• the watermelon was a boy and his name is felix. •

first and foremost, thank you SO much for all of the wonderful comments and emails i received about design aglow, and the maternity slideshow i posted. i was completely, staggeringly overwhelmed by all of it! i feel really, really lucky and grateful and just have to say thank you. the support i get here on my blog surprises me all the time.

onto felix!

this is the first time i have photographed a newborn where i just let everything i have ever seen or thought about newborn photography fall away. i was anxious about a slew of newborns i had in june and july, feeling uninspired and like i couldnt do what they deserved, and a friend told me to just do it my way and not worry about it. so thats what i tried to do. i walked in to photograph felix with my big pillow, my heating pad, and a sock monkey. but without any preconceived notions of what i should do.

when i walked in, this is what i saw. a gorgeous little boy all sacked out in his mommas lap.

we chatted for a bit about his birth, how they were all doing as a new family, and then since he was asleep, i set him up on my big pillow, on top of my heating pad and his blanket. i just shot what he did, without moving him around too much. i love these.

then tia chris and tia sandra showed up (auntie chris is my website designer) so i had to get a photo of them totally enraptured.

i asked, “how is the light in your bedroom?” “oh, horrible.” mom said. um, kathy, i think you were not quite right…


and that, is alex, kathy, and felix.

and here is the sock monkey.

xo

tara

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99 Comments

  1. Tara,

    These are amazing…almost makes me want to have another and move to CA so you can take pics, lol. I LOVE the second one and the color one with the feet.

  2. I think that is the best advice for shooting newborns EVER. Newborns are hard. And we (as photographers) are even harder on ourselves. I love what you got…the curves and rolls of skin, Felix’s natural positions. Love it. Thanks for sharing your inner dialog. Much appreciated. i (heart) Tara!

  3. OMG those are incredibly gorgeous pictures of Baby Felix. The family is blessed to have a healthy baby and a friend like you. It’s amazing what you can do with your magic camera. I want one too. ha.

  4. Tara,
    I love them, too. I really appreciated what you said about being uninspired with so many newborns in the summer. I think it was a great plan to just take it back to the basics and record what is real.

  5. I am tearing up as I look at these! Just gorgeous! Everything is so natural…and that is what I love about your photography. Catching these fleeting moments in time! Pure sweetness! You can almost smell that baby smell! Thanks for sharing! Shelley

  6. Tara – I’m a commenter virgin! I’ve always hesitated to leave a comment, feeling like “what do you comment to greatness???!?” You’re my idol (no kidding, seriously). I drool over your photographs on a daily (who am I kidding? multi-daily) basis. I’m an aspiring photographer, and just recently did a photo shoot of my best friend’s newborn… I also felt uninspired and found it difficult because I had these preconceived notions of what newborn photos should be. Once again, you’ve challenged me and inspired me through your own work! Love love love these newborn photos. Genius!

  7. Oh good gracious the one where Felix is arching his back and those wrinkles…AHHHH I just LOVE it!! The one with his aunts is perfect! Kudos Tara!

  8. Oh, Tara Whitney- you’ve inspired me once again. My third little one was just born a couple of weeks ago, and I have been having such a hard time creatively. I’ve seen so many gorgeous newborn studio shots from some of my fave photogs, but I’m NOT a studio setup kind of gal. Too fussy. I love to shoot outside, and that’s usually what I do with my kids- or just around the house, that’s my style. Natural light, real emotion… But I’ve been totally uninspired, and it’s too hot and buggy to take the baby outside right now. I’ve been stuck with only a few portrait shots that I like. Then, I saw your blog today– gorgeous work as always! I’m loving your take and how you’ve captured this little one in true Tara-style. I love the simplicity of these images. You’ve totally given me creative fuel!

  9. I would have LOVED to have you in the hospital to take pictures of my babies when they were born.
    Here in France we have photographers coming in the hospital to take pictures of newborns…. but they ALWAYS “put” them in poses… sometimes it is funny, but I’d have preferred to have “natural” photos like yours…
    these are really great “souvenirs” for the parents

    you really do an amazing work

    Sophie

  10. Tara, these are so beautiful. Of course, you don’t need me to tell you that. I love the “unposed” stuff. Just life as it happens. I think that is the best kind of photograph there is. These make my heart happy. :)

  11. These are stunning…I absolutely love the ones with him on his tummy, especially the back of his head with his little fists. I feel an urge to rush out and take pictures of my new niece right now. One quick question – did you light the rooms at all, or is it all natural light? My house is so dark that I always struggle with this for my own daughter. Thanks for sharing these awesome photos!

  12. I don’t know why you doubt yourself because we don’t :) :) We know you can pull off taking pictures of ice in an ice cube tray,make them look stunning,and make us all run out purchasing ice cube trays by the bulk..your simply T.H.E. B.E.S.T Tara!! I truely gasped at those baby pictures,they are exactly what each of us moms want to remember about those first few weeks. Makes me wanna have my kids all over again.

  13. I never comment, but had to upon reading this. I was feeling the same way with regards to newborns. The beanbag. The dreaded beanbag and the no sleeping naked newborn. yuck. So, I ditched the beanbag and I just capture what I want to capture. I’m so much happier now. You were right…be true to you and you can’t go wrong baby! Look at where it’s got you so far!!!! These are unbelievably fabulous…because they came from you ;)

  14. Tara, these are wonderful!! Despite your nerves and misgivings, I think you captured Feliex perfectly!! I’m so glad that you stayed true to yourself and your style. . . .

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