07/14/2026
People insist that newborn babies must be asleep for a portrait session. I have to disagree!
It felt like a gift to see Olive’s beautiful blue eyes gleaming back at my camera.
She’d needed some time in the Special Care Nursery when she made her debut, about one month earlier than expected. I think her plan all along was to keep her wonderful parents on their toes. :)
She arrived at the studio, her oxygen in tow, with her parents managing it with grace. Her saturation levels were already trending upward, so she was allowed to take intermittent breaks from the oxygen.
After they removed it temporarily for some portraits, she looked like she was dancing, arms outstretched in an ebullient celebration!
I was really struck by how responsive she was to sounds; she quieted and turned toward her mom and dad whenever they spoke. I used some toys and sounds that I usually reserve for older babies, but they worked like a charm.
Even when she was sad, she was expertly and lovingly consoled by her parents. They each snuggled Olive tenderly in their arms, a perfect fit.
Her dad came up with this highly effective swing-swing-stop technique to get the best expressions. Her mom used her photographic savvy to anticipate the little details in the portraits, reading my mind.
Watching her parents cuddle her, I could feel the overwhelming love and joy surrounding this precious little girl. I’m so happy I got to document it!
Kaitlyn Rose
