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I had an email this morning asking where I bought my props. At first I though, no way I want to sure that information (I spend hours hunting for props)! Then I was flattered, I mean that means they like my taste!

My final realization  was uh oh…I cannot remember where I bought all my props. The simple fact is I have SOOOO many hats, bonnets, headbands, wraps, blankets, etc. I am always buying, sometimes it is just an item here and there…or I get in my head I NEED a certain colour wrap or hat…or I get to a point that I have used everything a few times and want some new fresh options for clients (and myself!).

I can spend hours looking, easily. I have learned to be picky. I do not care where it comes from if it is truly gorgeous! I have bought a few items and tried them in sessions to only see that just don’t suit certain babies…and then a baby come along that you would swear a certain hat or headband was MADE for!

Keeping props in stock also is a fine balance between buying what I love and what I know will compliment a sweet little baby but not over power. It is also finding items that I know Mom’s will love…my favourite moment  is asking to use a certain piece, knowing it isn’t the parents favourite but every time parents view their gallery they realize how gorgeous it really was and that is the image they end up purchasing!

When someone asks where I bought a certain item…there is a good chance I cannot remember… I order, I adore it and promptly take it to the studio and can never keep it straight from which vendor it came from. I have a little list of vendors I regularly purchase form and for now that list is my little secret. It is hours spent looking and comparing, checking out reviews from clients, shipping times, shipping fees…

My advice, hit up Etsy! I can easily spend hours hunting for the perfect prop. I am especially addicted to finding one of a kind items that I know no one else will have on hand. To be completely honest I get a little excited when I get packages in the mail with stamps from South Africa, Poland, Romania, England, Greece, etc….

I have also learned that finding beautiful props is NOT cheap…bonnets can easily be priced around $40-50, blankets $50, knit hats $30-45, headbands $20. I cannot complain because you pay for quality and I have yet to be disappointed!

I had an email this morning asking where I bought my props. At first I though, no way I want to sure that information (I spend hours hunting for props)! Then I was flattered, I mean that means they like my taste!

My final realization  was uh oh…I cannot remember where I bought all my props. The simple fact is I have SOOOO many hats, bonnets, headbands, wraps, blankets, etc. I am always buying, sometimes it is just an item here and there…or I get in my head I NEED a certain colour wrap or hat…or I get to a point that I have used everything a few times and want some new fresh options for clients (and myself!).

I can spend hours looking, easily. I have learned to be picky. I do not care where it comes from if it is truly gorgeous! I have bought a few items and tried them in sessions to only see that just don’t suit certain babies…and then a baby come along that you would swear a certain hat or headband was MADE for!

Keeping props in stock also is a fine balance between buying what I love and what I know will compliment a sweet little baby but not over power. It is also finding items that I know Mom’s will love…my favourite moment  is asking to use a certain piece, knowing it isn’t the parents favourite but every time parents view their gallery they realize how gorgeous it really was and that is the image they end up purchasing!

When someone asks where I bought a certain item…there is a good chance I cannot remember… I order, I adore it and promptly take it to the studio and can never keep it straight from which vendor it came from. I have a little list of vendors I regularly purchase form and for now that list is my little secret. It is hours spent looking and comparing, checking out reviews from clients, shipping times, shipping fees…

My advice, hit up Etsy! I can easily spend hours hunting for the perfect prop. I am especially addicted to finding one of a kind items that I know no one else will have on hand. To be completely honest I get a little excited when I get packages in the mail with stamps from South Africa, Poland, Romania, England, Greece, etc….

I have also learned that finding beautiful props is NOT cheap…bonnets can easily be priced around $40-50, blankets $50, knit hats $30-45, headbands $20. I cannot complain because you pay for quality and I have yet to be disappointed!

Isn’t it pretty? I am in LOVE….like 100% in love with the new look of Enchanted Hill.

I have been wanting to change the design around for about a year, despite hearing that my site was ‘fine’ and ‘okay’. The previous design was handmade by me, it was simple, functional and it worked but now? Ummm… HELLO GORGEOUS!! You cannot beat, hands down, a professional website made by a professional designer. These people are the bomb, they know their stuff, they know how to make the plain incredible and how to take simple to fantastic.

What I love the most is it highlights what I love to photograph the most…newborns. I still photograph families, children and graduates and the occasional wedding but now when you open the site you know what I am about.

I get excited about little thing like this because to me this is my store, when you walk in (aka open your browser) I want you to smile, look at pretty pictures, see the pretty walls and graphics and smile a little more because it is lovely.

I have changed the look of my website a few time of the past few years but always worrying if it was the right choice, colours, fonts. This time I knew this was it and it was perfect:)

Isn’t it pretty? I am in LOVE….like 100% in love with the new look of Enchanted Hill.

I have been wanting to change the design around for about a year, despite hearing that my site was ‘fine’ and ‘okay’. The previous design was handmade by me, it was simple, functional and it worked but now? Ummm… HELLO GORGEOUS!! You cannot beat, hands down, a professional website made by a professional designer. These people are the bomb, they know their stuff, they know how to make the plain incredible and how to take simple to fantastic.

What I love the most is it highlights what I love to photograph the most…newborns. I still photograph families, children and graduates and the occasional wedding but now when you open the site you know what I am about.

I get excited about little thing like this because to me this is my store, when you walk in (aka open your browser) I want you to smile, look at pretty pictures, see the pretty walls and graphics and smile a little more because it is lovely.

I have changed the look of my website a few time of the past few years but always worrying if it was the right choice, colours, fonts. This time I knew this was it and it was perfect:)

I love chatting with soon to be moms and new moms, I always want to rest any fears or concerns they have about their newborn session and I love giving little tips that will help make their newborn session go much easier and smoother! Here are my top ten tips

#1. Have Realistic Expectations

Not every baby will do every pose. Some babies will only do a few poses, some babies want to be wrapped nice and tight for the entire session, some babies will do anything we want except the easy poses… Sometimes a client will really want a certain prop only to find out their baby HATES the props! Some babies will not settle deep enough for certain poses and props and safety is an issue and that limits what we can do. Each session is different because we just go with the flow and see what baby will do and not do.  Don’t be disappointed because your baby didn’t want to do the froggie pose, know you will be walking away with a beautiful gallery!

#2. Don ‘t Stress If Baby is Cranky

Baby is fussy? No worries! Baby a terrible sleeper? No worries!  Once baby has a nice full belly and still a bit fussy let me try a few techniques I have up my sleeve:) I have done countless newborn sessions, I have had 4 little ones of my own and I read every baby book I can get my hands on because I have learned that all babies can be soothed but all babies like to be soothed differently, sometimes it takes few different tries of different techniques.

#3. Be Flexible

Sometimes parents arrive and baby is on a tight schedule…I am asking for parents to be REALLY flexible with your baby’s schedule for one morning…if baby is fussing and rooting we want baby to fill up and eat! Even if it is not on the schedule. And if baby is sleeping through their scheduled feeding time, please allow us to continue. Sometimes by waking baby and disrupting the sleep, we may not be able to get baby back to sleep to continue the session…so if things are going good I can promise you that one morning of a disruptive schedule will not affect baby.

#4. Bring a Snack and Some Water

Newborn sessions are long, you are recovering…eat, drink!!! Bring something with you just in case baby needs lots of a breaks and soothing. Being hungry isn’t fun for anyone

#5. Safety Rules 

I like all my babies within arms reach, I use a special lens that allows me to be very close to your baby.  Some babies are a little ‘twitchy’, they wake suddenly and flail and I will ask for help. Just an extra hand to keep baby safe (and erased in photoshop). I will not put your baby in anything that can break (glass or ceramic), I don’t care how cute it would look, it won’t happen. You trust me with your brand new baby and I ask you trust my judgement. There are hundreds of super cute prop and posing ideas on Pinterest but if I feel it is not safe, I will break your heart and tell you no (I will say is nicely though). Glass and ceramic bowls were not meant to hold a seven pound object, let alone a delicate baby, I will not take the chance that one could or might break. Props can tip over, babies can roll (even at 4 days old).  Not all babies can do all poses, I have handled over 100 newborns in my career and I have spent thousands on courses and mentoring. I can feel when I baby cannot do a pose, I can feel when a baby is nice and comfy. I can safely transition babies from one pose to the next and into props, so that they little necks, are well supported.  Call me over protective but I prefer to explain I am well educated, your baby’s safety is the number one concern. I want you to sit back and relax and know your baby is safe and in good hands.

#6. Get in the Picture!

You just had a baby, you are sleep deprived, your world is a little upside down and someone is asking you to get cleaned up and jump in the picture? Yup. I want you to BADLY! Why? Because you will look back on these pictures in twenty years and see that ‘glow’ of new motherhood. Your baby will NEVER fit in your hands like this again. Your baby will grow up and these pictures will be treasured and become heirlooms. And the greatest reason is you will not always be here. This baby is your legacy and these portraits will become invaluable to your family. These images are almost always my parents favourite images too. I love seeing how surprised they are at how sweet and lovely their portraits are with their new baby. Your baby doesn’t want to sleep? No worries! This is a great chance to have your picture taken.

#7.  Have a Toddler? Bring Reinforcements

I have a toddler. She is wild, she is crazy, loud, and temperamental because she is a toddler. I get toddlers, I also understand that the new baby is not the greatest thing that has happened in their life. This can be confusing and now we want them to cuddle with baby? But they want to run around! With toddlers I need parents to be on board with a game plan and strategies. Newborn session are 2-3 hours long…and a toddlers attention space is 12 seconds. Make sure they come well rested, well fed, and let’s pay TONS of attention to them. If that doesn’t work we might switch to ignoring them (which seems to bring toddlers out of their shell pretty quick).  Like the baby we go with the flow, we will meet their needs, give them space when they need space and give them attention when they need it too. If I need to take pictures of the toddler alone and do some photoshop magic and add the baby later, I will. And when we are done, it helps immensely, if there is someone to take the older sibling out of the studio while baby finishes their session. The session is hot…it is boring…it is all about the little baby who took their place of attention. Sometime’s babies cannot get into a deep sleep with an older sibling bouncing around. With great planning, adding a toddler is no trouble.

#8. Remember That Baby Runs the Session

I have had ONE session when baby sleep like a rock and I was done lickety split…I have had one 5.5 hour session…and the rest were in the middle. You never know. Every session depends on the baby, from props to poses. Sometimes I have a champion sleeper…who liked to poop and pee on everything…so I am constantly changing the backdrops. Sometimes I have a baby who needs to eat every 20-30 mins…so come prepared to stay for a while, make sir baby will have lots to eat. I never know how long a long a session will be. I never know what we will be doing. Everything is up to the baby. They are not being bad when they cry or fuss, they are just being babies:) Don’t worry, just know this is normal.

#9. You Will Be Tired

Timing is crucial with newborn photography. 4-10 days is preferable and after that time frame the chances of baby still curling into those sweet poses becomes less and less because their brains are developing, they are now curious about this strange new world, more sensitive to sound and touch. I have had a few Moms who want to cancel because they are SOOOO tired. I know. I really do. Those first few days are almost numbing from the sheer exhaustion. Call someone to drive you. Bring your makeup and hair supplies and you can use our makeup and hair station to get ready while I am doing your baby’s pictures.  But don’t cancel because you are bone tired, you will feel worse in a few weeks realizing you cannot capture those moments. If you fall asleep on the couch in the studio…you are not the first and I will only wake you if I need you:) Don’t be embarrassed because I am a mother too and I know how much effort it takes. I also know how much I regret not going to a my own newborn’s session!

#10. Remember You are Celebrating 

There is nothing can compare with a the arrival of a new baby, not even your wedding day. Ask any parents which day was more life changing and significant to them and they will all answer the same way, after the baby came. You will never remember what you did with your spare time,  you will marvel at their flaky skin, their tiny toes and the way they smell.  Your session is about celebrating this new life, this change in your family whether it is the first or the fifth baby. Don’t worry or stress about the little details about this session, sit back and enjoy this time to just watch and marvel at your child.

I love chatting with soon to be moms and new moms, I always want to rest any fears or concerns they have about their newborn session and I love giving little tips that will help make their newborn session go much easier and smoother! Here are my top ten tips

#1. Have Realistic Expectations

Not every baby will do every pose. Some babies will only do a few poses, some babies want to be wrapped nice and tight for the entire session, some babies will do anything we want except the easy poses… Sometimes a client will really want a certain prop only to find out their baby HATES the props! Some babies will not settle deep enough for certain poses and props and safety is an issue and that limits what we can do. Each session is different because we just go with the flow and see what baby will do and not do.  Don’t be disappointed because your baby didn’t want to do the froggie pose, know you will be walking away with a beautiful gallery!

#2. Don ‘t Stress If Baby is Cranky

Baby is fussy? No worries! Baby a terrible sleeper? No worries!  Once baby has a nice full belly and still a bit fussy let me try a few techniques I have up my sleeve:) I have done countless newborn sessions, I have had 4 little ones of my own and I read every baby book I can get my hands on because I have learned that all babies can be soothed but all babies like to be soothed differently, sometimes it takes few different tries of different techniques.

#3. Be Flexible

Sometimes parents arrive and baby is on a tight schedule…I am asking for parents to be REALLY flexible with your baby’s schedule for one morning…if baby is fussing and rooting we want baby to fill up and eat! Even if it is not on the schedule. And if baby is sleeping through their scheduled feeding time, please allow us to continue. Sometimes by waking baby and disrupting the sleep, we may not be able to get baby back to sleep to continue the session…so if things are going good I can promise you that one morning of a disruptive schedule will not affect baby.

#4. Bring a Snack and Some Water

Newborn sessions are long, you are recovering…eat, drink!!! Bring something with you just in case baby needs lots of a breaks and soothing. Being hungry isn’t fun for anyone

#5. Safety Rules 

I like all my babies within arms reach, I use a special lens that allows me to be very close to your baby.  Some babies are a little ‘twitchy’, they wake suddenly and flail and I will ask for help. Just an extra hand to keep baby safe (and erased in photoshop). I will not put your baby in anything that can break (glass or ceramic), I don’t care how cute it would look, it won’t happen. You trust me with your brand new baby and I ask you trust my judgement. There are hundreds of super cute prop and posing ideas on Pinterest but if I feel it is not safe, I will break your heart and tell you no (I will say is nicely though). Glass and ceramic bowls were not meant to hold a seven pound object, let alone a delicate baby, I will not take the chance that one could or might break. Props can tip over, babies can roll (even at 4 days old).  Not all babies can do all poses, I have handled over 100 newborns in my career and I have spent thousands on courses and mentoring. I can feel when I baby cannot do a pose, I can feel when a baby is nice and comfy. I can safely transition babies from one pose to the next and into props, so that they little necks, are well supported.  Call me over protective but I prefer to explain I am well educated, your baby’s safety is the number one concern. I want you to sit back and relax and know your baby is safe and in good hands.

#6. Get in the Picture!

You just had a baby, you are sleep deprived, your world is a little upside down and someone is asking you to get cleaned up and jump in the picture? Yup. I want you to BADLY! Why? Because you will look back on these pictures in twenty years and see that ‘glow’ of new motherhood. Your baby will NEVER fit in your hands like this again. Your baby will grow up and these pictures will be treasured and become heirlooms. And the greatest reason is you will not always be here. This baby is your legacy and these portraits will become invaluable to your family. These images are almost always my parents favourite images too. I love seeing how surprised they are at how sweet and lovely their portraits are with their new baby. Your baby doesn’t want to sleep? No worries! This is a great chance to have your picture taken.

#7.  Have a Toddler? Bring Reinforcements

I have a toddler. She is wild, she is crazy, loud, and temperamental because she is a toddler. I get toddlers, I also understand that the new baby is not the greatest thing that has happened in their life. This can be confusing and now we want them to cuddle with baby? But they want to run around! With toddlers I need parents to be on board with a game plan and strategies. Newborn session are 2-3 hours long…and a toddlers attention space is 12 seconds. Make sure they come well rested, well fed, and let’s pay TONS of attention to them. If that doesn’t work we might switch to ignoring them (which seems to bring toddlers out of their shell pretty quick).  Like the baby we go with the flow, we will meet their needs, give them space when they need space and give them attention when they need it too. If I need to take pictures of the toddler alone and do some photoshop magic and add the baby later, I will. And when we are done, it helps immensely, if there is someone to take the older sibling out of the studio while baby finishes their session. The session is hot…it is boring…it is all about the little baby who took their place of attention. Sometime’s babies cannot get into a deep sleep with an older sibling bouncing around. With great planning, adding a toddler is no trouble.

#8. Remember That Baby Runs the Session

I have had ONE session when baby sleep like a rock and I was done lickety split…I have had one 5.5 hour session…and the rest were in the middle. You never know. Every session depends on the baby, from props to poses. Sometimes I have a champion sleeper…who liked to poop and pee on everything…so I am constantly changing the backdrops. Sometimes I have a baby who needs to eat every 20-30 mins…so come prepared to stay for a while, make sir baby will have lots to eat. I never know how long a long a session will be. I never know what we will be doing. Everything is up to the baby. They are not being bad when they cry or fuss, they are just being babies:) Don’t worry, just know this is normal.

#9. You Will Be Tired

Timing is crucial with newborn photography. 4-10 days is preferable and after that time frame the chances of baby still curling into those sweet poses becomes less and less because their brains are developing, they are now curious about this strange new world, more sensitive to sound and touch. I have had a few Moms who want to cancel because they are SOOOO tired. I know. I really do. Those first few days are almost numbing from the sheer exhaustion. Call someone to drive you. Bring your makeup and hair supplies and you can use our makeup and hair station to get ready while I am doing your baby’s pictures.  But don’t cancel because you are bone tired, you will feel worse in a few weeks realizing you cannot capture those moments. If you fall asleep on the couch in the studio…you are not the first and I will only wake you if I need you:) Don’t be embarrassed because I am a mother too and I know how much effort it takes. I also know how much I regret not going to a my own newborn’s session!

#10. Remember You are Celebrating 

There is nothing can compare with a the arrival of a new baby, not even your wedding day. Ask any parents which day was more life changing and significant to them and they will all answer the same way, after the baby came. You will never remember what you did with your spare time,  you will marvel at their flaky skin, their tiny toes and the way they smell.  Your session is about celebrating this new life, this change in your family whether it is the first or the fifth baby. Don’t worry or stress about the little details about this session, sit back and enjoy this time to just watch and marvel at your child.

I am so excited to announce this (and if you follow me on Facebook you already know) but after some long thought and a few things happening at the right times….I now have a studio. I could dance (and in fact I did) over the thought of being able to shoot year round for my clients, having my props for newborns at my fingers tips and being able to better serve my clients!

I will be sharing a studio with Lisa Garnet from Playful Moments. Lisa specializes in boudoir (and is AMAZING, check out her work!) and graciously offered to share her space with me. This is such an exciting starting point in my career!

The studio is located in the uptown region of Saint John at 89 Canterbury Street. Many moons ago, as a newly wed I lived uptown and loved every minute and it gives me such great pleasure to know that I will be working in this area again. This building is a restore historical building that has quite a bit of history to it, big beautiful windows and houses some of Saint John’s most creative artists!

After announcing on social media that the studio is opening I already have several bookings for newborns and cake smashes. I love collaborating on these sessions to make each one unique!

I am also excited that I will now be within driving distance to Moncton and Fredericton families!

I am so excited to announce this (and if you follow me on Facebook you already know) but after some long thought and a few things happening at the right times….I now have a studio. I could dance (and in fact I did) over the thought of being able to shoot year round for my clients, having my props for newborns at my fingers tips and being able to better serve my clients!

I will be sharing a studio with Lisa Garnet from Playful Moments. Lisa specializes in boudoir (and is AMAZING, check out her work!) and graciously offered to share her space with me. This is such an exciting starting point in my career!

The studio is located in the uptown region of Saint John at 89 Canterbury Street. Many moons ago, as a newly wed I lived uptown and loved every minute and it gives me such great pleasure to know that I will be working in this area again. This building is a restore historical building that has quite a bit of history to it, big beautiful windows and houses some of Saint John’s most creative artists!

After announcing on social media that the studio is opening I already have several bookings for newborns and cake smashes. I love collaborating on these sessions to make each one unique!

I am also excited that I will now be within driving distance to Moncton and Fredericton families!

When I first began my journey with photography I was looking for FAST tips on how to get better. Clicking on Google for information was like opening a can of worms!! There was so much information in front of me! The problem was there was TOO much information, I couldn’t make heads or tails at all the terminology and the acronyms. I felt more confused and actually put my camera away for a few days. I had a free afternoon and started hunting for a place that understood that A) I was a beginner B) All I wanted to do was take nice pictures of my kids and C) I LOVE to learn! After many hours, and feeling like I may be too stupid to learn how to ever use this black shiny camera, I fell across the website Click It Up a Notch.

It was like hearing angels signing! This lovely website has wonderful articles that were just what I needed two years ago! They helped me understand in simpler terms (that my sleep deprived Mommy brain could understand) how to work my camera, how to take a nicer and better pictures. There were also blog posts from guest bloggers that added a different flavour and perspective.

Two years later I had the honour of being a guest blogger myself!! Just click here to read my business article for photographer’s! Seeing my images and my words there was like coming full circle and I was doing a little dance! No longer does photography feel like a scary and great unknown! No longer do a panic at the thought of trying to talk shop, now I am the biggest nerd! There is so much more to learn, there are so many genres I would love to dip my toes into and till then I cannot wait!

When I first began my journey with photography I was looking for FAST tips on how to get better. Clicking on Google for information was like opening a can of worms!! There was so much information in front of me! The problem was there was TOO much information, I couldn’t make heads or tails at all the terminology and the acronyms. I felt more confused and actually put my camera away for a few days. I had a free afternoon and started hunting for a place that understood that A) I was a beginner B) All I wanted to do was take nice pictures of my kids and C) I LOVE to learn! After many hours, and feeling like I may be too stupid to learn how to ever use this black shiny camera, I fell across the website Click It Up a Notch.

It was like hearing angels signing! This lovely website has wonderful articles that were just what I needed two years ago! They helped me understand in simpler terms (that my sleep deprived Mommy brain could understand) how to work my camera, how to take a nicer and better pictures. There were also blog posts from guest bloggers that added a different flavour and perspective.

Two years later I had the honour of being a guest blogger myself!! Just click here to read my business article for photographer’s! Seeing my images and my words there was like coming full circle and I was doing a little dance! No longer does photography feel like a scary and great unknown! No longer do a panic at the thought of trying to talk shop, now I am the biggest nerd! There is so much more to learn, there are so many genres I would love to dip my toes into and till then I cannot wait!