Husband of the year award goes to this baby's daddy!
He contacted me a while back wanting to do a photo shoot of his daughter and keep it a secret from mommy so that he could surprise her with the photos on Mother's Day. What an amazing idea!
So here we are, on Mother's day, and now we can take a look at this gorgeous face!
I hope all mommies out there have a great day. I know this baby's mommy will have an awesome one!
This little girl is baby number 3 in her family, coming after two boys! I met her momma when I photographed her second boy when he was just a newborn himself. It was so great to revisit. The new addition to the family was such a dream to photograph! We even tried waking her at the end of it for some wide eyed shots...but nope!
Here are a few of my favourites. I loved playing around with layering textures in this session. Hope you enjoy!
Being a mom is fun and rewarding but it definitely takes a lot out of me. I can only take on a few sessions per month. I thought about doing more sessions, but in fact I am content with how it is, as I can really put a lot of energy and effort into each one. Every session is completely customized and thought out from beginning to end. I pick out the perfect matching props and wardrobe (or help the babies' parents with decisions) so that all the photos not only look great on their own but as a whole as well.
For this particular shoot, mom and dad gave me freedom to completely stylize the session on my own, which was great fun. Once I envision the shoot in my head, I'm excited for the result and tend to get crafty putting it all together. Here's a look at the "making of".
Using an old t-shirt and some yellow wool, I made a headband for a special little girl turning ONE very soon :)
Picked out a cute romper at Baby Gap! (Moms, if you're looking for an outfit for your one year old's shoot, I really like their catalog; simple and timeless).
And of course some bunting :)
With the help of my mom, I made this cute ombre cake for smashing!
Here she is! Sweet Ophelia, making me work hard for these shots by running away!
Weeks after giving birth to my baby boy, I still found it difficult to get outside or get things done. Between constant feedings and diaper changes, I wondered how any mom could ever go anywhere! When I decided it was time to venture out, one of the first places River and I went, without my partner, was the College Montrose Children's Place. I was nervous. I pictured River, who was at the time only two months old, screaming in the middle of the "circle time" songs. But he LOVED it. I saw him look around attentively with wide eyes at the other babies, and new singing faces... and he was quiet!
#RiverMichael loves circle time with all the babies #ontarioearlyyears
A photo posted by Danielle Petti (@imagesby_dee) on
But it wasn't just good for him. It was really refreshing for me to get out with him. Being a fairly young mom with almost no other mom friends, even the shortest of conversations with another mom or dad was reassuring and made me feel like I was less alone. THIS is what I love about the centre.
If you don't know already, Ontario Early Years Centres and the College Montrose Children's Place (CMCP) offer free early learning and family support. You can pretty much drop in at any time during open hours with your little one, whenever you feel the need to get out of the house. There are scheduled infant and toddler circles where parents, along with the awesome staff and volunteers, will sing songs (which will no doubt get stuck in your head on your way home, and with which you will eventually annoy your partner) as all the adorable babies crawl around .
When one of the program staff members at the CMCP told me they were hosting a fundraiser for the centre, and were looking for a photographer to take portraits of the families who attend, I gladly volunteered my services! It will be a fun event and a good opportunity to meet others in the community. A Taste of CMCP will take place on Sunday, April 26, from 11am to 4pm. There will be food, children's entertainment, a silent auction and family portraits done by ME. Tickets are $10 and are for a good cause, I hope to see you there!
