Choosing the perfect photographer for your Edmonton Newborn Session can be difficult. After all, there are so many things to consider when choosing the right person to document this special and fleeting time in your life. Those first moments as a new family, of bringing baby home and welcoming a new stage of life alongside a new little person to love. Moments that will fly by faster than anyone could have prepared you for, as your baby grows and changes with each passing day. Your newborn session is a once– or twice, or three times in-a-lifetime experience, and that’s why I work so hard to make it absolutely perfect.

So what can you expect at Kahla Kristen Photography?

From our first moment of contact, my goal is to make your session as stress-free and seamless as possible. Being a mother of two young girls myself, I know all too well the busyness that comes with motherhood. From the exhausting days of pregnancy and postpartum, to the busy rhythm of raising little ones, I know that there is little room on your plate to do it all. That’s why you don’t have to. I take a very hands-on approach so that you don’t have to lift a finger.

Wardrobe.

Together, we spend some time chatting over your vision so that I have a really good idea of what, exactly, you’re hoping for. If we’re a good fit for one another, we go ahead with beginning our planning! Here, I guide and help you with every detail, beginning with wardrobe. This includes sending out a detailed wardrobe guide and Pinterest boards for inspiration, as well as providing beautiful, flattering dresses for mama, wraps and swaddles and outfits for baby, bows for baby girls, and even a small (growing) selection of clothing for little ones up to one year old. I even share my favourite shops with you, so that the small amount of shopping you do have to do is quick, easy and will photograph beautifully. I often curate shopable Pinterest boards each season, so that you can shop directly online without having to step foot in a store. It really can’t get any easier than that!

Preparing your home.

For the majority of newborn sessions, we shoot in the comfort of your beautiful home– which can make things so easy and relaxing, especially after a night of little sleep. I encourage clients to take the stress out of preparing their home by cleaning, and rather simply tidy (if there’s time), or let me do all the hard work upon arrival. Having lived through those hazy, sleepy first days with a new baby, I know how messy a house can get. That’s why I will always take a few moments to declutter, smooth out your bed, open your blinds and move anything around that I either want in the photos, or feel is better left out of them. Aside from possibly asking for some help with heavy lifting, you can leave this part in my hands so that you can focus on getting your family dressed, baby fed, and hopefully get a yummy meal in your bellies before my arrival! It only takes a few moments of my time, but I know can feel like a huge weight on your shoulders to have everything perfect for my arrival. Here is my permission to let your house look lived in– it is, after all! There are so many things that are more important than a perfectly clean house, and I will never judge some dust bunnies or messy bed-side tables. That’s real life!

Alternative locations.

I know that not everyone has a light-filled home that they want to shoot in. Some clients even live away and so shooting at home is not possible (fun fact: this session actually took place in a beautiful show home, as these clients live out of province and were having their baby here in Edmonton!) That’s why I have a list of beautiful show homes that we can shoot at free of charge, and local Edmonton studios that are available for an added fee. In this particular case, I knew exactly the style that fit mom and dad’s vision, so I found us the perfect show home (out of many! There are truly some gorgeous options in the Edmonton area) and it couldn’t have been more fitting! If you wish to have your newborn session outside of your home, we will spend time chatting through exactly the style you’d like, and from there I find and book the perfect location for us– without you having to lift a finger!

Hair and Makeup.

I work with a seriously talented hair and makeup artist, Robyn, who has a knack for making sleep-deprived mothers look like absolute goddesses! Mama got hair and makeup for her session, and you can see how gorgeous, yet still natural, she looked. This is something that I love to offer my mamas, as I know how much stress it can take off your plate. Robyn is amazing at making you look exactly how you want– with everything from light glam to glam glam, she will ensure that you feel beautiful and like yourself, which is so important.

Posing and connection.

I know that not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera, which is where my outgoing personality really comes in handy. I love connecting with clients, getting to know a bit about you, your story and your family, and sharing a bit about my own little ones so that you can truly get to know the person who will be photographing your family. Having been an elementary school teacher for six years before starting my family, I like to think that I have a special knack for connecting with little ones– and it’s always a goal of mine to win over your toddler, husband and baby (because usually mom already knows how easy-going I am, since we’ve spent so much time chatting!) My ultimate goal is to make you so comfortable that you can’t help but love on your family so beautifully and naturally– as though I’m not even there.

That said, I know that all the easy-going conversation in the world can’t relax someone who’s just not comfortable in front of the camera. That’s where my years of experience– having shot many, many newborns– comes into play. I have a workflow of poses that I will guide you through, while allowing you to naturally fall into place so that it feels authentic to you, and then repositioning you as needed. I always work hard to pose you in a very flattering way, and will observe your natural movements and poses so that your images are a reflection of you and how you genuinely interact with your family.

Artwork.

I know that there are so many photographers who simply show up, photograph your family, deliver your digital images and call it a day. I know because that was exactly my model when I first started my business. But when I truly stopped to think about why we’re even taking these photos in the first place, I realized that for me, the ultimate goal was to have these memories hanging on my walls where I could proudly walk past them, and in doing so, be instantly transported back in time to when my babies were just babies and fit perfectly in the crook of my arm and had big belly laughs and chubby toddler toes. Those memories that really have passed by in the blink of an eye, leaving me with nothing but memories and photos.

I feel passionate about helping you get your memories printed and in your hands and on your walls. That’s why I will guide you in planning out the perfect gallery wall, or choosing the sweetest memories to print in a custom, fine-art album. I want you to feel the weight of your newborn on your chest each and every time you browse your images, and I want those feeling to stay within reach as your babies grow. This year, I am offering even more ways to preserve your memories, and love that I can help busy moms get the artwork of their dreams without having to lift a finger, aside from selecting your absolute favourite memories to have printed.

The whole experience.

I know that investing in newborn photos is just that, an investment. And it’s not one that should be made lightly. When choosing the perfect photographer for your newborn session, it’s important to remember that the images that are captured will only increase in value over time. So while it may require months of planning and saving (goodbye for now, Starbucks!), the investment truly will double, and triple, and then some, with each passing year. There is truly nothing more precious to me than my own memories, and I know that most moms would agree. Especially once those golden years of raising little humans have long since passed, and our little ones are no longer little anymore. When you’re hiring Kahla Kristen Photography, you are getting so much more than just a photographer. You are getting the whole experience, and you’ll often find that you get a friend in the process (let’s be real, I like to stick around and watch your babies grow!)

If you’d like to chat more about planning your dream newborn session, I’d love to chat! Come say hello and let’s see if we’re the perfect fit.