How to survive the early days with a baby and a toddler | Northern Virginia Newborn Photographer

Choosing to have a second child (or third, or...) can be almost as anxiety inducing as having your first.  If your first baby was challenging (like mine!) you might be anticipating another era of lack of sleep, frequent feedings, and near constant snuggles with your little one. And if your toddler is like most, thinking about the needs of a newborn on top of the needs of an active 2- or 3- year old might send you into a tailspin.  Don't worry, it'll all work out! 

After bringing home three newborns of my own and talking with countless other moms of multiple children, I'm sharing a few tips to put your mind at ease when you're planning to bring a baby home to an older sibling. 

1. Humans are amazingly adaptive.

   Life still happens and you'll miraculously go along with it. It may not be pretty sometimes, but try to enjoy the ride, or at least laugh at it, especially when there's poop involved. Figure out what works for your family and try not to worry what others may think. Case in point, we've been cosleeping and playing musical beds with our kids since I realized my oldest slept best (and so did the rest of us) right next to me. It's not for everyone, but it works for us.

2. Accept help.

   I think this gets easier when you have a second kid and I know it's said frequently, but say yes to offers of help. Prepared meals. A toddler playdate. Extended family stays. Drop any notions of the way things have to be and let yourself be taken care of. People want to help. Tell them how. Let them grab your dry cleaning. And a Starbucks while they're at it. 

3. Say no.

   It's okay to become a bit of a hermit, if that's what your family needs. You don't have to accept social invitations (and when baby is really young you probably want to avoid crowds and unnecessary germs). When you do make plans, make them with people who are supportive. Other parents of young ones are usually the best to commiserate and laugh with. 

4. Let go of expectations.

   And let your standards slide, for at least a little bit (but maybe forever). Things can be hectic, especially while you're figuring out the new normal. But, as you already know, just when you think you have everything figured out, kids change. Try to flow with it and life will be more peaceful. There will usually be something that doesn't quite happen like you expected or hoped, but things generally work out. 

5. Find a fellow mom to talk with.

   The first weeks after birth are a roller coaster. It can be emotional and isolating, even if you know what to expect. Find another Mama who can relate and be a sounding board. And if you don't have a Mama friend, reach out to me (seriously). We all need a fellow mom who we can keep it real with. 

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

Newborn sessions: why you shouldn't delay | Washington, DC Family Photographer

Choosing when to have family photos made can be tough. Newborn sessions are popular for good reason. Those first weeks are fleeting and details are lost in a sleep-deprived haze. But when there are siblings to consider too, many families consider holding off on a photo session until baby is older so that everyone can be more involved in taking photos and the focus isn't just on the newborn. Some families want to wait until baby is older and has more "personality." But after photographing numerous newborn sessions (and three babies of my own), I say don't wait. 

NEWBORN DAYS ARE BRIEF: PHOTOS MAKE THEM UNFORGETTABLE

The newborn days, even with siblings involved, exist in a sort of bubble. They truly are special. One or both parents are home from work. Competing priorities are put to the side. If you're lucky, you have extra hands of family or friends to entertain toddlers, cook meals, or hold a baby so you can shower (or eat a meal yourself!). This bubble pops eventually and life starts to develop a new normal. But those first days and weeks are unforgettable. It's especially sweet to look back on a brief period of time where your only real "to-do" is simply love and be loved.

With documentary family sessions, the focus is on relationships, so a session can capture both the wonder and joy of those first newborn days and the exuberant energy of an older sibling (hey, he's not the one losing sleep!). Sessions are relaxed and flexible, so there's no need to worry about toddler meltdowns or newborn fussiness and no need to coax everyone to smile or perform for the camera (though siblings often do this willingly).

It's even possible to capture a bigger story when grandparents are part of a session. Their hands can be such a welcome addition when bringing home a newborn, especially with an older brother or sister at home. Capturing the bond with grandparents is an important part of the family story which can be lost when a session is put off until baby is older and family has departed.

Films are also a wonderful way to preserve the newborn days. Here's one new mom on the value of a newborn photo and film session.

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

Summer Afternoon At Home Family Film | Washington, DC Family Photographer

I feel like I can't stop gushing about how wonderful video is for rounding out a documentary session.  Capturing the motion and sound of family life and turning it into a film has been a joy for me to add to my sessions this year.  From the fleeting details of babyhood to the hilarious antics of toddlers and beyond, video is perfect for preserving family life. Compiling clips and carefully setting them to music to tell a story that gives a glimpse into a family's everyday is like magic.  Watching it months or years from now instantly transports you back to that moment in time, bringing about memories and emotions already forgotten.  

Here is one of my favorite family films from early summer.  You can check out this sweet Washington, DC family's images from their session here.

Want to learn how to document your own family's day-to-day?  Check out 4 Steps to Stop Time and Savor the Moment with Your Family.  It's a simple and fun guide to documenting your family's life with beautiful photographs.

Family Favorites - Year in Review | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

The end of the year is a great time for reflection.  2016 has been good.  I'm so grateful for my little family (+1 this year!) and for the wonderful families in Northern Virginia and D.C. who have embraced my documentary style of photographing their families' everyday moments.  Parents often don't get to see themselves in action, so it's wonderful to be able to show all the love and attention they pour into their family.  And I love preserving these moments for children, so who may be too young to remember now, but who will be able to look back at these images and catch a candid glimpse of themselves and what made their family special.

I could go on, but instead, I'll just share a few of my favorites from family sessions this year. :-) I'm looking forward to many more in 2017. Happy New Year!  

Three Reasons to Get in the Picture, Mamas! | Northern VA, DC, and MD Documentary and Lifestyle Photographer

In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, I'm sharing a few of my favorite images of motherhood.  I'm also sharing three reasons why photographs are so important and why you should get in the frame with your kids.

1. We take photos of what is important to us.

People, events, moments.  The photographs that endure are those that remind us of something that is important.  Family, love, happiness.  These are all aspects of life that we don't want to forget.  We return to those photographs that help us remember what it was like to live in that moment - not only to cherish the past, but to remind us of what matters today.

2. Photographs send a message.

More than documenting these moments for ourselves, with photographs, we're sending a message to others, especially our children, that this is what matters to us.  Relationships with loved ones. Momentous occasions.  Daily activities that add up to a lifetime of memories. Seeing these images, especially in prints you can hold in your hands (more on that in a post to come!), speaks volumes.  Worth a thousand words, right? ;-)

3. Photographs are a part of our family history.

My mom is the historian in our family (thanks, Mama!) and I often tell her I wish we had pictures to go along with all the names and dates in our family tree.  I wish I could see what my ancestors looked like and have clues that give insight into who they were and what was important to them. My hope is that the images I take for my family and others' will become a part of our family stories, painting a more complete picture of where we came from and what mattered to us.

Taking pictures with our kids, not just of them, conveys how important they are to us and how dear we hold our relationship with them and our role as mother.  Documenting these aspects of our lives is not only important for them and for us, but for their children and for future family historians.

Young or old, the familial bond is one of the most enduring aspects of life.  So, now, whether your kids are 2, 20, or 62, go take a picture with them! And while you're at it, if you're fortunate enough to have the opportunity, take a picture with your Mom too!

And because it would be rude to ignore my own advice, here are a couple of recent favorites from my own moments in motherhood.  Happy Mother's Day!