Blog

Welcome to our newborn photography blog, where we capture the beauty and innocence of your little one’s first moments. From those tiny toes to their first sleepy smiles, we specialize in creating timeless images that you’ll cherish forever. Our gentle, soothing approach ensures your baby feels safe and comfortable while we craft stunning portraits that tell your family’s unique story. Explore our blog for tips, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our newborn sessions.

stacey brenner 8/12/21 stacey brenner 8/12/21

Wyatt Cake Smash at Ida Lee Park | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

Hello and welcome, I'm Stacey voted The Best Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. professional newborn and family photographer. I’m so grateful you're here. I’m so excited to share my sweet boy Wyatt’s 1st birthday! Sweet Wyatts cake smash was held bright and early at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, Virginia.

Cake smashes are a fun way to celebrate a little ones first birthday. Every child is different and some respond differently than others. Although we may have exceptions for it to go well, sometimes it doesn’t. So making sure that you’re doing something special that fits your little ones needs is super important. With my first son, we did not do a cake smash. We still celebrated his birthday with a full day of balloons, but he was not very happy to enjoy a taste of a cupcake. With Wyatt, he has been such a good eater that I knew he would enjoy eating cake a lot more. It was such a fun family affair!

Tips for picking the perfect cake. This is VERY important. Simple is key! I would steer away from fondant because that’s really hard for a little one to get into. Highly suggest frosting because that’s easy for the little ones and makes a good photo op! If you have a theme for the session I would suggest getting your cake to match that theme! Did you know that if you book with me, I offer a complimentary cake so it’s one less thing on your list! I order my cakes from Dunn From Scratch! She’s the best in the area!

I always like to start with a couple of portraits before baby gets messy, this includes family photos as well! This gives them a chance to warm up to me. I always recommend the session to start in the AM for best lighting and happy little one. We all know that our little ones have, what’s called witching hour so definitely morning is best. If you are having fun, your baby will most likely have fun as well! We did Wyatts session at 8:00 am which was perfect time for lighting.

I’m a Northern Virginia Newborn and Family photographer based in Ashburn, Virginia. I offer family and newborn photography services in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. If you like my work, please be sure to show your support by liking my page on Facebook and following me on Instagram.

stacey brenner 4/3/21 stacey brenner 4/3/21

Why baby led newborn sessions are so important

Are you looking for an experienced and safe newborn photographer in Northern Virginia? You came to the right place! I’m so glad you’re here! So let’s talk about baby led newborn sessions. What does that mean? Baby-led photography simply means I follow the cues and prompts from you and your baby to ensure we’re meeting all your little ones needs during your newborn session. Rather than follow a rigid schedule of shots, I work WITH your baby’s natural cues to achieve natural and beautiful images of your family. Over the years, my experiences have shown that the more attentive I can be to you and your baby's needs, the more beautiful your photographs turn out.

mom and dad looking down at newborn baby boy at an inhome newborn session in Northern Virginia

newborn baby boy wrapped and sleeping on bed at an inhome newborn session in Northern Virginia

newborn baby eye lash close up at an inhome newborn session in Northern Virginia

With that in mind, I listen to the baby’s cues and by doing that, will determine what poses and rooms we start in. If baby is awake and calm when I first arrive, I tackle the sibling shot right off the bat. When I walk into a home with an awake and fussy baby, we start with parents holding baby. Sometimes your newborn might want to eat right away. That’s when I capture feeding photographs or work on capturing details of the nursery. Baby led means there is no right or wrong order for an in-home newborn session.

mom looking down smiling at her newborn baby boy at an inhome newborn session in northern Virginia

mom kissing newborn baby boy forehead at an newborn session in Northern northern virginia

I always tell my mom’s that each baby is different, and have different needs. Some babies sleep through the whole session, some babies are gassy and are awake the whole time. Listening to their cues will determine which poses and shots I will capture. That’s why I always say each session is SO unique. Not one session has been the same as the other, and because of that, it makes for a more memorable experience.

newborn baby boy sleeping on bed at an newborn session in Northern Virginia

newborn baby boy sleeping on bed at an inhome newborn session in Northern Virginia

mom breastfeeding her newborn baby boy at a newborn session in Northern Virginia

Thank you Nikki and Tom for allowing me to capture your sweet son, he is so precious, and look forward to watching him grow and can’t wait to capture your family in the future.

I hope this blog post has made finding a Northern Virginia Newborn Photographer more easier, or at least put you at ease in knowing your precious baby is in good hands. I offer maternity and newborn photography services in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. I am located in Ashburn, Virginia. If you like my work, please be sure to show your support by liking my page on Facebook and following me on Instagram.