PRESERVING PRECIOUS MOMENTS™
Tag: family photographer
Looking Up Photography – Family Master Photographer Certification
PRESERVING PRECIOUS MOMENTS™
Looking Up Photography – Posed Newborn Accreditation from APNPI
I am so proud to announce that I have received Accreditation from the Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International, in the category of Posed Newborn. My successful submission was chosen along with a select number of others. I am so excited to be placed amongst this elite group of worldwide photographers who are Accredited with APNPI.
Whether you’re a curious parent, or a fellow professional interested in Accreditation, you can find more information here.
More About APNPI
APNPI is a Professional Newborn Photographer’s Association created by newborn photographers specifically for newborn photographers. APNPI formed out of a passion to give professional recognition to Newborn Photographers, and to connect photographers in a safe and respectful place that cultivates the growth of artistry and business acumen amongst its membership.
APNPI also connects parents with Accredited photographers in their area who are educated in newborn safety practices and have passed the rigorous Accreditation process before a panel of live judges. Additionally the site offers parents valuable resources and tips for everything from choosing a photographer to taking better photographs at home.
Newborn Safety
Currently, there are no safety regulations in place for the Newborn Photography industry. Anyone who owns a camera can begin photographing newborns with no training and no knowledge of the unique needs of infants.
APNPI values and puts newborn safety at the forefront of the Newborn Photography profession. For this reason, I want to share some information to help you select a safe photographer and help you identify elements of risk throughout your session.
Safety Checklist
These are some items to keep in mind at your session.
Again, never hesitate to speak up if you feel uncomfortable with something your photographer is doing with your baby. Whether it’s a safety concern or simply something you personally are uneasy with, either way, you are the one who’s voice is most important!
- Room temperature – most photographers will heat the room so that baby is not cold
- Watch for signs of overheating – sweaty neckline, mottled skin, redness in the face, irritability
- Air quality:
- Props and blankets should look and smell clean. Musty and mildew smells could indicate the presence of mold growing in a damp, warm studio. If you are concerned about your baby breathing in mold toxins, don’t hesitate to choose to leave with your baby.
- Essential oils are trendy right now, but can cause allergic reactions and sensitivities. Don’t hesitate to ask your photographer to remove the use of oils if you are uncomfortable with them.
- Watch out for other environmental allergens such as dust, pets, foods, etc.
- Tripping hazards
- Cords should be taped down, and rug grippers should be used with flokati and floor boards. Props should be put away when not in use. Spills should be cleaned up immediately, without delay.
- Antiques and props
- watch for splinters and nails
- Props should be weighted properly.
- Newborns should never be positioned in or on glass containers or objects that can break or shatter.
- Posing surfaces should be an adequate size to prevent accidents
- Wooden backgrounds should be secured to avoid tipping and falls.
- Sandbags should be used to weight props and light stands.
- Your newborn must be supported by human hands at ALL TIMES throughout risky poses.
- This ensures that babies will not be at risk of falls, central cyanosis or positional asphyxiation – three very dangerous scenarios that can result in very seriously injury or even death.
- In the absence of an assistant, parents, especially mothers, should never be asked to stay away from the babe as is sometimes requested due to the false idea that the smell of mother’s milk will cause the baby to become unsettled. Should the baby show signs of hunger such as the rooting that can occur when they sense and smell their mother, they should be given appropriate time to feed. A satisfied baby will not be unsettled due to the smell of milk and it is better to have an extra set of hands close by than not.
- Your photographer, assistant or other people present should not be ill.
- Where and when illness may delay your session beyond an appropriate timeline of around 1-2 weeks, a good photographer should either have an assistant photographer on hand to complete your session or provide referrals to other respected photographers working in a similar style. For posed newborn work, your session is time sensitive and should be completed sometime within the first two to three weeks of life. Unposed, documentary or lifestyle sessions can be completed in longer timelines and rescheduling should be easier with these types of sessions
- Your photographer does not need to touch, move, or attempt to remove any medical items such as belly button clamps, circumcision gauze, etc.
- Your baby should never show signs of central cyanosis – the bluish discoloration around the core, lips and tongue. This can be quite a dangerous. According to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, central cyanosis is never normal in the newborn period, and is almost always linked to a lower amount of oxygen in the blood. For this reason, the photographer should be concerned regarding the cause of deoxygenation if central cyanosis is present.
- Your photographer should have hand sanitizer available.
- Adequate seating and changing areas should be available and suitable for new moms and those recovering from C-sections.
- You should have easy access to drinking water.
- Your photographer should be insured in order to protect you in the event of accidents.
Having images taken of your newborn is a memory you’ll treasure forever. Enjoy your experience, and always have the confidence to speak up if you have any doubts at all!
PRESERVING PRECIOUS MOMENTS™
Looking Up Photography – Newborn Master Photographer Certification
Congratulatory fellow photographers and clients have asked me about this, so I thought I’d share a brief blog post about this recognition. I also wanted to tell you a bit about what makes up the application process.
First off, as soon as I found out about the National Association for Professional Child Photographers‘ (NAPCP) Master Photographer Certifications, I knew certification was a primary goal for me this year. NAPCP is an association of professional photographers who are recognized in the child and family photography industry. The association’s members include some of the best across the more specific niches within child and family photography.
According to NAPCP, “The NAPCP Master Photographer Certification Program rewards NAPCP members by acknowledging their excellence in the craft of professional photography. The NAPCP evaluation panel are constantly reviewing hundreds of images submitted in portfolios before awarding Mastery certificates in each category.”
To start, I painstakingly put together a portfolio of Newborn Photography imagery. I included some of my favorite photographs in the portfolio, in addition to the best technically proficient images that were so important for scoring purposes. I asked questions. I checked in with industry peers, as well as friends and loved ones. I checked my portfolio and checked it twice to be sure it met the incredibly detailed requirements. I am pretty sure I held my breath when I finally pressed that “Submit” button! I couldn’t wait to receive my results. Does anyone else hate to wait as much as I do?!
What an honor it is to now see my name among the other Master Photographers. Some feedback I received from the judges included, “Beautiful portfolio! Displayed a wide skill set in newborn posing and lighting while adding fun elements to enhance interest to the images. Well done!”
This was and is such a wonderful opportunity and accomplishment for me. And I have to say… it felt awesome to have a creative outlet like this – especially this year.
To NAPCP, thank you!









PRESERVING PRECIOUS MOMENTS™
Celebrate Your Loved Ones Through Portrait Photography | Greenwich Connecticut Family Photographer
I strive to inspire my clients to celebrate their loved ones, their children, and their beauty through portrait photography. My dream for them is to have the images we create together become true heirlooms to cherish for generations to come.
Family is one of the most beautiful and wonderful things around. From the first “I do’s”, to the first child, all the way to sending your now-adult kids away to college, family is a journey worth capturing. I think everyone grasps the necessity for professional family photos, but when it comes to taking those pictures annually, it’s often met with excuses rather than excitement. Having professional photos taken requires some real work, and not just in deciding what to wear and where to have the session – they can be an investment as well. But they’re an investment worth making, and here are three reasons why you should have a session every year, and especially now in the fall!
The passage of time – It is in the nature of time to grow us, and it’s important to capture this each year, especially so for young families. Kids grow so quickly, like the colors of fall leaves, and having annual portraits taken will not only be a beautiful way to track their growth, but will also act as a visual journal of the memories of each year. This is important for your children, but also for yourselves as the parents of a rapidly growing family. In a family session, you’ll be able to get in the picture with everybody else, free from worry about any of the details that go into getting the perfect picture. Flow with the constant stream of change, and capture your family along the way.
The milestones you meet – Like the passage of time, the growth of your family means they will meet milestones along the way. Whether it’s the ability to sit up, the first birthday, the first day of school, a high school graduation, or anything in between, it’s important to capture these times in the life of your family. There’s something new each year, and after each one passes you’ll be able to look fondly at your family portraits, and remember the wonderful moments of the year. Photographs are the perfect way to keep a memory alive, and the more that you capture, the more that you can cherish.
The memories you make – The only things in life that truly become more valuable over time are your memories. Life is constantly moving forward, but it is a blessing to look back over all of the wonderful times you’ve lived through, especially as a family. The beauty of a family photo session is that you get to make it how you want it to be, and capture your own unique and beautiful memories to treasure. Maybe you have a favorite family spot where the autumn colors are perfect, and you want to have a picnic-themed session there, or maybe the whole family loves the way the city looks in the fall – no matter what it is, make it special to your own family. If you center your portraits on who your family is rather than making sure everybody is smiling, you’ll get so much more out of them, and make precious memories at the same time.
Those are just three reasons for having annual family portraits taken, and I’m sure you can think of a few more. The preparation and the work that goes into your session is so worth it, because your family is worth the effort. Mark the passage of time, memorialize the milestones along the way, and capture each beautiful memory. You won’t want to miss them! So contact me and book your portraits – it’s the perfect time for a fall family session.
Enjoy!
PRESERVING PRECIOUS MOMENTS™
Family of Six – Autumn Beach Session {Greenwich Family Photographer}
Here are a few of my favorites from the session at Tod’s Point in Greenwich. Enjoy! ❤
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© 2015 Looking Up Photography
CT Newborn, Maternity, Family Photographer | Cos Cob, Riverside, Old Greenwich, Greenwich, Byram, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Rowayton, Norwalk, Wilton, Rye, Rye Brook, Harrison, North Castle, Pound Ridge
Loving Family – Autumn Colors {Family Photographer Greenwich}
Here are a few of my favorites from the session at Tod’s Point in Greenwich. Enjoy! ❤
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© 2015 Looking Up Photography
CT Newborn, Maternity, Family Photographer | Cos Cob, Riverside, Old Greenwich, Greenwich, Byram, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Rowayton, Norwalk, Wilton, Rye, Rye Brook, Harrison, North Castle, Pound Ridge
Beach Beauties – Family Session {Greenwich Family Photographer}
Here are a few of my favorites from the session at Tod’s Point/Greenwich Beach. Enjoy! ❤
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© 2015 Looking Up Photography
CT Newborn, Maternity, Family Photographer | Cos Cob, Riverside, Old Greenwich, Greenwich, Byram, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Rowayton, Norwalk, Wilton, Rye, Rye Brook, Harrison, North Castle, Pound Ridge
Golden Hour – Styled Family Sessions {Greenwich Family Photographer}
Here are a few of my favorites from the session at Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard. Enjoy! ❤
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© 2015 Looking Up Photography
CT Newborn, Maternity, Family Photographer | Cos Cob, Riverside, Old Greenwich, Greenwich, Byram, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Rowayton, Norwalk, Wilton, Rye, Rye Brook, Harrison, North Castle, Pound Ridge