8 Tips to Prepare For Your Lifestyle Photography Session

Lifestyle Photographer, McAllen, Texas

Preparing to have an easy-going lifestyle photoshoot? Here are some tips to help you and your family look your best while creating a stress-free experience.

1.. The outfit.

Do you have a favorite outfit or look? Try it on and make sure you feel good. The way you feel will be visible in your photos… so practice, wear the outfit around the house for a little while, sit, stand, play… If it feels good and you feel confident, you have a winner. I generally don’t ask you to wear anything specific although you should probably avoid large logos and neon colors. I would recommend simple, classic, neutral outfits that coordinate (no need to get super matchy-matchy.)

2. Show some side.

Angle your body away from the camera slightly. No matter your body type, it will always look best when slightly angled. Don’t worry about this one, just keep it in mind and during our session, I’ll remind y’all.

3. Pick a side.

You know you the best. Choose a side that will flatter you and make you feel confident. When we bring in everyone for a cuddle, remember your side and jump on in.

4. Laugh Out Loud… or as the young kids say L.O.L.

Seriously, take a moment and laugh out loud. Force it, get the giggles out for this exercise. The first second of that forced laugh will feel unnatural or weird but I guarantee that once that initial laugh goes down, we get that genuine gorgeous smile.

So yea, it will feel weird… just roll with it.

5. Don’t worry, be happy.

Don’t worry about a little one having a grumpy moment or about anything else, really. Our session together will be focused on your connection with your family and while I try not to direct the show, I will give you a little bit of guidance on what light will work best, etc. Frankly, we just need one little pocket of light in a cozy corner of your house, garden, or favorite place.

6. Sometimes bribery works… so if your littles have a favorite treat (think tiny treats) we can sprinkle them in to the session to get them to cooperate. #insidertip

7. At ease.

Keep your arms relaxed… try not to let them hang off to your sides. We don’t need to go for the sorority girl's arm on the hip, but you can relax and touch your partner, your kiddos, your hair… you name it.

8. Have a sentimental piece of jewelry? Remember to coordinate it with your outfit for more depth to your photographs.

Remember these are just tips for your session. I hope your experience with me is relaxed and fun… I promise we will get some great memories of you guys. See you soon!

~Norma H

Birth Story: Mariano | Home Birth in Edinburg, Texas

The Birth of Mariano | Home Birth in Edinburg, Texas

Julia and I met quite a while back. The universe had us cross paths when my 7 year old was still in diapers and I was fostering babies. Cloth diapers brought us together and then birth had us cross paths again when she invited me to document the birth of her daughter two years ago.

Now, here we are. Two births into our friendship and I am constantly floored with how incredible this mama is.

Julia has seen multiple variations of normal within her birth experiences and she’s worked gracefully through each one as they have presented themselves. She chose to birth at home for her two most recent births and she’s powered through her labors.

Nicole from Blessed Womb Homebirth Services was her midwife at each of her last two births and Julia speaks so highly of how supported she felt.

My heart is always filled with so much hope when I see a woman supported and respected in her birth space no matter how she chooses to birth her baby.

I am so thankful for the friendship that has blossomed with Julia. I have witnessed such incredible strength and love from her. She inspires me. She truly does.

Congratulations to her sweet family of 5!

If you have been considering documenting your birth story, let’s chat. This is one decision you won’t regret. You are about to meet a little love of your life, I can document the details.

~Norma H

Corona Virus or Covid-19: What are we doing to prepare?

McAllen Covid-19 Preparation:

Pregnancy and the Coronavirus.

What a surreal life event this has been, am I right?

If you’ve been checking in on any social media or media outlet, you’ve probably been inundated with news and updates pertaining to Covid-19.

What does this mean for birth photography or doula services here in the Rio Grande Valley? Well, it means that we have more restrictions in our area hospitals (who are overwhelmed at this time) and that we’ll have to be even more conscious about our habits as we move forward and support you. There IS a plan of action in place for Sojourning Birth.

Hospital births has pretty much come to a halt when it comes to birth photography and doula support. The only way we are allowed in is if you choose to have me as your doula and only support person at the hospital. (Limit of 1 additional person in the birth space.)

However, if you are choosing to birth at home or at one of our local birth centers, our services haven’t changed much there. We can still offer birth photo or doula support in person with the presence of your partner as well. You’ll simply need to clear it with your midwives.

Here’s our current plan of action:

All prospective client meetings will be scheduled virtually vs in-person.

We can Facetime, use Zoom, or Google Hangouts to talk about your birth and how I can help support or document your special day.

Moving forward, all prenatal and postpartum meetings will also be held virtually.

Part of our plan of action is to be proactive in keeping our own health in tip-top shape. This means abstaining from large gatherings, unnecessary travel, etc. My goal is to keep all of your families safe as well as my own little crew here at home.

Keeping up to date with all WHO and CDC updates and recommendations.

There’s a whole lot of information coming at us from every angle. I am aware that some sources out on the internet and social media are not always accurate. For this reason, I’m making sure to lean into reputable sources for updates to ensure your safety.

Immune system maintenance.

If you follow my social media, you may already know that I am pretty obsessed with maintaining a healthy and strong immune system. (Vitamins, water intake, and eating those fruits and veggies have never looked better.) I do my best to keep away from folks who are sick, have been sick recently, or have other sick family members at home to minimize risks. I take this job pretty seriously and truly care about your health. Thank you for trusting me and for inviting me to your sacred spaces.

Honesty and Transparency.

All relationships based on trust tend to be off to a good start. I want to be totally transparent with you and invite you to do the same with me. I will update you if I am not feeling well and you can do the same with me. I will likely not be shaking your hands in the coming weeks or coming in for a hug anyway (as a preventative measure…) we can just do that awkward wave and hello from a distance, maybe laugh about it too.

I will have trustworthy back-ups in place in the event that I am ill or one of my family members is ill. They will step in to support you or document your journey (I will still be editing your photographs.)

I will be 100% flexible with your sessions. If birth photography is not an option because you are laboring at a local hospital, we can plan a “Coming Home” session. I will meet you at the hospital as you are released, follow you home and while staying socially distant, document your coming home moments. These are great to capture big brothers and big sisters in action.

Handwashing.

Fun Fact: I trained and certified as a nurse assistant in 2005. I also trained (while in the NAVY) for medical emergency response while deployed on the USS Iwo-Jima LHD7.

Handwashing has always been super important to me because life with my own kids has shown me you can never be too careful. ha!

I’ve been trained in proper handwashing, glove usage and general sanitizing procedures in health facilities.

While I can’t use my medical training in my doula role, I can still implement the tools I learned along the way in effort to help keep myself and those around me safe.

I never thought I’d have to write about this in one of my blogs but I’m sure it will bring you a little bit more peace of mind… :)

Please know that I am working right alongside you to ensure our whole community is safe. I’m so thankful for you and always invite you to reach out to me if you have any thoughts, questions or concerns.

~Norma H

Intimate Wedding: Eduardo & Brenda

Small Intimate Wedding in Edinburg, Texas

There’s something so special about being a part of someone’s wedding celebration… especially when it’s reserved for the most special people in that couple’s life. Brenda and Eduardo decided to make it official in front of their closest friends and family and I had the opportunity to be up close to document this special day.

I’ll never forget how beautiful their ceremony was! The air was crisp and chilly and the love was palpable.

What a special union. I wish Eduardo and Brenda the best life has to offer. I’m so thankful to have been a witness to their love and commitment on this special day.

Congratulations guys! Cheers to many more years together.

If you are planning an intimate wedding, I’d love to document your special day! My calendar fills up with births on most days but occasionally, I take time to capture special celebrations like this one and place my “on-call life” on hold for a moment. : Click here to send us a message:

xoxo

Norma H