Newborn Baby Girl Portraits With Sentimental Touches
This sweet family brought their beautiful new baby girl, Miss A, to my studio for her newborn portrait session back in 2021. We started with family portraits and then took some of Miss A with her big brother. Of course, we also made sure to capture plenty of solo portraits of Miss A. Every photo from this session carries a soft, calming, and ethereal feel. We chose a palette of whites, creams, and other soft neutrals, with just the faintest hint of pink. I really love the serenity this styling brings to newborn portraits.
For this session in particular, the soft, soothing colors felt especially fitting. Miss A is this family’s first baby following the loss of their second son, just a year prior. These portraits hold a deep emotional significance, and it was an honor to help them celebrate their new arrival while holding space for the memory of the child they lost.
Pregnancy After Child Loss
This session was unlike any I had photographed before. The first time this mother contacted me was back in 2020. She was expecting and reaching out to schedule a newborn session. Then, just three weeks before her due date, I received a heartbreaking message. Her son had been stillborn at 37 weeks. The pain they experienced from that loss was unimaginable.
When she reached out again a year later to share that she was pregnant once more, I felt such a deep sense of hope and happiness for their family. Having them in the studio to celebrate Miss A’s arrival with newborn portraits after their child loss was incredibly moving. Being invited to share in such an important and emotional moment is something I will never take for granted.
Though I have not experienced this kind of loss personally, I know how real it is for so many families. If you are looking for support or information, I’ve included a few helpful resources below.
Empty Arms Bereavement Support
Honoring a Lost Loved One in Portraits
Life after child loss carries so many challenges. One of the quiet, lasting ones is the fear that their child will be forgotten. For this family, it was important to include something in these portraits to acknowledge their second son. In the family and sibling photos, I added a small digital blue butterfly. A little reminder of the brother who couldn’t be there for these portraits.
This is not the first time I’ve incorporated meaningful touches like this into a session. Whether it is a physical object that holds sentimental value, or a digitally added element like in these portraits, I am always open to finding ways to honor those who are no longer with us. I understand how much it means to keep your loved one’s memory alive.
Miss A’s portraits are a celebration of new life, wrapped in the love of a family who has experienced deep loss. It was a privilege to capture these moments for them. Through the joy and the grief, through remembrance and new beginnings, photography has the power to hold all of it.
If you have experienced loss and are navigating life after, please know you are not alone. There are gentle ways to carry those memories forward. And if you ever wish to honor your loved one through photography, I would be honored to walk that journey with you.
