A photographer’s job
Parents Portraits
couple in love , couple's posing
Baby photos, newborn pictures, infant photos, mother and baby pictures
LegacyPortraits
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Sharing your story- Newborns are little only once
Babies are little just once.
The moment that we live in…is just once.
For me, my clients are special. Very special, all of them. And thats how I like to treat them.
Every single client that decides to pick up the phone and call me is treated the same way. I like to sit down with them, know their story, their vision from their session and what legacy they wish to preserve in their photos.
A photograph is not just a paper, its moments captured right , a fleeting moment that will become a memory in seconds.
Newborns are my favorite because the new parents have gone through so much to bring these little souls into this world.
I feel , knowing their story will not only help me understand them better, connect with them but also create something unique , one of a kind baby photos for them. After all their baby is so unique and loved.
Here is a session I will cherish for a very long time because the beginnings reconnected me to the journey that speaks to the soul.
To my amazing clients… Thank u for trusting me , for the love and for letting me be part of your journey.
Love Always.
See more amazing Maternity & Newborn photos HERE.
Newborn rainbow baby
Newborn Pea in a Pod
Newborn Police Car
rainbow baby
Why Brand Yourself?
Why do you need to brand yourself?
As @brilliant.lui says “Marketing is the equivalent of asking someone on a date. Branding is the reason they say yes.”
You face is the face of your company. Your face is the face of your talent and experience. Your face is the reason your brand exists, to serve and to help.
Your face is the “show and tell”. It is the reason people hire you for a job.
The reason people trust you.
Afterall there is only ONE first impression.
So the question is : Why not put your best face forward?
Newborn Photography- How and When
Baby photos, newborn pictures, infant photos
Baby photos, newborn pictures, infant photos, baby bundle
Baby photos, newborn pictures, infant photos, baby on a moon
newborn baby pics
danville photographer, baby photos
Newborn photography.
Photographing babies in their truest form.
“Let me love you a little more before you’re not little anymore.”
Becoming parents is a huge milestone for every couple, especially when it is your first time.
You want the best for your child. You want to give them the world of happiness and keep them safe. The emotion is strong and your nest is finally complete.
Most common questions I get asked by the new parents is when is the right age to get your newborn baby photographed?
Ideally I suggest shopping for your photographer should start fairly early. Sometime in the your second/third trimester , start looking for the newborn photographers near your area. See their styles and match to yours.
If you decide to create memories of this journey I highly recommend a maternity session as well. It is a milestone and no matter how you feel about your body at that stage, it doesn’t last forever. The maternal glow demands you create beautiful photos of you and your partner enjoying this little life happening inside you.
Ideally the maternity session can be done anytime between 32-36 weeks but it varies per individual situation as well.
It is of utmost importance you identify the right person who will be photographing your precious baby. Safety and hygiene are highest in priority.
Once you have decided on the photographer who will be creating memories for you, talk to them to create your vision. Show them your nursery colors so you have beautiful wall art for the baby room.
Check out their exclusive products and match them to your home.
Call your photographer when you head out to your delivery room so they can get you on their calendar asap. The best age to photograph newborn is between 6-14 days.
A good photographer will take the time to explain and walk you through the whole process. Share your story with them to help them create some amazing memories for you.
Maternity photographer, san ramon photographer, bay area photographer, san ramon newborn photographer, best baby photographer near me, dublin photographer, newborn photographer bay area.
Essence of Motherhood
Motherhood… A journey, An adventure like none other.
Motherhood… A journey like none other. Often compared to the Jurassic ride where you experience a range of emotions from love, want & need to stress, responsibility & worry.
Once you become a mother , the mind never rests and we as moms always worry even when we let kids do their share of mistakes.
But with motherhood comes so many changes …
A woman’s body changes. It supports a new life , pumping blood and hormones inside as it creating a new body inside.
Maternity sessions are very close to my heart. They not only give me a chance to connect with women on a personal level but also understand their story. This is that story that makes my sessions so very unique.
Today I want to share about a maternity session I did recently for a client.
This beautiful lady is very special to me. I have known her for some time now and when she trusted me with her maternity and newborn session, I knew I had to create something amazing for her.
I think she looks like a DIVA, a goddess in her element. Don’t you think?
If motherhood had to be put into a picture, it would be this. Happiness, Glow, Love, Confidence and Passion.
More than once I have been asked how I relax my clients for their sessions. And the answer lies in trust and connection. When a client walks into your studio as a client but walks out as a friend , gives you a big hug and shares an honest smile.. you know you did your job well.
And for the mothers , this Mother’s Day, trust someone to create something amazing for you. Chocolates and flowers are only short lived. Spend quality time with your loved ones and don’t shy away from the camera this Mother’s Day. These photographs will be the legacy you hand down to your generations to come. Give them a chance to know you via photographs and trust a professional to make your unique story on paper and ink.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all those who care about someone as a mother. It’s not just about giving birth, it’s about loving someone unconditionally with all your heart.
Essence of Motherhood starts and ends with LOVE.
My first award at WPPI
What is WPPI??
WPPI refers to Wedding and Portrait Photography International. It is a competition, a workshop, a conference and a platform to bring artists together from all around the globe. It is a place where artists alike meet and learn from the masters of photography, share ideas and strengthen their tribe.
The more I found out about WPPI the more I wanted to be there… to be inspired and to experience the magic of ART.
So I gathered courage this year and submitted my art into the competition and that felt like putting your heart and soul out there for people to see and critique.
I am so glad I took the steps to make it here to WPPI this year. I sat through countless hours of judging sessions , watched various categories being evaluated and ranked. And I can confidently claim that I will NEVER be able to look at the photographs the same way.
This being a print competition, each art piece needs to be in the perfect format for submission. And this being my first time I learned so much about how the quality of paper or matting of the art piece can make or break the impact of your art piece.
The print can show every single detail of your photograph. It can show flaws, beauty and every pixel that your image is made of. I have learned so much in these two days just watching the judges critique art. Every critique is worth a million that will help me grow as an artist.
I am so proud to announce that one of my photographs was awarded the “Honors of Excellence Silver Distinction Award“.
It is a HUGE honor to be able to sit amongst these amazingly talented photographers and be able to showcase your work and share the wall with them. My work proudly hangs on the gallery wall here at WPPI among the super talented artists and it is such a humbling feeling.
WPPI…you that bag of chips I would love to come again and enjoy because one is never enough.
This is my Award winning Image.
Award winning photographer, Pet photographer, fur babies, pet photos
That “Chandler Smile”
Let’s face it, Genuine Smiles are hard to capture
Unless….
You hit the jackpot at the right moment.
Do you remember watching Chandler from friends? Honest to God, it makes me laugh out loud every single time I watch the episode when Chandler smiles to the camera.
I have a “Chandler Smile” case at my home. My son dislikes getting photographed as much as my daughter loves being photographed. Every single time I get all weird expressions when he is asked to smile. I have also had a lot of camera shy clients facing my camera.
So believe it not, it is a genuine problem:).
So how do I handle it as a photographer? Well my clients know me decently well before the session. The magic of knowing your clients during their pre-consultation session, constant contact with them and by the time they are facing my camera , I am no longer a stranger. Letting them breathe in and close their eyes , talking to them always helps reduce the discomfort of the camera. Crack a joke, say something silly even if its at my expense but that gets the people to smile for real. Sometimes I go with the flow, let the people take their time to chat , ease into the moment.
Sometimes the only solution to getting the honest & genuine smiles from camera conscious people is to catch them during candid moments.
Keep you camera handy and at arm’s reach. Do something they aren’t expecting and watch them smile and laugh. It’s not posed yet planned that brings out the best candids.
Candid photos, camera shy people, i hate being photographed, photogenic , tips of non photogenic people, chandler smile, chandler from friends
CUTENESS ALERT-Protective mamma and her overly cute litter- Part 4
CUTENESS ALERT-Protective mamma and her overly cute litter
Bella’s FIFA Team with an Extra is here…
Continuing where we left…
The pups were here and all happy and healthy and Bella doing a GREAT job nursing them. I became what is called as the nipple police.
Through the next 4 weeks my job was watch, which pup isn’t eating and which one is over eating and hogging the nipple. There were 3 pups bigger than the rest who insisted they need to eat first and keep eating until they can’t eat no more..and then eat again.
And there were these two who couldn’t keep themselves awake and would sleep off after a few minutes. In the wild these little ones wouldn’t survive after all its survival of the fittest.
Here with the nipple police interrupting all puppies had no option but to thrive. I had to make sure once the bigger hoggers were done, smaller ones got their share of milk and sometimes even wake them up so they eat again.
The first three weeks of their life, these little ones can’t see or hear. They find their way to mom by smell. It’s amazing how quickly u fall in love with these beautiful hapless creatures. I think I was hormonal like Bella.. overwhelmed by how amazing this experience was. People say don’t emotionalize but I disagree. When you see what I witnessed, it’s hard to put the emotion away.
The pups all looked alike so there wasn’t an easy way to tell them apart but after a week or so I was able to tell a few apart. Some started getting bigger than the rest. Some had some sort of striations on the coat and some were showing their personalities.
My other job was to do laundry. When u have 12 puppies who eat, sleep, poop and then repeat, and a mom dog who is still recovering from her delivery and is bleeding, blankets and towels get used faster than you realize. Soon I was doing three loads of laundry every single day besides the other life i was trying to keep up with. It was exhausting and i think i can say to some extent i was more cranky than my dog.
While this was going on Bella wasn’t in her best behavior. She refused to eat…Unless the food had chicken in it. She was extremely gassy, breaking out like crazy all over her body, tired and at her worse behavior. She was a protective mama ready to snarl at anyone who came close to the vicinity of her home. The first 4 weeks that left me with no option to get help from volunteers and do it all by myself. But there was someone who was helping me during this ordeal with Bella. Liz and my amazing friend Mo. Mo used to train guide dogs and she came to my rescue helping me with Bella’s behavior. With all my heart I can’t thank her enough for how she helped me get my Bella back.
But this journey was indeed an emotional ordeal a lot of times. That did make me a very tired and cranky lady.
It was around 4 weeks when Bella started weaning off the pups. The pups had sharp teeth and toenails, making it impossible for her to not yelp in pain every time 12 hungry pups pounced on her. She had scratches and bite marks all over her underbelly. In all honesty, it is very hard to see your dog in that state.
Meanwhile the little pups were getting naughtier by the day. By the end of 4 weeks we had to upgrade their pen to a bigger enclosed space and moved them to the garage. They slept together snuggled in a huge crate and during the day they played, ate , pooped all over their space and had a great time growing strong.
My biggest job that time was to keep Bella out of the situation. She was still the protective mom and her barks were scary. No one wants to get snapped by a new mom dog. Volunteers were pouring in and out and helping us with pups.
I can’t be more thankful to all the volunteers who came in multiple times during those last two weeks and helped cleanup the space, played with the pups, helped with the laundry, removed the garbage and helped in so many ways possible. Liz, April, Sarah, Stacy, Betsy, Mo, Laura, Charlene, Elizabeth, Alison, Jack, Nancy all teamed up and did so much for Bella and us that we are blessed to have their support. Along the way I made some friendships that will stay with me for a lifetime. Bella not only gave 12 new owners new members for their family, she also gave me some amazing friendships to cherish.
I still remember the day when I had to say goodbye to all the pups. I had a heavy heart, eyes full of tears and a rough night thinking about them.
I visited them a few times later at their new foster home and each visit reminding myself that i need to learn to let go. The day my beautiful pups found their new forever homes and parents I knew I had done something right. I can only wish and hope they are loved and in turn love their family. A relationship and love we share with Bella is precious and I wish the same for my sweet pups out there.
We are still in touch with few parents of the new pups and to be able to see them grow, thrive and enjoy their new families is so gratifying.
June 15th 2018 Bella got spayed and she will remain our loving dog . She will enjoy being our puppy , our family member for the rest of our life.
People asked me why we didn’t return Bella once we found out she was pregnant as she was so new to us. But again I believe these puppies were meant to happen. Bella had seen enough bad in her life and this time her family she loved wasn’t going to give up on her. Her bond to us is strong and we were going to stay beside her as she would if ever anything happened to us.
Here is what sums up our journey with Bella.. 4 months consolidated in 2 minutes:).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6ZEM_4nsBc
Pet Photography,Dog, Photographing dogs, A Dog’s journey, Adopt don’t shop, Rescue Dog
A journey with a dozen plus one…- Part 3
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Bella’s Own Cricket Team …And an EXTRA.
Bella has her way with us… She has kept on toes ever since she came into our life.
I don’t remember sitting down calmly for more than a week. There is always a sense of adventure with her around. Two trips to the vet in the first two weeks of having Bella and then the breaking news happens.
So when I found out at Vets office that Bella was close to her delivery date, it all started to make sense. Her docile behavior even though she is a pup, her lethargy, her out of control eating and her peeing so often that every single night she woke me up to take her outside.
I quickly called my husband and shared the news and then emailed Liz (Bella’s Rep at GGLRR) . It took only a few minutes for me to hear back from her , a news equally shocking to her as well. In all honesty.. I think we all had panicked.
It’s funny how situations change your perspective. I was moaning and getting upset about how I feel cruel to be spaying my dog, like i am taking away her body parts when she gets spayed and next I know I was feeling ..OMG, once this is over spaying is the way to go.
Amidst all that was happening I just knew one thing. Bella was going to have her puppies here at home cos nothing is worth risking her life and that she isn’t going anywhere. A lot of people asked me why we did what we did. Well you don’t turn away a family member just because they are sick and whatever happens, I was going to make sure Bella is safe with us.
I have to give a LOT of credit to GGLRR folks. When I spoke to Liz and after we all understood the impact of this news she offered to find a foster to take care of Bella and the pups for the next three months. She asked me to talk to my husband and decide what we wished to do. Talking to Vishy made our decision even simpler and easy. He is an awesome person esp when it comes to supporting me. He told me to go ahead and do what I thought was best for Bella and so we took the BIG decision to do whatever it takes to make sure Bella and her pups have a family behind them.
That decision made it easy for us to proceed. Few things had to be taken care of first. Her diet had to change. We switched to puppy food. We went from diet control to her bowl being never empty. Exercise was limited to slow placed walks and honestly I was worried if I will need to call someone from the roadside if she starts delivering there…(yeah shows how little experience we had for the undertaking we were going for.)
While the rescue started putting things together at their end we were able to rekindle a friendship from school days. Vishy’s friend from school and his wife were big contributors to rescuing labs in Houston. So we were able to reach out to them and talk. Anu has had a ton of experience doing something she is amazing at – rescue dogs. She spent a good amount of time guiding us and sharing her experience that she has gathered rescuing dogs. She was such an immense positive assurance that helped us take this big step forward.
In a few days Liz and her husband Jim put together a whelping setup for Bella. Idea was to make Bella comfortable there so the puppies are born in the safety of the home and are contained in a smaller area. We cleaned out our dining area and setup the whelping stuff there. That way the pups stay warm inside the home and we can keep an eye on them.
Bella meanwhile had other plans…she started nesting in all weird places in the backyard. She was digging and making herself comfy in a dark spot under the backyard steps where its cold and wet. We literally had to drag her out so we don’t have to worry about how to keep the pups safe from predators and cold and rain.
She then started finding a comfy spot in my closet.. OMG..Imagine what would have happened to my clothes if the pups decided to play there..:).
Then the wait began.
I was in constant touch with Stacy while all this was going on. I have a ton of respect for Bella’s foster mom and she has been my constant support thru this journey. I also know she enjoys hearing updates about Bella and she makes time to help me out in all ways possible..
Meanwhile Liz(The rockstar woman of GGLRR) introduced me to the “Doggy Doula” as Elizabeth likes to call herself :). The process of making Bella comfortable with Elizabeth began as we need to be prepared with everything to help Bella out and honestly I had no clue what I was doing except that my maternal instincts kicked in overtime.
Meanwhile everyone had started betting on when Bella would deliver. To say the least, I lost the bet big time. :))
The night of March 23rd was the hardest. Bella was ready , hiding in dark places, very uncomfortable, not eating and nothing we did…. helped.
I stayed up almost all night her rubbing her belly and comforting her. I took a short nap during which Bella decided to make a mess on my rugs but on the grand scheme of things, nothing matters when u see tiny puppies that came after that ordeal.
On the fateful morning on March 24th, exactly one month after Bella came to our home, the fun began. At 11.15 AM with us and Elizabeth at her side, Bella had her first pup.
We had the notes ready to keep track of puppies. To keep track of unique marking on the pups and to be able to distinguish who came when. Funny thing was all of Bella’s pups are Jet black. Not a single marking on any of them.
What I found out when the first puppy came was that mother dogs eat the sac the pups are in and lick the pups clean including nibbling the umbilical cord away. That also stimulates the breathing process and helps mom and pup bond.
One after the other the pups started coming out. Sometimes the wait was longer and sometimes shorter.
We were told there would be 7/8 pups and when the 9th one showed… we though Bella was done. From looking like a BIG HOTDOG she was all skinny and boney.
So we decided to take her to the backyard so she can go do her business now that all pups were here.
Just as we got to the backyard, Bella started going around in circles and I saw another sac showing up. Right before the puppy came out I was there to save the fall and hold the puppy in my bare hands while Elizabeth came running with a towel from inside. That’s the story of the Bella’s 10th pup:). Something I will enjoy telling the generations to come :).
My sister joked if Bella was getting ready to prepare her own cricket team.. And who knew by 5.30 that evening we went from 1 dog to 13 at home. All 12 of Bella’s puppies were alive, healthy and cuddling with their mom. Bella was doing a fabulous job nursing them, and taking care of them.
For me..the work had just started. 🙂
The adventures of these little pups and Bella’s behavior change … in my next blog.
For more images from this adventure check here:
https://www.poojaphotography.com/portfolio/furry-friends/
San Ramon Photographer, Portraits, Family Photos, Pet Photos with Family
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