social distancing!

Books:

1. The Bible - Read it, you need it right now. It doesn’t matter what version, amplified, King James, New Living Translation - Get one and spend some time in His word.

2. Harry Potter Series - 7 book series about a wizard, Harry Potter, who attends a wizarding school called Howgarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The series follows him through his school years while he struggles against a dark wizard, Lord Voltemort.

3. The 5 Love Languages - This book is AMAZING to help you understand yourself and your partner and how each of you feels love. Just because you feel love one way does not mean your partner feels love the same way. Especially with social distancing and being around your partner more, this book may help get through these “isolation” days.

4. The Maze Runner - 5 book series about a group of teenagers that get sent to a strange land and do not remember how they got there or anything about their lives except their name. One part of the land changes everyday, the maze, which they think is how they get out of “The Glade”.

TV Shows:

1. Grey’s Anatomy - Medical drama about Meredith Grey from her intern year into her years as an attending. It shadows her life and her friends, and there are about 16 seasons now. I got sucked in a few years ago, binge watched Netflix and now watching in real time (DVR).

2. Fuller House - Sitcom spin off of Full House with all the same characters except now DJ is raising three boys by herself in her dads house and Kimmie and Stephanie move in to help her raise them.

3. Last Man Standing - Sitcom where the main character, Mike Baxter, has three daughters. He tries to stay manly with his job at Outdoor Man but doesn’t always stay away from all the drama. This show is hilarious!

4. Manifest - American drama where flight 828 from Jamaica goes missing for 5.5 years and finally returns. The passengers have not aged and do not feel like they were gone any longer than their normal flight. The start having these visions they call “callings” that help and hurt them while trying to help other passengers and those around them.

I hope this helps some of you get through this social distancing. It doesn’t have to be boring and you don’t need to be stuck in the house. Head out to a local state park and go for a hike or a run. Go play outside with your kids.

See y’all soon! Good luck out there!

xoxo

Nina - Your Metro Detroit Newborn & Family Photographer