Caribelle [Bean Sprout]

What is a Bean Sprout Package? The BeanSprout Package is what I call my one year package! It is a full newborn session, sitter and smash cake bundle. The newborn session generally takes place within the first 21 days after baby makes their way earthside. You choose 2-3 colors to incirporate into your session and I plan and style everything. This mama chose whites, pinks and greens and brought the most adorable stuffie flamingo for baby Caribelle. The best part of the bundle is we were able to incorporate the flamingo throughtout each session.

The full newborn session includes my entire newborn workflow; beanbag (naked), wrapped, family/sibling.

The sitter session takes place once baby is fully sitting unassisted without help. This session usually takes place between 7-8 months. A lot of parents want this session right at 6 months however, most babies are not sitting fully unassisted until closer to 7-8 months. We want baby to be stable in their sitting and not wobbly so they dont get too tired throughout the session but also so you can relax a little bit without worrying about trying to catch your baby the entire session. This session also includes 3 sets; wood drop in a prop, plain/fabric backdrop in an outfit, and nakie on the bed.

And finally to round out the year, we do a smash cake session. This session takes place around 11M to make sure we have your ordering appointment in time for baby’s birthday. If you want to wait until closer to baby’s birthday, that is cool too! I am here for you and whatever you want from the session. For the smash cake, you choose the theme and I plan and style everything. Mama wanted strawberries for this session so we did strawberries! The smash and splash also comes with three “parts”; baby with the set, smash and the splash (because who wants to take home a sticky kid?).

Interested in a Bean Sprout Package for your babe? Fill out the contact form on my website to inquire! The optimal time to book is during your second trimester or early third to snag a spot in my calendar for baby’s entire first year!

xox,

Nina

Heather [Self Love]

Heather and I have been friends, or better yet, we have known each other since 6th grade. I think our story is hilarious because we DID NOT like each other when we first met. I dont remember why or how it happened but we just did not like each other. We got paired up to make a KINDNESS poster which is the most ironic part of it, but since then, we have been friends ever since.

The rest of middle school and high school and she is still one of my only friends that I keep in touch with from high school. We were roommates together when we first moved from Marine City to Southfield (whyyyy we did that is still beyond me lol) and even after living together we still like each other.

When she said she would model for me for one of my content day I was elated! Not only because I have known her basically my entire life but that should would trust ME with a session and allow me to use it to help other women feel comfortable and empowered enough to capture their own self love sessions.

Curious about a self love session? Fill out the contact form on my self love page and I would love to set up a phone call with you to go over all the things! :)

Until then, enjoy a preview of what a session gallery looks like.

Ready whenever you are ';)

xox,

Nina

Aureila [Full Newborn]

Returning clients have my heart and Ms. Aureila is the second baby of this family I have had the pleasure of photographing. When I tell you that I love watching your families grow, I am not kidding. It not only warms my heart that you trusted me enough the first time with your baby, but that you loved your session, the experience and the product enough to trust me again! I also took a different approach to their family images because big sis was under 2! And I have tiny humans and totally understand that sometimes a snuggle is easier to accomplish than a sit and smile.

BUUUUT for big sis being as young as she is, she did so good with her sibling portraits and honestly, those were more important than the full family looking and smiling at the camera anyway!

xoxox

Nina

Ezekiel [Smash Cake]

Happy St. Patricks Day! What better way to celebrate than with this “Lucky ONE” smash cake session of Mr. Ezekiel? He did sooooo good! There are three types of kiddos during smash cake sessions:

1. Babies that absolutely love it and go all in

2. Babies that hate it and cry the whole time or don’t want to touch the cake at all

3. Somewhere in between - they are okay for some of the session but not the entire thing

This happens for a couple reasons and the most common is that baby is generally in a stranger danger phase for the smash cake sessions. I do my best to try and connect with baby upon arrival at the studio but sometimes it doesn’t work however, Ezekiel was a Bean Sprout client so this was his 3rd session with me during his first year, and also he was a champ with the cake!

xoxo

Nina

Bowen [Full Newborn]

Oh Mr. Bowen! When Bowen’s mama reached out to me to book his newborn session I was so excited! There is something special about people you went to high school with and graduated with that trust you enough with their bitty miracles to hire you to capture their memories. And to top it off, she asked if I could incorporate a small quilt that was made of his grandpa’s clothes because he passed before he was born. * cue tears *

Bowen was such a sleepy baby! He rocked every set. :)

xoxo

Nina

Meghan [Maternity]

I honestly think one of my favorite parts of my “job” is how nervous some of you are when you show up to your sessions but the amount of confidence you LEAVE the session with it, makes the whole experience worth while for both of us! This mama was down for anything but her nervousness was palpable, but by the end of her session, she was ROCKING it and posing herself and I am always here for that transition.

And if you’re here because you are looking to book a maternity session, all of mama’s outfit are in my client closet AND we can do an outdoor or studio session or a mix of both!

xoxo

Nina

Gimm Family [Fall]

Family sessions are some of my favorite sessions! I love being able to watch your families grow and also I love being able to just capture your chaos! Having tiny humans with each individual family is so different but your vibes are generally the same. I love capturing the different connections each family has with each other and also with their babies. I first photographed little man when he was like 17 days old and love watching him grow!

What to expect during your family session with me? ⬇

The overall message? We play! We run around. And I have 3 tiny humans of my own, so mama! Relax. Have fun. I get you!

xoxo

Nina

Andrit [Petite Wrapped]

Oh Mr. Andrit - Fun Fact! Sometimes our sessions do not go as planned and that is 100% okay! Mr. Andrit was originally suppose to have a full session BUT he was not having anything to do with being naked and was even a little fussy and touchy while in a wrap. IT HAPPENS! But! I was still able to adjust his top wrap and or props/backdrops while in the same wrap enough to fill a full gallery. I promise you, I have seen every. single. thing. that can happen during a newborn session however, I am trained and skilled enough to deal with these situations which is why hiring a professional newborn photographer who is trained in safety and different circumstances is so much more important than just hiring someone based on pricing.

PRO TIP! If you have a super fussy baby, you can use the same wrap with a prop and a backdrop, add bonnets or sleepy caps and switch up your angles to maximize your gallery!

AND if you didn’t see them little man DID give me some good smiles too! , despite not being a happy camper most of the session! :)

xoxox

Nina

Macrame Swing Prop

Do you have one of the macrame swings but aren’t sure how to use it? I have used it for newborn, sitter and smash cake sessions and I absolutely love it. Below are some examples of how I have used the swing and some pointers.

First of all, if you have super high ceilings like I do and bolting the swing into the ceiling isn’t an option, you probably don’t know how to hang it! I have the BEST solution. I ordered an indoor swing stand from amazon! Then, to build it up I use the horseshoe posers from the transformer set from Modest Little Me Boutique. These also allow to add weight to the swing to stop it from swinging and rotating. Then ALWAYS have mom or dad or an assistant hold the swing to keep it still and have someone else stay close to baby to spot once baby is posed.

Pro tip to pose baby as a newborn; I also keep my legs under the swing so that I can use my shins to hold the swing in place while posing baby and then slowly remove my legs when I am ready to take the shot and have someone hold the swing still and another parent/person spotting/holding baby.

For sitters, I LOVE that they are able to move around a little bit. It causes a variety of facial expressions and it allows baby something to keep themselves occupied with.

And finally for smash cake babies, I love adding it to their smash cake set, instead of just having them in front of their set. It gives variety and depth to the gallery rather than just baby sitting on the floor for the whole session.

Overall, this swing is very versatile for newborns through the first year and all the milestone sessions in between. Mine is from Finn&Emma but there are other vendors like Luneberry.

If you have any questions please let me know! I would be happy to help you use your swing if you are waiting to use it!

xoxoxox Nina

Heyyy! It's Me, again!

Hi! I am Nina! The owner and photographer here at Blue Stone Photography! It’s been a while since I have updated my blog with my face in it, so here we go!

I am turning 33 this year and have 3 tiny humans, all girls and they are 6, 4, and 2! I have been married to my husband for almost 7 years (next month). My biggest goal for the 2023 year is to expand my teaching in newborn safety and also to grow my photographer community with styled shoots and content days! I am so excited to have already had one wrapping workshop this year and have one almost sold out content day for self love (boudoir) in March, and I am so pumped about it!

I also have a very strong relationship with Jesus and I do not talk about it much. I try to really keep my business and my personal/church life separate but the Lord has been dealing with me this year to start speaking out and allowing others to find their light in me as well. I know this is going to ruffle some feathers, but my walk with Jesus and a life of being saved isn’t actually a secret, I just don’t share it much openly.

But heres to 2023! And all the things the Lord has to offer for my business and personal life!

xoxox

Nina

FAQs - Sitter Session feat. Henry!

FAQs about Sitter Sessions!

1. When do I book?

   1. Book when baby is around 3/4 months to give us enough time to plan and schedule your session.

2. Is this a 6M milestone session?

   1. Not technically. Most babies aren’t sitting unassisted until about 7/8M old so we plan for between 7-8months

3. What if baby is not fully sitting the week before my session?

   1. IT IS OKAY! And PLEASE communicate that with me! I would rather push your session back a couple weeks and wait for baby to be ready than to have you come in just to capture it and not be able to fully enjoy the session and experience because we are needing to “catch” baby the entire session

4. Do I need to bring anything to my session?

   1. Nope! Part of the experience with me is that you do not need to bring anything to any of your studio sessions with me. You choose a couple colors that go well with your home and I will plan and style everything, including outfits.

5. Can I book a sitter session without a smash cake bundle or a newborn session with you?

   1. Absolutely! If you want to skip both the newborn and the cake smash and just capture the sitter session, that is TOTALLY okay! I would love that. It is such a great session to catch your growing baby and their personality blooming. I would highly recommend not skipping the sitter over the smash cake!

6. Do you offer bundles?

   1. I DO! I have my BeanSprout Package that includes a full newborn, sitter and smash cake sessions. I also have a sitter-smash bundle if you werent ready to book the whole first year at your newborn session or if you didnt book your newborn session with me. If you book a bundle, your sitter session comes with a handful of digital images and we do an ordering for your newborn and smash cakes!

Any other questions and feel free to ask! bluestonephotos@gmail.com

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day from my family to yours!

Emily [Maternity]

This maternity session was nothing short of a dream! Mama and dad were 100% on board with everything and trusted the whole process from start to finish. From listening to tips and tricks on what to wear to just listening to prompts and everything in between. I get to meet their sweet baby this week for her newborn session and I could not be more excited to catch up, hear their birth story and capture their little baby girl!

I do offer a maternity - newborn bundle that allows you to capture your maternity session while being in budget and giving you a handful of digital images while actually being able to focus on investment during your newborn session, because let’s be real - no one wants a giant canvas in their living room from their maternity session but wouldn’t hesitate to have one from their newborn session. :)

Ask about the maternity add on when you book your newborn session!

Harrison [Newborn]

Mr. Harrison just turned a year old, so now is the perfect time to share his newborn session! Little man was NOT having it with any of my table poses, but that’s okay! It happens sometimes. In the event like Harrison where he just doesn’t want to do any of the “naked” poses, we wrap ‘em up, do my wrapped workflow, then family portraits and then try again at the end. Sometimes after being wrapped baby will settle, and sometimes baby is worse because they truly don’t want to be naked. And that’s okay. The only thing I can do is try sometimes! BUT I promise you this, even if baby doesn’t cooperate for the naked portion of your session, you will still get more than enough images in your gallery to capture your baby for products, albums and timeless images to continue to look at as they continue to grow.

Tessa [Sitter]

Capturing your baby’s first year is soo much fun and the sitter session is probably the most entertaining, I mean, obviously a cake smash is fun but the sitter session starts the capturing of your baby and their growing personality! Sweet little Tessa was soo good for her session too! Mama and her came in, and we rocked it and that was that.

Sometimes babies for their sitter session start with their stranger danger phase around that time because they done around 7-8M when baby is fully sitting unassisted. This is also when stranger danger can really start to set in so sometimes we need to give baby a little space and some time to adjust to the studio, me, the outfits their wearing, the lights being off, my camera in their face, etc etc etc. It is a weird experience for a 7/8M old, but Tessa was chill as a cumcumber and did sooo well!

So, if you are ever curious about a sitter session and if you should just wait to book your smash cake, I would say, book both! 1. because I offer a discount on your sitter session for booking both that and your smash cake together and 2. do it because their little growing personalities need to be documented.

xoxo

Nina

Zorawar [Full Newborn]

I try to work with an assistant when I have newborn sessions so that my parents can just relax and have a break BUT we needed to reschedule our session so I did not have an assistant on hand. However! Dad stepped in as my assistant and he did so well! I work with an assistant a lot of the time for a break but also because sometime mom and dad can be really nervous around posing newborns because they are not used to it. BUT dad stepped in and was an absolute champ. By the end of the session, he was moving with me and pretty much knew what I needed and was looking for before I even asked him to grab it.

So, what does a full session look like? Something close to the above :) We also attempt naked, wrapped and family for the full session and siblings if there are any big sibs.

Ready to book? Fill out the contact form here so we can start planning your session.

xoxo

Nina

Invest In Your Child's Moments: Why A Bean Sprout Package?

Photography sessions for some people can be stressful to think about because they are an investment. As a society, we spend so much time and money planning our weddings, but do we realize that that one day actually is the start to the rest of our lives as adults? Do we actually care about the marriage or do we just want to have the best wedding ever? You spend thousands of dollars on a photographer for your wedding, for one day, to capture every single moment and milestone, why do not we not value that same mind set as a society and as parents for our children too? Kids are expensive, sure, I know this, I have two littles of my own. But I also know that they grow up so stinkin’ fast and seriously, I am so happy I have all their milestones documented and hung around my house. So, lets start with the newborn session.

First things first, I only take a handful of newborn sessions each month, booked around your due date to allow for the flexibility in my schedule to accommodate the unpredictability of when baby will arrive. I also have to schedule around sitter sessions (a milestone you should capture) and cake smashes (a mile stone you should capture) as well as family sessions, freshies and births. That being said, reach out to me around the end of your second trimester, or beginning of the third, so you can make sure you have a spot saved in my calendar. Do I have some last minute spots sometimes? Sure, of course, but my newborn sessions are special and I love being able to style them to your wants and needs and I ALWAYS try to get something personalized for your little one, and this cant always be done with a last minute session, and I don’t always have availability.

Secondly, I style everything. I give you some say in a color palette of your choosing, but you do not have to bring anything (this is for all my sessions, minus family but I will help style you). I have wraps, blankets, bonnets, outfits, headbands, pants, sleepy caps, props, EVERYTHING. I have everything I need for your session. You show up, hang out, and just relax during your session. My goal, is to make sure you have some me time during your session. We just finished my client area, I am working on getting a streaming device in there also, so you can just veg out on the couch while I photograph your babe.

Thirdly, I love products. I absolutely love love love wood prints and canvases. I adore custom made frames without glass in them. Albums of your session just make me smile and seeing your proofs in a physical print make my heart oh so happy. I love everything about having physical products of your images, and I hope you do too. Digitals are great to share on social media, but physical prints and wall art are to die for.

Okay, I am actually legit rambling via text form here but booking a newborn or a Bean Sprout Package is so important in starting the procession of capturing all your baby’s milestones in their first year. Check out my Bean Sprout Package to not miss a single moment in their first year. Invest in your baby. Invest in your memories and their moments, because you cannot get them back. I cannot turn back time to get your 3 month old back to a newborn session, and I cannot change your 11 month old walker into a sitter. Capture those moments, you will not regret it or be disappointed.

xoxo

Nina - Your Metro Detroit Newborn & Family Photographer

Chelsea [Studio Maternity]

When this mama reached out to me, she told me she wanted more a classic, black & white studio look for her maternity session. They aren’t “stand in the field” type of people and that wasn’t really want they wanted. And listen, I AM HERE FOR THAT! I love being able to accommodate people in my studio but also, I love that she knew exactly what she wanted from her session. Do not do something outside of the norm just to please your photographer. If you don’t want to stand in a field and you aren’t outdoor people, don’t stand in a field and make yourself outdoor people.

If you think we can’t create magic in the studio, you’re wrong. I love studio maternity sessions. Classic and plain or elegant with gowns. You do you boo, and I am here to help you.

xoxox,

Your Metro Detroit Maternity Photographer,

Nina

What To Wear For A Family Session.

You finally decided to book your family session! Yay! We’re all so excited and then the stress of trying to figure out what to wear sets in and you start to panic. What do I wear? What do I put on my kids? What does my husband wear? Are we suppose to match? What colors do we use? What patterns are okay? RELAX! I am here to help! And I also know the stress of getting two toddlers plus a husband ready for pictures.

First things first, find one outfit you really want in your pictures and start there. I personally start with the baby or my toddler and find an outfit I LOVE, and coordinate the rest after. Whether it’s a solid dress that’s flowy to fit your little one’s style or it’s the perfect floral skirt you scored on clearance, start with one piece you know you want and filter everyone else from there.

Please do not show up with everyone wearing jeans and white t-shirts or khaki pants and navy tops, you will end up clashing. Also, avoid too many plaids and/or patterns. My moto is, coordinate but don’t match. OKAY NINA! BUT HOW!? It’s actually quite simple. Let me use my family session wardrobe as an example. I bought a black short romper with a train for my toddler and I KNEW I wanted to use it for our pictures. It had a floral pattern of yellows and greens. So, I found solid yellow romper for the baby to match, a solid green flowy dress for me and threw my husband in dark jeans and a solid beige sweater. We all had coordinating colors with one outfit as the “center piece”.

In addition, I would not put your toddler or baby in a really expensive dress or be too formal. If that’s you, and the look you’re going for, then awesome! but I also want you to be comfortable. Now, that also doesn’t mean to dress down. You want to be comfortable/casual but also cute. Mom, even if you don’t wear dresses or skirts often, I highly recommend a flowy dress or skirt. They’re cute and flow nicely while playing with the kiddos and you can still move around better than you can in jeans. Again, if jeans or leggings are your thing, awesome, but keep in mind what your end goal is for the outcome of your session. What you wear can make or break the style and overall look of your session.

Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, you can always send me your picks and I can help you coordinate. I love styling your sessions if I can, and I have some cute childrens outfits in my client closet we can use too if needed. DO NOT be afraid to send me a message or call me in a panic about your outfits because I WANT TO HELP! If I can make it happen and we need to go on a shopping date, I’m here for you. Your session is just as important to me, as it is for you!

Here’s a short list of some shops/stores I recommend to get your outfits from:

Shein, Lulus, Amazon, Old Nay, ZARA, H&M, Forever 21, Bailey’s Blossom

XOXO

Nina - Your Metro Detroit Family & Newborn Photographer

Your Birth. Your Home. Your Choices.

When you find out you’re pregnant the first thing we do is call our OBGYN and they make a first prenatal appointment with you and then, you deliver out of the hospital they are associated with. Did you know that home births can be an option? I photographed my first in home birth in 2020 during the highest point of the pandemic, and honestly, the experience was so surreal and life changing for me, I needed to write about it, again.

Having a baby in a hospital is so common now, we just assume it’s the only way. Your OBGYN never even asks you if you want to have a home birth and even if there is a midwife in the office, chances are she isn’t going to ask you if you want a home birth. But they totally are an option for you. Hospitals are stiff and in turn, can actually prolong your labor and how you birth. Did you know that the most common way and most natural way to birth a baby is on all 4s, hands and knees? and that laying on your back actually is the worst position for you to birth in, yet almost every single person that births in a hospital births on their back? Its true. But that’s not even the best part about what I witnessed during this home birth. This mama was STRONG. This mama listened to her body. This mama was prepared. This mama made choices for her birth. This mama has a great birth story to tell her daughter. Oh! and her midwives and doula were AMAZING and so so supportive. I want you to have a great birth story too.

Melissa, a midwife, from Melissa Michelle Birth Services explains midwifery so simply. She says, “midwives are essential in the care needed for family focused birth. From hearing the heartbeat to the first time to “graduating” your last postpartum appointment, a midwife is there. Care can begin as early as 10 weeks, goes through 6 weeks postpartum and takes place in your home, which allows us to build a strong relationship and really get to know you. A strong relationship and team is important to birth, it allows the mother to feel safe and secure and home is her safe place.” — I witnessed how important a midwife is during labor. Melissa was so supportive, knew when to step in a help to relieve some pressure and also helped the husband learn some techniques to be included in the laboring process. She stepped back when needed so dad was involved but also stepped in when she knew mom was having a hard time/contraction.

Lauren, a doula, from Root to Rise Birth LLC says, “through birth doula services, prenatal yoga, and childbirth education, my mission is to impact birth experiences and increase confidence through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I will guide you to uncovering and discovering those instinctual capabilities rooted so deep within, for you to have a peaceful birth while providing non-bias support, love and compassion.” And seriously, the amount of love and compassion Lauren has during a birth is absolutely amazing to watch unfold. She even helps guide the entire family through the birthing process so even dad knows what is happening and what s going to happen next.

I cannot sing their praises enough and if I could go back, I would totally hire both of them and take some hypnobirthing classes, which this mama actually teaches/owns at Metro Detroit Hypnobirthing. She offers classes all around the Metro Detroit Area. For those of you who do not know, hypnobirthing is a childbirth education course designed to teach you how to work WITH your body rather than RESIST it and bring your baby into the world in the calm and gentle way that nature intended. These classes aren’t just learning how to breathe, they help you learn your body and what your body goes through in order to help aid yourself in the birthing and laboring processes.

All of this information to say this, contact these women or other women in these fields in your area and inquire about a home birth. Most births do not need medical intervention and with the help of midwives, doulas and hypnobirthing classes, you can have the birth and birth story you dream of, not one your doctor wants you to have.

xoxo

Nina - Your Metro Detroit Birth Photographer