I am very well aware that working for yourself means no real set hours, some days it’s 8am to 5pm and others it’s 1pm – 1am and everything in between. Well, maternity leave has pretty much been the same thing. Though I have not taken on any clients, written a blog, photographed, edited . . . wait I’ve done all of those things – well this being the blog and my son being a client – it’s not really work 🙂
I am my own toughest client. I guess that’s true in many aspects, isn’t the saying “you are your own worst critic”? At least that’s true when trying to be mom and the photographer.
Its common knowledge that newborn photos are best taken in the first week to two weeks of a baby’s life, when they are nice and sleepy. Well after giving birth to this beautiful baby boy and not doing/not allowed to do much aside from nurse him, conducting a photo session was the last thing I wanted to do. Actually, it was exactly what I wanted to do, but I entirely lacked the energy!
All of you parents out there I’m sure you an relate, the first week went by in a total blur, it felt more like one long day – after all that’s about the amount of sleep we got – one nights worth! Realizing the first week and perfect time was over I knew it was now or never. At eight days old with my husband and mom at my side I went for it. More frustration than photos came from that attempt though as G decided he was going to be awake for his photos. Perfectly fine of course, but not so willing to let me pose him.
I tried again the next day, but by the time I could attempt and G was cooperative the light was gone (thank you short days of winter). So again the next day I tried and another failure in my eyes as baby boy only seemed to want his mom. My husband (thank you) did pick up my camera and got some comfort snuggle shots of me and G which was nice, so maybe not a total fail.
At this point I started getting extra frustrated as now G was 10 days old. Determined to be my son’s photographer I tried again the next day. I got a sleepy baby and good light for a couple poses, making me feel a little better. Finally, two days later, at twelve days old and my fifth attempt I had an actual session!
Did I get everything I wanted? Of course not, but I’m a photographer and this is my child, in my mind I could be getting every pose / idea I every had and more since I have all the time in the world. Yeah . . . not so true . . . I finished editing last week and am just now blogging / sharing . . . G will be eight week’s old tomorrow is eight weeks old today on my Birthday (totally started writing this two days ago and finally posting it)!!!
I have big plans for his 6 month-ish session, like it lasting an entire month! Which will totally make up for the newborn session right?? 🙂
Congratulations! Grady is beautiful! Can’t wait to greet him.