Rowan's Birth Story

A birth is the most magical event, and I always feel so honored to get to be in attendance! Every one is so unique and special. I actually met Misty at a birth story that I shot for her sister, and was excited to now be capturing hers. Rowan is their 3rd boy and rainbow baby. We were all looking forward to seeing how his brothers would react to meeting their new brother

The tone of the room was very relaxed as we waited patiently for things to progress. There was some discussion of what he would look like and how much he would weigh. Guesses were made of his hair color and it was fun to see Misty’s reaction when she ended up being right. He had a little bit of red fuzz peeking through all that vernix.

Of coarse he was absolutely adorable and his mommas love was oozing all over him as she snuggled him for the first time. I would agree that it’s a magnificent feeling to look at your sweet baby and memorize all their tiny features, staring at them all day and adoring the funny and lovable faces they make. It’s definitely a love drunk phase and I suggest soaking it up as much as possible!

When it came time for the boys to meet him, they were a bit timid. Little Bryce looked on him lovingly, but was definitely nervous. I think he even said aloud that her was “terrified” haha. And Grayson was not so sure about him at all, he kept shooting him the stink eye. It was so funny, and cute at the same time! You just never know how kids are going to react. But it’s always fun to witness!

A big thanks to this cute family for allowing me to be part of their big day and capture these memories for them! I love it so much and get to always keep my newborn fever at bay when i get to shoot a birth for someone else, I think I’d just keep popping out kids otherwise haha!! (So my husband also thanks you ;) )
For more info on birth stories or to book yours, please click here.

A Fresh 48 Session /Meeting Baby Grey

I had the pleasure of shooting Aleisha and Tyler’s first look video for their wedding alongside the amazingly talented Jessica Janae. Now I got to capture another first look of sorts when their stunner of a daughter Aria met her new baby brother Grey. It was the absolute sweetest! She was beyond delighted, the look on her face was priceless. In her sweet little voice kept saying to him “ I’m your sister” and telling him stories, it was absolutely darling!

When his tiny hat came off I was amazed by the amount of hair this itty bitty head had on it. It took his daddy quite a bit of time to get it all washed out during his first bath. It was fun to see it get all sudsy, while big sister Aria peered lovingly at him through the nursery window.

Fresh 48 sessions are so precious, and the perfect addition to a birth story. Maybe you chose not to do a birth story or baby came too quickly but you want to preserve those first few days of life. I enjoy shooting them because it gives Mom and Dad a chance to freshen up and settle in with their new babe. It also adds the convenience of being able to select a preferable time when lighting conditions would be ideal.

I enjoy capturing how the siblings and other family members react to meeting this new mini person. I love getting all those newborn features, and just capturing all of the emotions that surround such a momentous time. The atmosphere during these sessions is always so tender and filled with sentiment!

Another advantage of doing these fresh 48 sessions is the ability to plan ahead. You never know when you’re going to go into labor, but with this type of shoot you have a better handle on how you want things to go and have more control. We can capture baby’s first bath, meeting family members for the first time or simply focus on the connection between mom, dad and their newborn.

The first few day after having a baby are usually a blur. You’re probably still in a bit of pain and there’s usually a flood of visitors flowing in and out of your room all day. You‘ve waited several months (long ones at that) to meet this little human, and they change so much within those first few weeks, even the first few days and hours they seem to transform right before your eyes! Fresh 48 sessions allow you to put your phone down and be present as a family.

If you are interested in booking a Fresh 48, head over to the Scheduling page or send me an email at shailynnphotoandfilm@gmail.com. Due to the on-call nature of these sessions, I only take a limited number each month, so get on my schedule as soon as you’re ready to book!

What to Expect When Booking a Birth Story

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You’re entertaining the idea of documenting the birth of your child. This is such a momentous time in your life and is literally the beginning of a brand new life, it most definitely an occasion deserving preservation! Birth stories are some of my very favorite things to capture, every one is a uniquely beautiful and indescribable experience.

No matter how you felt through out your labor and delivery, Imagine re-living only the best parts! That flood of emotion after seeing your baby’s face for the first time, taking you back to the feeling of their delicate newborn skin upon yours. The sound of their sonorous cry as they take those initial breaths.

Sounds amazing! But there are so many variables and every pregnancy and occasion is different. Even planned inductions can be wildly unpredictable! knowing what to expect is nearly impossible, but luckily I can give you an idea of what to expect from me as your photographer/ videographer.

We will set up a consultation either in person or on the phone to make sure we’re on the same page, and answer any questions you have. Even though it’s often irrelevant in this field, I like to get some insight in hopes that it’s helpful in my preparation. Things like is this your first child, if not, how were your previous deliveries. Do you have a birth plan, are you wanting to go unmedicated or will you be getting an epidural? Are there any special circumstances , or family concerns that I should be aware of. Who will be in the delivery room and what is your vision for how the day will unfold. Will you be wanting a follow up or fresh 48 session for your older children to be there or will they be present during the delivery

I normally try to play an observant role in my documentation, but if I see something that I think you would love I might stage a few things to aid in the storytelling. I am not one to be up in your business at that moment of truth, but I’m not opposed to getting in there. If you’re wanting something a bit more raw, I’m not afraid of delivering that (no pun intended) I’ve seen my fair share of tits and jay, and I’m unfazed. At this point I’m almost as comfortable with it as your nurses, and OB. To me It ain’t no thing, it’s just part of my job and I would not share any of it without your consent!

I will be on call 24/7 for the weeks surrounding your due date. We will want to be in contact about your progress and you care providers thoughts on how things are going. If you go into early labor I will do everything in my power to be there. I also have backup photo/videographers that I can call on if I am unable to get there. You will want to inform me as soon as possible once it’s go time. When you are in active labor and at least half way dilated, I will head over and capture the unfolding of this magnificent life event! I normally stay and shoot for another 30 minutes after baby arrives.

Post processing can last 4-6 weeks as finding the perfect song for a film can be time consuming. I will send you some sneak peeks to tide you over until then, and your photo gallery will be delivered within 3 weeks. You will receive a downloadable link to your song length film (3-6 minutes) and around 100+ images with basic edits delivered in a private online gallery. Be sure to save the files in a couple different places for safe keeping.

If you’re wanting a tangible keepsake, I do offer professional printing services. Although you are free to use the service of your choosing print, canvas and album orders through me come with hand retouching and color match calibration with my printers to ensure the best possible quality. This is such a tremendous occasion and I am absolutely delighted, and obsessively grateful to be trusted with capturing it for you!