Why I Wrote A Book About Unposed Baby Photography

I'm starting my third year in documentary family and newborn photography, which means that I've barely dipped my toes in the ocean that is this business owner journey. So why was I compelled to write a book this early in my venture?

Beautiful lifestyle imagery is out there in abundance, whereas real-life pictures are not widely represented – or celebrated. I felt the need to document families in a way that reminds them of a moment in their life – not just their photo session. I want us to leave a legacy behind that is something more than our perfectly curated Instagram feeds.

Simply put, I felt I had something to say – and I can't say this enough – real is more interesting than perfect. Real life pictures have a place in our albums and on our walls so that we can go back to those moments whenever we want to.

(Remember to print, print, print! A picture never feels the same on a screen as it does as real paper in your hands.)

When I started talking about writing this baby photography workbook, I got some pushback – if I teach photography to parents, how will I get photography clients?

Honestly, nobody can afford to hire a photographer to follow them around every day, so I want to empower parents to take a good chunk of better pictures themselves. Every kid should have pictures of their family that remind them of what different times in their lives were like.

The pictures might be from the time when the youngest one got his first tooth, when the 10-month-old learned to stand up on her own, or when a newborn in the house meant new challenges for you as a first-time parent.

You raise your kids in the best way you can, and that is hard work! These struggles are important to document and can be quite hilarious.(If you haven't already, I recommend browsing through Reasons My Son Is Crying – a hugely popular collection of pictures and anecdotes of childhood meltdowns.)Having natural pictures of the people you care about extends beyond just your immediate family. You never know what might happen, and you probably want to be able to remember these people at their most genuine.

So, Unposed Baby Photography – the beginner workbook for parents who find real life more interesting – is out!

Download the preview of the workbook below, which includes the introduction, the first chapter "Let Go", and the exercises and tips that go with them: