Baby D | In Home Newborn Session | Oregon City

The world sure has a way of spinning quickly. It feels like only yesterday that I was introduced to the C family during the uncertain times of COVID. Big sister whom I hadn’t had the pleasure of photographing as a newborn, was already a beacon of resilience and wonder. Their new baby boy, B, was an emblem of hope during those cloudy days. I remember the peace and solitude of our indoor session as the world outside paused.

Fast forward to a bright summer day in 2023, and here I am again with the C's, but this time to welcome a new addition: Baby D. 

B, now two, and big sister were absolute troopers. I couldn’t believe he was running around with his big sister, their laughter echoing, pure joy in welcoming their new baby brother.

The home became our sanctuary once again. B, with his newfound toddler curiosity, watched over his baby brother with a mix of bewilderment and awe. And in true toddler fashion, there was a little bit of jealously and an exertion of independence mixed in there too!

There's an innate joy in watching families grow — watching parents evolve into seasoned pros. The family, with their ever-present smiles and love radiating, exemplified this beautifully. From protective glances to gentle caresses, it was clear that the new baby had been welcomed into a haven of warmth.

Capturing their last session during those challenging COVID times was an honor. But being a part of this sunny sequel, this joyful celebration of life, growth, and family, has been an absolute delight. 

As rays of sunlight filtered through the window over baby’s peaceful face, I couldn't help but think about how life's moments come full circle, each one brighter and more hopeful than the last. They say time flies, but with each click of my camera, I like to believe that I can pause it, even if just for a second. Here's to many more years of capturing this family’s cherished moments!

Throwback to big brothers newborn session!

And for fun here are some throwbacks to baby B’s newborn photoshoot in 2021! So many similarities that I had to double take when I saw new baby D for the first time! It’s always so fun to recreate special moments with families based on our past sessions!

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital/birth place fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

Baby B | At Home Newborn Session | St. John's | Portland Oregon

It’s not very common for me to have a baby that sleeps super soundly through his whole session! Typically babies fuss a little, get hungry, need a diaper change, etc. But this little guy was the sleepiest baby I think I’ve ever had in the last 6 years! He even slept through diaper and clothes changes! I like to get at least a few pictures of newborns while they are awake too, so even using cold baby wipes only worked for a few minutes and then he was back out again. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, this is every newborn baby photographer’s dream client! Just not something I’m used to :)

It was also great to be able to capture extended family members as well. It’s such a special time and generational images are truly a blessing this day in age with people more spread out across the country.

This whole family was the absolute sweetest (I see where baby boy gets it) and such an honor to photograph. Enjoy some of my favorite images from our session together!

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital/birth place fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

Top Newborn Baby Photographer 2021 Recap | Portland Oregon

2021 was another different year on so many levels as covid continued to impact the world around us. But thankfully, as a newborn photographer my work focuses on all the joy, love, and connection as families welcomed their newest and sweetest family members. This made it easier for me to keep a positive view and spread happiness as I captured the best memories for families over the last year.

Below is a quick overview of what 2021 looked like for my clients <3 All of these images were captured in their homes in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Milwaukie, and Oregon City!

I was also super excited to be ranked as one of Portland’s best Newborn Baby Photographers!

Baby E | At Home Newborn Session | Portland, Oregon

This sweet baby girl arrived in the whirlwind of an unplanned c-section. And while her entrance may have been on the dramatic side, she is probably one of the most chill and calm baby I’ve had the pleasure of photographing over the years. And it’s always so great to be able to incorporate an adorable pup too!

Anyone else ready for Valentine’s Day?? <3

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital/birth place fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

Baby I | In Home Newborn Session | Beaverton Oregon

When this sweet family reached out to me last year, I knew this perfect little girl would be my first newborn session of 2021! And she set the bar high for all of this year’s babies! She gave us the perfect mix of awake baby expressions as well as those dreamy sleepy portraits!

I love making every family’s vision come to life and this session was particularly fun because they were interested in creating newborn composite art (where I photoshop baby into other beautiful settings). Composites are such a wonderful way to add fun and whimsy to an in home newborn session, since there is no limit to what we can dream up and create!

Here are a few of my favorites from our newborn baby session last month!

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital/birth place fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

What should I budget for newborn photography? | Portland, Oregon

This is often one of the first questions I get from expecting families. And while I wish there was a one size fits all answer, there simply isn’t. Every family’s vision, style, needs, wants, and wishes are different.

I’d like to start off by saying I know without a doubt that there is a newborn photographer for every budget in the Portland metro area. Newborn photography can range anywhere between $0 (yes I said free - generally those learning the craft) to well over $10,000. Now that’s a huge range….so what exactly should you consider as your looking for a newborn photographer and setting your budget.

1) Years of experience and consistency of work - newborn photography is a highly specialized field of photography that requires training and practice, lots and lots of practice.

2) Reviews - we all love reviews right? If you read reviews before checking out on amazon, it’s probably a good idea to research your photographer and learn about their past customers’ experiences.

3) Style of Portfolio - photography is an art, and every photographer is a unique artist. Make sure your photographer’s style matches your vision because you want these captured moments to make your heart sing!

4) Products offered - most high end photographers offer luxury products. Why? Because they want their work to look even more beautiful in person (on walls and/or in an album) than they do digitally on a phone. They also want their clients to enjoy their investment daily instead of having a couple memories pop up on facebook each year.

5) Convenience - life is busy with a newborn (or newborns) in the house. Let your photographer take care of all the planning, procurement, details and overall make the session easy and enjoyable for the whole family (I’m looking at you Dads and toddlers, lol)

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but a full service newborn photographer with experience, a beautiful and consistent style, as well as high end products is going to be more expensive than the person just starting out with a brand new camera. Does that mean it’s out of the budget? Not always. Many photographers, myself included, offer smaller packages and payment plans so families with varying budgets can still have the newborn experience they desire as well as the lifelong memories and images to cherish. Your investment into your newborn session will only continue to appreciate over time as these moments can not be recreated. Life changes, people change and circumstances change, being able to remember and celebrate our life story is priceless.

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital/birth place fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Professional Newborn Photographer

Let me start this off by saying I haven’t always been a professional newborn photographer.  In fact, although I’ve been obsessed with photography my whole life, my educational background is in engineering and I was still working in that field when my first child was born.  I remember after she arrived, I wanted to capture every single moment and figured I had enough “know how” to make it work.  Sadly, I didn’t know what I didn’t know until my fourth was born, and I regret not hiring a professional newborn photographer sooner.  

Based on my experience (on both sides of the camera), here are my top 5 reasons why I think you should at least consider hiring a newborn photographer!

5. Time

Let’s face it right after your baby is born, time is a premium.  There just aren’t enough hours in the day, especially for sleep!  It takes a significant amount of time to plan, design, capture, and edit all those wonderful newborn details and moments! So take this big project off your plate and let a professional do all the work for your family so you can sit back and enjoy the final products. 

4. The right tool for the right job

I’m sure you’ve heard that saying before.  It holds true for newborn photography as well.  Besides professional camera and lighting equipment, it’s important to have the right newborn specific equipment as well.  Newborn props and backdrops are specially made for capturing newborn portraits.  It’s a significant investment as a newborn photographer, but absolutely necessary to create beautiful and timeless imagery.  While minky fabric from Joann’s may sound like a good idea, I promise it will not give you the look you desire.

Which leads me to….

3. It’s harder than it looks

There is a reason all those funny Pinterest fail posts exist!  Getting your baby safely and perfectly into that pose takes years of training and practice in addition to a deep understanding of lighting techniques.  It also takes time; a single pose can take 30+ minutes to set up depending on baby’s mood and cues. In addition to perfecting each pose during a session, editing newborn imagery is truly an art form of it’s own.

2. Safety

Newborn Posing Safety Example: Images that appear to be hanging are really laying safely, it’s the angle and editing that creates the suspended look

Have I mentioned safety…I did, but it’s important enough to be a point of its own.  You want someone who is trained in newborn photography safety as well as having years of experience handling the smallest most important person in your life!  My purpose is not to scare you, but newborn images are not always what they seem, and if you don’t know how the images are created safely (for instance - by either the trick of the eye or compositing multiple images together) you are risking serious injury!

1. Your baby is worth it!

Let’s be honest, these fleeting moments only happen once, and they deserve to be captured and celebrated for years to come.  While I may be biased as a newborn photographer, I believe these images stand the test of time, and are likely the ones that people spend the most time looking back on as their children and families continue to grow.  Even when compared to their wedding portraits (another very significant milestone!), there is nothing like reliving those foggy first few hours, weeks, months, and years.

Don’t be like me 10 years ago.  Don’t miss out on having these beautiful memories.  Find someone in your area that you trust and that shares your vision for capturing these wonderful fleeting moments.  I promise you won’t regret it!

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital/birth place fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

M Family | Downtown Waterfront Maternity Session | Portland Oregon

As I look back on this maternity session from February, before the coronavirus pandemic, I can’t help but be filled with a longing to see my wonderful clients again. The saying you don’t know what you have until it is gone, rings so true right now. I can’t tell you how much I miss capturing all these incredibly special times for families!

I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family several times, including this “big boy’s” maternity and newborn session, as well as for his first birthday. When I found out they were expecting again, I couldn’t have been happier for them!!! And as always, this mom knows how to pick a session date! The farmer’s almanac could probably learn a thing or 2 from her! You may not remember, but February was full of rain, and in January, she picked a seemingly random Thursday for our urban outdoor maternity session…I probably commented a dozen times that we may have to be flexible on dates, or consider moving to an in home maternity session if needed. But for the third time in a row, she picks a date that is beyond perfect weather wise!

We had so much fun and were able to capture so many wonderful memories as they get ready to welcome little sister! Here are just a few of my favorites!

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is a maternity, in hospital (or birth location) fresh 48, and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

Baby S | Fresh 48 Hospital Newborn Session | Salmon Creek

When this family reached out about scheduling a hospital fresh 48 newborn session I was so excited to capture their beautiful large family <3 Baby S would be their 7th child and I can’t tell you how excited they all were to meet her!! When she arrived, everyone came to welcome her into the family, and give her all sorts of loves and snuggles. And of course, baby S knew she would really win them all over by bringing gifts, which all the kids opened as I was leaving. So many excited shrieks and smiles! I seriously can’t get enough of this sweet family and their fresh 48 images really showcase their love and very special bonds!

Here are just a few of my favorites!

R Family | In home maternity session | Portland, Oregon

Every winter when the weather turns, I have several client families that decide against a maternity session based on the weather alone. I mean Portland in known for rain so I can’t blame people for not wanting to have an outdoor maternity session. That said, I ADORE in home maternity sessions!!! The warmth that radiates, that intimate feeling, and all those personal touches in the background <3 They just fill my heart and I can’t get enough.

I was beyond thrilled when this adorable couple shared my vision for a beautiful maternity session from the comfort of their home. Plus, it was super easy to incorporate their pup, another favorite for me!

Here are a few of my favorite images from their SE Portland Maternity Session

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital (or birth location) fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

Baby P | In Home Newborn Session | Boring Oregon

While I always recommend families reserve their Fresh 48 or in home newborn session before baby arrives, sometimes it works out perfectly with my schedule to plan a session after baby is born. I do my best to plan ahead for sessions based on due dates, but as we all know babies arrive on their own “perfect” schedule! This can often lead to back to back newborns, but then a little break, which works out great for those who didn’t get around to reserving their session in advance! I can’t tell you how happy I am that all the pieces fell into place with this sweet family and their 3 week old daughter <3

I knew from our first phone call that this family would be an absolute delight to photograph and of course loved when they mentioned including their fur-baby (now a big sister dog) in the session as well. Although typically posed newborn photography takes place in the first 2 weeks after birth, some of my absolute best (read - sleepiest) babies have been closer to the 3 week mark. One of many reasons why I love capturing older newborns and always do my best squeeze in those after birth inquires.

And a couple quick snaps of this sweet family when I delivered their gorgeous heirloom album that was hand made in Italy. Love those smiles <3

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

Baby S | Fresh 48 Hospital Newborn Session | Salmon Creek

I always get so excited when I get Fresh 48 inquiries for hospitals that I have never had the pleasure of capturing these special moments at. The light, room configuration, atmosphere, and decor vary so much between hospitals! It’s always such a fun challenge to figure it all out! Not only was I excited about having a newborn baby session at Salmon Creek Legacy hospital, I was also excited to capture this specific family. We connected so well on the phone and I especially loved that they had an older daughter as it reminded me of my sister and I. I can still remember the day my sister was born and how I instantly felt this overwhelming bond with her. It was no surprise to me that their sweet older daughter and newborn baby girl shared the same immediate connection. This was nothing short a dream session with the most wonderful family <3

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

Baby S | Hospital NICU Fresh 48 Newborn Session | Portland Oregon

Every birth story is different, even within the same family. And while they all may be different, they are also full of beautiful moments. Sweet baby S arrived 3 weeks early and had to spend 10 days in the NICU at St. Vincents hospital in Portland Oregon. Thankfully, the stay was short and there were not any major complications! Her sweet “big” brother even helped decorate her room with his beautiful artwork <3

Here are a few of my favorite portraits from their Fresh 48 session.

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

Baby I | Fresh 48 Hospital Newborn Session | St. Vincents | Portland Oregon

They say when it rains, it pours…well in my case it was pouring babies over the fourth of July weekend!! I have been so excited to meet this little girl since her parents contacted me letting me know they were expecting again! Her big brother’s fresh 48 was one of my all time favorites, and I was eager to provide them with an equally beautiful gallery this time around as well. This sweet girl made it too easy, with those chubby cheeks, long lashes, and a gorgeous head of dark hair <3 Those moments in the hospital right after baby arrives are simply the best, filled with raw love and emotion.

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

R Family | Outdoor Beach Maternity Sesssion | Portland Oregon

I can’t tell you how excited I was when I found out one of my favorite clients (turned friend of course) was expecting again!  Honestly, they are just one of the sweetest families I’ve ever met, and I always enjoy capturing their special moments.  We met back in 2017 when they contacted me about an outdoor maternity, fresh 48 hospital, and in home newborn session for their son.   Now that they are expecting a baby girl, they wanted to document all of these special moments in a very similar way.

Water has always been a theme that we’ve incorporated with their maternity sessions.  This year we chose one of Portland’s beautiful hidden beaches as the backdrop for our family of 3 maternity session.   While 2 year olds aren’t always cooperative, this little guy knows how to always turn on those smiles at exactly the right time.  And mom and dad planned perfectly to have a friend pick him up about halfway through our session, so we could include him in the images right at bedtime.

Here are just a few of my favorite images from our session earlier this month.

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an on location maternity photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities

Baby P | Lake Oswego In Home Newborn Session

Sometimes when I’m getting to know a family on our first phone call, I just know we’ll be a perfect fit. I can say this without a doubt about this sweet family! We were laughing and getting really excited as we started planning an in home baby session for their little girl! It’s very common for families to want a neutral set up and also a splash of color! We went with mauve and cream, and the mauve matched her baby blankets and newborn hospital gown perfectly! She was a little angel and a dream to photograph at exactly 14 days new!

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities. 

S Family Newborn Twins | Hospital Fresh 48 | In home Newborn Session | Portland, Oregon

I absolutely love photographing newborn twins! It always takes me back in time to when my twins were born, it’s truly a surreal experience bringing more than one life into the world at a time. This family is just the absolute sweetest and I have no doubt they are still rocking the twin parenting!

We did both an in hospital fresh 48 session and an in home newborn session. Several of the images were submitted and placed in the 2019 international shoot and share contest. Here are just a few of my favorite captures from our sessions together. I really loved how they just kept doing their “twin thing” right out of the womb!

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities. 

Baby B | In Home Newborn Session | SW Portland Oregon

Capturing the arrival of a new family member is so incredibly special. Each family is different, and each baby is different, but the love that surrounds them is always familiar. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing this family before they were a family, and I’ve watched them grow both in numbers and in heart. They are a family that is always fun to be around and who can be counted on if you ever need anything. Seeing them complete their family with the arrival of their son was truly a blessing.

Baby B was welcomed home not only by his loving parents, but also by 2 adoring big sisters. While I’m sure they’ll have normal sibling scuffles later, no one could get enough of baby B and I can totally see why. Right from the start he was happy and content, and rocked his newborn session. He adores mom snuggles and no doubt has dad’s talent for music. I’m so excited that I’ll get to be a part of this little guys life and watch him as he passes every wonderful milestone <3

L Family Outdoor Maternity Session | Portland Oregon

Now that it seems like the rain will never end, it’s time to go back in time and blog about a beautiful maternity session late last summer. Now, I may be a little bit biased, since this is my gorgeous sister in law, but I absolutely adore their session images!! Having met in Denver in college, the outdoors is a big part of both of their lives. They are both extremely active from snowboarding, to running, and everything in between. When we first started talking about their vision, I listed off some of the more popular outdoor spots around Portland, but they already knew that they wanted maternity session in a forest setting.

Their session was full of laughs, love, and warmth from the setting sun. Here are just a few of my favorites I’ve been so excited to share!

Baby E | In Home Newborn Session | Portland Oregon

After E’s in hospital Fresh 48 session, I couldn’t wait to see her again and capture even more of her beautiful newborn stage. The difference in even just 10 days is astounding. It’s amazing to watch newborn features change so quickly as they really start to grow into their little personalities. It was such a pleasure and honor to be able to document both of these special milestones.

There is so much behind the scenes planning that goes into every in home newborn session. I just love working with parents beforehand to define their vision to match their style and decor. This family loves neutrals but also wanted to incorporate mints and teals. What a wonderful color palette to work with!! Little E slept beautifully for most of the session, but also gave us some gorgeous alert images as well.

I’m so excited to see this family again next year for a one year family session! I can only imagine how much little E will have changed. She’ll be full of smiles, maybe walking, chubby little hands, and have her own little personality shining through!

And of course my absolute favorite part is delivering wall art, albums, and gifts after their session.