My top priority as a newborn photographer is always newborn safety, and I take courses every year to make sure I am up to date on any new safety recommendations to ensure my newborns are as safe as possible.  APNPI (Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International) offers a newborn safety course, and the first course in each year’s Milky Way Newborn Retreat is newborn safety.

I am a proud and very active member in professional photographic organizations at both the state and national level — Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and the Maine Professional Photographers Association (MPPA).  Through both of these associations, I participate in photographic workshop of all kinds, not just education related to newborn and maternity photography.  Both of these organizations also host prestigious photographic competitions.  I participate in competitions not just for the fun of it (it is fun!) but primarily for the valuable critiques from those at the very top of the field.  Such thorough, honest and unbiased assessments of my work allow me to fine tune my portrait skills.

I am currently working toward earning my Master of Photography degree and Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation through PPA.

Newborn photography is a *very* specialized field of portrait photography. There is so much more involved than snapping a picture, and I am always learning! That’s part of the fun — there’s always something to work on, a new pose to perfect, a new editing technique to try, and an adorable new prop to start working with.

In addition to safety, so many skills must be perfected to photograph newborns:

*Perfecting the fine details of various newborn poses
*Refining all of the different ways to wrap a newborn
*Understanding lighting for different poses and props
*Using the proper equipment and lenses for each setup
*Varying depth of field depending on the style of image
*Experience with advanced editing techniques
*and so much more!

Note: Hunting for the perfect fabrics, outfits, props, maternity gowns, accessories, and heirloom art products also requires well-honed skills — I seem to be particularly good at this aspect of the business