Wedding Photographers Chicago | Melissa Diep Photography | Blog

 

When I photographed Baby Lauren, daughter to my old friends I-Hwa and John, here just six days old, I couldn’t get Laurie Berkner’s song out of my head.

I’m sittin here I’m one day old
I’m sittin here I’m two days old
I’m sittin here I’m three days old
I’m sittin here I’m four days old 

One day I’ll be a year
then I’ll be two, then three, then four.
But as for now I’m sittin here
and I’m five days old and no days more.

 

 

Lauren was 5lbs 13oz at birth. Perfectly sleepy, perfect for curling up against momma, Lauren slept the entire session! All the conditions for a successful newborn shoot that I mentioned here were just right. (I can’t remember another time when I wasn’t pooped or peed on the job, yea!). So we dressed up this perfect, little doll with handmade headbands from Etsy and posed her with all sorts of cute props, like this vintage-inspired frame and called it one sweet day.

One day I’ll be a year
Then I’ll be two, then three, then four.
But as for now I’m gettin really tired
I’m five six days old and no days more.

Not familiar with this, I-Hwa and John? Don’t you worry, you will be soon. You won’t even remember that you used to listen to other music! Congrats on your precious baby and many wonderful years ahead!

xo, Melissa

 

Meet Miles. Fresh out of the oven at just 10 days young, this wee cutie-patootie is the son of Phil and Joline. Part Nigerian, part Israeli, Miles is just so precious that I was rather tempted to tuck him into my camera bag and take him home!

Miles has quite the birth story––his dad had to head Transatlantic the day that Mama and Baby were discharged from the hospital! Phil’s MBA program at the University of Chicago required that he spend some time abroad in London and Singapore to learn about global markets. And miss out on all this newborn cuteness? Luckily for him, we have documented Miles at 10 days to bring smiles all around the world!

During the shoot, Miles peed on me twice and pooped on me once. Oops! It’s okay, I’m used to it––call it a hazard of the job! Posing newborns can be tricky, so I wanted to share a few expert tips:

• Newborns have to be really warm, cozy, and super sleepy in order to be posed. A space heater is a trick of the trade!
• Newborn shoots are best done between five and 10 days old. Beyond 10 days, Baby is more alert, so all those sleepy, curly poses that we love to ooh-aah over are not possible to do. Baby acne also kicks in.
• Make sure you have no other plans penciled it for the day, as newborn shoots can typically take up to four hours due to feeding, getting Baby to sleep, soothing Baby, more feeding, and posing. And repeat. So grab a snack and some comfy shoes and enjoy the day!

I always bring my own props, but sometimes, something in the nursery will be so striking that I just have to shoot it! In this case, Miles’ whimsical bookshelf! I was crossing my fingers that Joline would allow me to pose him there. She said yes! Of course, safety always comes first, so Joline perched on a step stool just beneath him!

Proud Papa Phil also happens to be an amazing photographer––why, it’s only natural that Baby Miles inherit the posing gene!

Congratulations on your new bundle of joy, Phil and Joline! May you enjoy these precious days ahead!

xo, Melissa