Ellen Dykstra is a professional photographer specializing in artistic, pure and simple newborn, maternity and baby photography in Kalamazoo and Portage Michigan

07.02.13

Newborn baby photography | Isla’s newborn portraits

One of the best perks of newborn baby photography in the baby’s home is getting to meet family. Parents, siblings, pets…they’re all in the mix and it’s fun to include them in some of the pictures, too. They can pop in when it’s their turn, and then be off doing their own thing- especially nice for toddlers with limited patience! Isla’s session was extra special, because her grandparents were there for it. Her family is from Scotland but recently moved to Kalamazoo for a job, so her grandparents are going to be many miles away for a while. They’re going to really appreciate having photos of her when there’s so much distance between them. Here’s the beautiful girl:

newborn_baby_photography_Kalamazoo

and here she is with her Grandpa and Grandma. You can see how much they’re enjoying her, but I wish you could hear their Scottish accents- I could listen to them all day. We put the following three images together in a collage. Her mom calls the middle image ‘the womb picture’, and I love that. She won’t be curling up this tightly for much longer.

newborn_with_grandparents

then a few with her parents. Just precious to see how they’re looking at her- she’s adored by so many people already, and I think she’s managed to wrap her daddy around her finger in less than a week (she almost looks like she knows it, too, doesn’t she?). Amazing how many baby girls are able to do that very quickly!

newborn_baby_photography_with_parents

of course, no newborn baby photography session is complete without a few cute hats, wraps and headbands, and she rocked those, too-

newborn_baby_photography_with_hats_and_wraps

not every baby sleeps deeply enough to use the more upright baskets and buckets, but after a mid-session feeding she was really out, so we were able to do that, too

newborn_baby_in_milk_bucket

Wonderful to meet you, F. family, and fun to know that these pictures are on their way to another continent!

06.25.13

What to wear- kids photo shoot ideas for summer | outfits for kids photo sessions

Let’s face it- picking out outfits for the kids’ photo session can be enough to make you break out in a cold sweat. You want them to look good and to feel good (uncomfortable kid=unhappy kid and that doesn’t make for cute pictures!). You want to coordinate your them for the group shots, but not to match too much. You don’t want to break the bank, and when on earth are you going to find time to shop?

I’m here to help, and to promise you that with a few tips, it’s not too hard. Here are some guidelines that will help you to get your kids camera-ready in no time:

stick with 2-3 colors, and build each person’s outfit from a variation of the colors you choose
you can mix prints- just ground them with a solid color, and try to vary the prints. Mix a large scale print with a small scale one, or mix a plaid with dots, a stripe with a floral
for a very easy variation, choose one color and pick all your pieces from different shades of that color
the secret tip that makes life really easy? Stick with one store and take advantage of their collections- they’ve done all the mixing and matching work for you already

I used Gap’s summer clothing to put a few groupings together as examples:

kids summer photo session outfits- blues and greens

orange and blue outfits for kids photo session

blue and aqua kids outfits

Just a few examples, but the possibilities are endless. Gap isn’t the only place you can do this- other children’s clothing stores with great lines for kids are:

Crewcuts by J Crew
Janie and Jack
Gymboree
Naartje (online)
Boden (online)

The last tip is to treat everyone’s outfits as one big outfit- lay them out together, take a step back and be sure nothing jumps out at you and that it all flows well. Also, I’m always available to give you advice or to take a look at what you’re considering. Email or text me a picture, and I’ll give it the ‘Stacy and Clinton’ test- I’ll be sure it doesn’t match, but it goes.

06.24.13

new baby Elliott | newborn baby photographer

As a newborn baby photographer, I meet lots of babies. Some newborns are so sleepy that I never see their eyes open, some are sensitive and open their eyes or startle with every sound they hear, and some are laid back and easy-going. When I met him in his South Haven home, I could see right away that Elliott definitely fit the last category…he was relaxed whether he was awake or asleep. When I talked with his mom before the session, she said one of her top priorities was getting a picture of him with his eyes open. It’s not always as easy as it sounds- even when their eyes are open, newborns don’t see far yet or focus well, so their eyes tend to dart around very quickly and they don’t look right at you too often or for very long. Elliott must have known what Mom wanted, though, because he started out the session by opening those eyes and gazing right at me. Check that one off the ‘wanted’ list!

baby_on_back_with_eyes_wide_open

and just for good measure, he gave us another one-

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now that that one was taken care of, he drifted off for a nap and let us wrap him, put cute hats on, and pose him in the curled-up baby poses. He’s just as adorable asleep as he was awake.

newborn_baby_photographer_wraps

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after we had gotten plenty of beanbag poses and some of him with his mom, we tried out the new little knit pant and hat set I’d just gotten and popped him into a basket. Babies love the fur lining, and it’s usually a hit with them, but he really seemed to love it. To top off his already wonderful performance, he gave us a little smile. It’s not often you can catch one- they come and go very quickly, but I got lucky. Way to melt the heart of a newborn baby photographer!

newborn_in_hat_and_pants_set

06.19.13

newborn photography snowstorm style

Newborn photography doesn’t have to mean bringing your new baby out to a studio. Kinlee’s session took place during a raging snowstorm (yes, I’m behind in blogging it!). Since I drove out to her South Haven home (being very thankful for the new snow tires that made my car handle well even in the drifting and blowing snow) for the photo session, she didn’t have to experience her first winter storm just yet. They had the fire going and a space heater throwing extra warmth into the living room. We were sweating despite the cold outside, and she was toasty warm and cozy. She was a few weeks early so was just 5 pounds- so tiny and delicate!

newborn_photography_on_pink_blanket

her grandma owns a wonderful antique store near South Haven (Sweet Pickins, between South Haven and Bangor- I can’t wait to go check it out and find a few new props to use in photo sessions), She brought a few props from there for me to use. Of course, I was in my element with fun new things to use! I love incorporating vintage things into a session-

newborn_in_vintage_crate

newborn_photography_with_vintage_wooden_bowl black_and_white_newborn_photos

the bonus of the snow storm was that her brothers and sister were home from school for the day and could be part of the session, too. Brothers and sisters are often close in age for newborn photography sessions, but her sister is a teen and had been looking out for ideas that we could use. She had a special request for a picture. I love her vision, and I’m so glad we were able to make it happen. I can only imagine how special this is going to be to them years from now. The years between them will seem less, they’ll feel closer in age and size, and they will have this visual reminder of the tenderness and care of a big sister for her new little sister.

newborn_feet_in_hands_in_heart_shape

Forget about the cold, snow and blustery winds outside! We stayed toasty and comfortable- the beauty of newborn photography in your home!

If you’re expecting a baby and are interested in a newborn photography session in your home, call Ellen at 269-267-7083 or email ellen (at) ellendykstraphotography.com for more information.

06.13.13

what to wear for your maternity photo shoot

What to wear for your maternity photo shoot? Sometimes it can be tough to make those decisions! With a few easy guidelines in mind, though, it will be easier to go through your closet (or shop!) to find just the right things to make you look your best in your beautiful new body. You are beautiful, you know- let’s show it off!

the belly is the star of the show

You want to celebrate your new curves, so the key is to wear clothing that defines your belly. The first shirt is cute, but leaves you wondering “Is she or isn’t she?” Look for tops that have a seam under the bust, or a tie or belt to create definition over the belly. See the difference?

very loose fitting and doesn’t show off the belly

what to wear for your maternity photo shoot- tops

belts, ties, and a band or seam at an empire waist all help to show off that baby bump

I love everything about this look- the lace adds beautiful texture, and the flower belt complements it perfectly and adds definition-

lace maternity top with flower belt

Women carry their babies differently, and if you’re one of those lucky women who have a ‘basketball’ belly with your baby all in front, you can pull off more body-conscious shirts that show off the belly with a close fit or some ruching at the sides.

start with a good foundation

Start with a well-fitting bra, and the whole look will benefit. Your size is changing, so check to be sure the one you’re wearing fits the new you and is flattering under clothes. To avoid VPL or bulges on the hips, you might check into maternity body shapewear, too- yes, it’s out there!

what to wear on the bottom

Think in terms of balancing what you’re wearing on top- if your top is full, slim pants, leggings or skinny jeans are good choices. If you’re wearing a body-hugging top, consider wearing a flowing skirt or wider-leg pants. Above all, be comfortable, because you’ll be moving into different positions during the session, and it’s already a bit harder to move around!

getting dressy

A dress is another great option for a maternity photo session. Again, look for empire waist seams, ties, or add a belt above the belly.

what to wear for your maternity photo shoot- dresses

I’m loving the look of maxi dresses, and they are so comfortable- perfect combination!

Avoid unstructured maxis- again, this dress makes you wonder if there’s a baby there or not-

maternity maxi

these dresses, though, would work perfectly (except for the far right- add a belt, though, and it would work)

good maxi dresses for maternity photo session

(the maxi dresses and accessories I found on Polyvore- it’s a fantastic resource for visual examples of how to put clothes and accessories together)

body conscious maternity dress for pregnancy photo session

an example of a ‘body conscious’ dress

accessorize to mix things up

Use a jacket, sweater or wrap to change the look of a dress or top and to get another look from it. Add fun jewelry or a scarf- have fun with it!

the details- pamper yourself

This is your chance to model, so pamper yourself like one! We’ll use your hands to frame your belly, so a manicure is a good idea. While you’re at it, treat yourself to a pedicure and a blowout, too- they’ll help you look and feel your best.