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YOUR PHOTOS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR KIDS TOO

Written by: Amy Pazur

The other morning, my daughter, Elliana, woke up and called me into her room. She was happy to be awake and happy to see me. Then, she started to talk about the picture on her dresser. It was a family photo we had taken when she was brand new! Just me, my husband, and my daughter are pictured.

Elliana wanted me to pull it from the dresser so she could hold it. I told her the photo was taken before her sister was born, and it was just the three of us in the picture. My daughter pointed out everyone in the photo and then started to hug the image in the frame.

My heart started to sing.

She was so happy to have this photo of her family. Ellie loved the picture and everyone in it. And then, she hugged the photo like it meant the world to her to have!

 

I don’t think I will ever forget this moment.

As mothers we want to remember everything. Every moment is precious, every memory is sweet. And this is one of the reasons why I love photography.

I have a horrible memory, but when I look at my photos, I can relive the moment. I can remember why it was taken and what we were doing. But that day showed me that those photos aren’t just important to me – they are important to my children as well.

I was so taken aback when Ellie hugged that frame.

She is a very loving child, so her sharing that emotion was not new to me. But for her to see so much love in that image, it validated what I do on a whole new level.

I placed that photo in her room for that exact reason! I wanted her to see her family and know that she was loved. And wow! Her reaction made me want to cry. That is exactly what she felt, appreciated it, and loved it! What more could you ask for?

I’m sharing this story with you to say – please don’t miss out on moments like this!

I know how hard it is to find the time to get photos of your family, but it is too important to put off. These pictures are NOT just for YOU. They are for your kids too! Your family photos, the beautiful images you put up on your walls, are just as much for your children as they are for you. They instill a love in your children that will be with them forever!

Don’t keep your photos on your hard drive.

Do NOT keep them locked in boxes in the attic. Hang your pictures proudly on the walls. Update your family photos. Show your children who you are and who they are. Show them how much you love them.

Book your photo session now! Please don’t wait to show your kids your beautiful family and how much they mean to you!

Amy Pazur is a Maternity and Newborn Photographer in Pittsburgh, PA. She provides a high level service with every step in the photography process, including the products you go home enjoying. She believes in more than just a “camera for hire” but in someone who can help you make the hard choices and capture what we can all too quickly forget – that our family is the most important thing and to that putting those unforgettable moments on the wall, makes our life that much better.

See more of Amy Pazur at http://moments-and-co.com

Kelly Lumley – Accredited APNPI Newborn Photographer

Babies are the boss, infant photographer discovers

Written by: Carl Hnatyshyn

Originally Published by: Sarnia This Week on December 31, 2018

Petrolia newborn and maternity photography Kelly Lumley, who in this picture is standing in her studio, recently received international certification from the Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International.

 

A Petrolia-based newborn and maternity photographer has received recognition as well as some highly sought-after accreditation from an international photography group.

 

Full-time paramedic Kelly Lumley – who spends much of her spare time taking pictures of ‘babies and bellies’, as she jokingly refers to, in and around her home-based Petrolia studio – has been given the certification of official newborn and maternity photographer by the Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International (APNPI).

 

With the honours, Lumley becomes one of a handful of photographers in Southwestern Ontario to have received such accreditation.

 

“It’s a hard thing to obtain,” she said. “Sometimes it takes three or four times to get accredited for either newborn or maternity, so I was pretty happy to pass my newborns but when I got my maternity passed as well I was over the moon.”

 

The newborn photographers association is hoping to professionalize and standardize the increasingly lucrative world of infant and maternity photography as well as promote safety by vetting and judging photographers around the world, Lumley said.

 

“They’re trying to promote quality in the newborn industry for parents,” she said. “So it’s a place where we as photographers can go and build our skills and promote ourselves and for parents it’s a place to find out who is reputable and who is around.”

 

A self-taught photographer whose well-kept basement studio is a cornucopia of adorable props, tiny infant headdress, colourful newborn clothing as well as vivid, vibrant and flowing maternity gowns, Lumley first got bit by the newborn photography bug by chance, over eight years ago, when her then-infant son had a serious brush with illness soon after he was born.

 

“Our son, Scott, got very sick and we almost lost him,” she said. “We were in the hospital in London and after we knew he was going to be okay, I looked around (the ward) and said to myself ‘there are a lot of babies here who might not be coming home’.”

 

“For some of these people, all they had left was the baby’s blanket when their baby went into surgery, so I realized then that there were a lot of parents out there who needed pictures. This is how you make memories,” Lumley added. “I’d always been a creative person, but never quite found the right outlet. Then I got a good camera and learned how to use it. So that’s what got me started on this path.”

 

Initially Lumley did several newborn shoots a year – generally focusing on infants aged two to six weeks old – the whole time honing her photography skills through online courses, poring over training books and attending seminars when possible. As the years rolled by, interest in her side-business grew exponentially to the point where she was holding 50 to 60 newborn photo shoots in a year.

 

In 2018 alone, Lumley photographed 80 babies.

A large part of Kelly Lumley’s business comes from newborn photography, with photos of infants aged two to six weeks.

 

With experience comes wisdom, Lumley said, as she became much more knowledgeable about how to deal with the often-finicky and fidgety newborns.

 

“It’s funny – the babies are the boss,” she said, smiling. “You can’t make them do something if they don’t want to do it. So you need a lot of time and patience. It’s been a lot of learning over the past several years. And over the course of the years, you find out what works and what doesn’t. The babies will let you know.”

 

Sometimes parents bring cherished items or outfits to the newborn photo shoots but more often than not Lumley has to create things from scratch, which involves quite a lot of preparatory work.

 

“Sometimes parents will have a sentimental object like a blanket that somebody’s created for them or a teddy bear, and I’ll get to see it first and I’ll create a set-up around that,” she said. “Otherwise it’s stuff that I have here in my studio. And there are also trends in the industry – you’ll see certain ideas trending. Right now we’re into the pastel colours, neutral stuff. Clean and classic – that’s kind of the way it is.”

 

When asked if a newborn baby shoot is a quick pop-in, snap a few pictures and pop-out again type event, Lumley laughed.

 

“No, no, no,” she said, laughing. “The parents come here and they feed the baby. Then I get them wrapped up in a little outfit, bundle them up and then we get props, parent shots. A typical session is about three-and-a-half hours.”

 

And how does she keep the focus of a newborn during one of these sessions?

 

“It’s just little things you learn over the years,” Lumley said. “White noise, keeping it very warm for the infants, wrapping them up. And just being calm – if you’re feeling stressed they’ll feel it too.”

A large part of Kelly Lumley’s business comes from newborn photography, with photos of infants aged two to six weeks.

 

A few years ago, Lumley decided to expand her photography business to encompass another emerging market – maternity photography. It was a decision of which she has no regrets.

 

“A lot of women don’t feel comfortable when they’re pregnant because they gain a lot of weight and they’re exhausted,” she said. “So I actually have a collection of gowns and it’s so funny to watch the women to come in. Once they put the gowns on, it’s almost like they become a peacock. It’s showing them that they’re beautiful, which they are both on the outside and the inside.

 

“It’s actually quite inspiring to see,” she added.

 

Although busy with a full-time job as well as her photography business, Lumley said she wouldn’t want it any other way. The now officially certified photographer finds joy in the fact she can provide parents and parents-to-be with cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

 

“Just creating those memories for the parents is probably the most rewarding part of all this,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had emails from moms telling me ‘I’m sitting here at the computer in tears looking at these beautiful pictures of my baby’. Seeing the joy you give to those parents is something so special.”

 

For more information about Kelly Lumley Photography, visit her website at www.kellylumleyphotography.com or her Facebook page.

What is an APNPI Accredited Photographer

What is an APNPI Accredited Photographer?

You may have heard the term “Accredited” before but did you know your photographer can seek accreditation in their work with newborns and babies?

At APNPI, our dedicated members are working hard to improve their abilities and many are seeking accreditation in our 10 available categories.  So just what is an APNPI Accredited Photographer?

Currently one of our highest levels of achievement, Accreditation in a chosen category is a recognition beyond that of the QNP Certified Photographer denoting above average quality in photographic artistry. Holding an accreditation demonstrates the member as a specialist in his or her chosen field and is a stepping stone toward earning recognized designations such as Craftsman of Photography and Master Photographer.  

To achieve accreditation, a member must accomplish the following:

  • Successfully complete the APNPI Safety Course.
  • Successfully hold the QNP Certification.
  • Submit 12 images meeting a strict outline of requirements in a chosen category to an APNPI approved Judging Panel of which all 12 images must be deemed “accepted”.

Our APNPI Panel Judging Events can be quite exciting to view! If you keep an eye on our social media pages and blog, you too can watch the thorough vetting our accredited members go through.  Many applicants will attempt accreditation evaluation several times before acquiring this achievement in their chosen field.

Our Accredited APNPI members have invested time, dedication and money in perfecting their craft.  They have a solid understanding of lighting, posing angles, and the necessary artistic fundamentals to produce beautiful imagery. Best of all, they produce a consistent product time and time again.  

When it comes to hiring an Accredited photographer, we’re confident you’ll not only notice a difference in quality, but also consistency. Our accredited members are reliable producers and provide their clients with exceptional imagery on a daily basis.

To find an accredited photographer, click here and look for the Accreditation Badge in the listings: https://apnpi.com/directory/

Take a peak below at some of our recently Accepted imagery from a selection of our successfully accredited members.

Fine Art Maternity Portraits – Dallas Maternity Photographer – CLJ Photography

Written by: Cydnee Jex

FINE ART MATERNITY PORTRAITS – DALLAS MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER

CLJ PHOTOGRAPHY

Fine Art Maternity Portraits – Dallas Maternity Photographer – CLJ Photography

For the woman who is looking for that “Demi Moore style” (does that age me?!?) maternity portrait – I completely get you.  It was everywhere and inspired everyone.  Before that, women hid their pregnancy bumps in baggy clothing.  But she stood there naked and gorgeous and proud.  It was a major turning point in maternity photography. 

Women, since then, have embraced the idea of the fine art, maternity portrait.  The idea that the female body, creating life is completely and utterly amazing – a thing to celebrate! 

Since then, we’ve seen the maternity portraits of Marissa Miller and Gisele Bundchen to name a few and they are stunning.  So many photographers are doing the outdoor, candid look but there is something that just gets me with fine art, studio photography. 

I love using soft, diffused lighting but also dramatic lighting in every session. I especially love the moody ones! If these images inspire you like they do me – then I would love to discuss creating and designing your custom portrait experience at our studio.

HELLO, I’m Cydnee, a maternity and newborn photographer in the North Dallas, Texas. I believe everyone deserves to give their children beautiful, timeless portraits. Memories should be enjoyed everyday as art in your home. I love working in my studio but I have a wanderlust heart! I embrace adventurous couples desiring a bucket-worthy photo session!

See more of Cydnee Jex at https://www.cljphoto.com