welcome to the babysnap photography blog! check back here regularly for sneak peeks from my sessions as well as current news and specials. look below for recents posts and feel free to comment!
I'm Stephanie, wife to my amazing hubby & mom to 5 kids (1 teen and 4 littles). I'm also a photographer of pregnant mamas, newly born babies, adorable kids, and fun families. I'm passionate about being behind my camera and my goal is to give my clients images that show that passion, as well as capture priceless moments for them, before they quickly pass.
stephaniejnsn@msn.com
The underestimated snow storm tried to keep me from Sebastian this weekend, but luckily I was able to get to him today. He was such a sweet little guy, so alert and interested in the camera! He finally decided to snooze for a few sleepy shots too!
Congratulations K & J, enjoy your sneak peek!
Seeing Kylie yesterday was a joy since I met her when she was just days old. She’s such a big girl compared to her 6 month session, talking so much and understanding everything. I just love ONE, they are becoming so independent yet are still babies.
It was so nice to see you guys again C family!! Kylie is so adorable, I love her little furrowed brow best (hopefully I got a shot of that!)
“Umm what do you need photographer lady, can’t you see I’m busy texting??” 
She always crosses her feet, sooo cute!
A three-day weekend with no sessions… very odd, felt weird, and I admit… wonderful. I got to sleep in 3 days in a row, yes my husband is so sweet for giving up his sleep-in day for me. I barely slept from October- December, so I’m enjoying catching up! So having no session to blog, and having a little more time for my brain to think about things other than editing, I find myself having random thoughts. I know no one really cares about my random thoughts, and as soon as I start my new personal blog I’ll post them there, where only my closest people will be forced to read them lol, but I want to document them somewhere so I remember. (And by the way, I found a site where you can publish your blog, which is why I’m starting a personal blog, so that my kids will have it in a book for years to come!) Well anyway, feel free to skip this post.
So anywho, I was thinking of a friend today, who had some free time while all of her kids were in school, and I was so jealous. I sometimes dream of the days when all of my kids will be in school and I can actually do a load of laundry without Felicity getting into something dangerous, when I can edit sessions and place orders during the day and have my evenings free, when I can keep a more organized home, when I can do more sessions during the week and free up my weekends, etc. Then a minute later I got tears in my eyes thinking of my babies being gone all day. I wanted for so long to be a mom, to be pregnant, to have babies… and it’s passing SO fast! I know that when I’m finally home alone, as much as I sometimes long for it when my house is chaos, that I will be so very sad and nostalgic. I sometimes have to look at their little faces and remind myself not to rush them out, not to be thinking of the future so much that I forget to cherish every moment, to remember how MANY years I will have without little ones at home. I tell my kids “don’t rush away your childhood, you don’t need a training bra yet- you’ll hate them later, you don’t want to grow up, it’s hard, there’s plenty of time for everything you want to do later!” I need to listen to myself.
So today I kept my PJs on all day (even when I drove the bigger kids to school), laid on the couch snuggling my little girls for a long time, played outside with them, made them lunch and talked little girl talk with them, how I love them and their wonderful outlook on life. I have over 3 1/2 more years until my youngest goes to Kindergarten, over 3.5 years that I will have to keep my business part-time, work from 8pm-1am alot, say no to coffee dates or workshops during the week that don’t include kids, etc… but I have 16 more years of parenting (more than that really, trust me when I say it doesn’t end at 18 at all!), so I am so thankful that I can spend 3.5 more years at home with my kids all day, doing whatever we want, enjoying something that we will never have again. Sure there are times I feel smothered, like I can’t think a thought or use the bathroom or shower, overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a working SAHM, missing the adult interactions of an office, but then I think of all of the wonderful, amazing things that I’ve experienced during my tenure of being a SAHM (9 years & counting) and I am so thankful for this charge.
Ok well I had a few other random thoughts this week, but my first one kind of consumed my post (oops), so I’ll just put anyone reading this out of their misery. My picture for this post is of my 3 year old Kennedy (she’s on the far right) and three other adorable almost-four-year-olds. A couple of friends & I are having a cute, small birthday party for these four sweet girls. They are all turning 4 in a few weeks. We did a little photo shoot for their invitations. I can’t believe my Kennedy will be 4, that means I can’t call her a toddler anymore right? Ok, I wont start yet another sappy monologue…
Photo courtesy of Rashmi Pappu and the outfits on far left and right are from naartjie
It’s hard to believe it, I remember after she was born, talking about how fun it would be to document her first year of life. How can it be that it’s passed? How lucky have we been this year… me to have a best friend close enough geographically to do regular sessions, and easy-going enough to try anything… her to have a best friend nearby who’s a photographer, and free sessions of her daughter’s first year… it’s been a wonderful trade-off and I imagine one that’s not over yet! So thank you to Rebekah, Josh, & off course Lilla, for an amazing journey- not only have I had the joy of watching her grow in person, but from behind my camera and within my ideas/visions as well.
So here’s just a glimpse of the hundreds of photos of a year in the life of Delilah, starting with her in her mama’s belly, in the hospital hours after birth, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and ending with her today at 13 months old. Happy birthday Lillabug!
Newborn & 6 weeks
3 months & 6 months
6 months
9 months
And one year
About a year ago my husband and I stopped buying foods with DYES, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and most things with Partially Hydrogenated oils. We had a learning period where we had to read tons of labels, but now we have our regular items that we know are ok to buy. That was our first step in this journey. I also stopped buying canned veggies and started buying fresh or frozen. I want to buy all whole foods and organic foods, but with a family of 7 I have to be careful with my budget. So I chose the most important things and started there. I do buy organic milk, not only because I have 4 girls and don’t want them sprouting boobs at 9, but also because I’ve heard things about milk that make me gag. My goal is to buy milk from a farm, but I haven’t gotten that far yet. Extreme? Maybe some people think so, but I think “extreme” describes the crap that we have become accustomed to eating.
For months now I’ve been getting more and more grossed out by food. After finding a hair on my McDonalds french fry, and hearing a report about the germs found in their ice machines, I gave Mickey D’s up completely. We were probably grabbing it once a week, and I feel great now that it’s gone from our bodies! When I’m out with the kids and everyone is getting hungry, I try to get home to foods I can control. If that’s not possible, I try to grab something less gross. By the way “white meat” does not mean “breast meat”.
Lately I’ve also been talking with friends who know more about this, reading information, and just simply thinking about things I have probably tried not to think about for years. Just reading the labels on some packaged foods is crazy, what IS all of that??? And we wonder why Americans’ health is so bad overall- obesity, allergies, diabetes, etc, this junk has to play a role in all of that. My own daughter has severe seasonal and food allergies and we have no idea why or where they came from. My goal is not perfection, it is just to do my best at giving my family real food to eat, not processed food filled with dyes, additives, JUNK! I still have a lot to learn, it’s a process.
PLEASE WATCH THIS TRAILER if you haven’t already. It’s just a few minutes and the last statement from a farmer is the most profound to me, so you have to watch the whole thing!! It’s so worth it and will get your brain working! Don’t be afraid of the knowledge, watch it! Lol! (there’s nothing gross in it)
I just love working with first time expectant parents. The new equipment purchased but not yet assembled, the brand new nursery and closet full of tiny apparel, the bags packed in preparation to go to the hospital… it all just makes me so nostalgic. What a precious time this is and how quickly it all flies by! I enjoyed hanging out with this gorgeous couple today, and helping them preserve these moments so that they can look back when they have many little ones running around (ok ok, maybe not as many as me lol).
Enjoy your sneak peek S family, many more to come & I can’t wait to meet Asher!
36 weeks prego and braved the freezing cold for a few shots in the snow! My kinda gal!
Audrey was my first session in 2009 and my second session in 2010! It was so great to see her again, see how much she’s changed and grown since her newborn and 6 month sessions! Her sweet 1-year-old babble is so cute and the face she makes when she concentrates, adorable!
Happy birthday Audrey Cate!!
I started my new year with little Jackson and his parents. He wanted to party for a couple of hours but finally crashed! It was great to see these new parents again after getting to know them at their maternity session. I just love Jackson’s soft fuzzy hair, sooo cute!
Congratulations B family! Enjoy your sneak peek!
Today I went out to run some errands and I was reflecting on the last year and my business (I think I was thinking about taxes (UGH) which led me to this lol). Anyway, I was thinking about what a huge year of growth this was for my business, it’s HARD to run a business!! For anyone who is considering it, go for it but know that it’s not all fun & games. For example, if you love taking pictures and you have that “touch” and decide to bring in some extra cash doing something you love, just be ready for the hours and hours you will spend on the business-side of your business. I had NO idea what I was getting into, and THREE YEARS later… I made a profit. I guess most businesses work that way, you invest a lot of time & money before you are rewarded. You learn along the way, make mistakes and fix them, grow and eventually (hopefully) prosper. I feel very comfortable behind the camera, but not so much being a business woman lol!
So onto the point of my post. As I was thinking of all of this, I realized that it wasn’t just my “good eye” or a new camera or lens that made this a good year for me. It was a group of colleagues (mostly women now that I think about it), other local photographers who I met and grew very close with, that made the biggest impact on me this year. It’s funny because there could be competitiveness between us, we could be rivals right? I mean, we are competitors technically… but we all have our own styles, niches, ideas, & goals. And most of all, the desire to help others and have a fellowship amongst ourselves rather than try to be better than each other. This is long, so I hope I don’t lose my readers here LOL!
I want to thank these friends and fellow photographers, for PUSHING me, CHALLENGING me, TEACHING me, gently GUIDING me, and sometimes hitting me over the head with a brick, haha. (click on their names to see their amazing work)
Thank you to Willow for your help & company on this journey (and the brick) and for loaning me your speedlite a billion times (as well as other things)- I will miss your company & personality far more than your flash when you move! 
Thank you to Julia for a TON of great advice, opening your home to us, and for helping me get started with Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Thanks to Rashmi for always answering my questions, giving me great advice, & a killer holiday party. Thanks to Ingrid for the speedlite lessons, great pictures of my kids, & many hilarious times (like IKEA & Christmas sweaters!). Thank you Marta for answering my questions also, hooking me up with local locations, yummy yarn, editing tips, & playdates. Thanks to Susan for the newborn referrals, great convos, & crazy night out. Thanks Erin for comparing business notes with me and being my roomie at WPPI (woot woot!). Thanks to Stacy for your friendship as we figure this all out and to Tiffani, Tisha, & Armin for great workshops! Thanks to my brother (not local but still so important) Aaron, who always helps me and has my back! And lastly (I know she thinks I skipped her) thank you sooooo much to my buddy Beth from Sugar Rush Photography for the THOUSANDS of emails back and forth (I’m not exaggerating) brainstorming and bouncing ideas off of each other, for the shoulder to whine on when needed, for being the second shooter when I was panicked, for pushing me when I needed a push, and for just being my partner-in-crime on this road of business-ownership! And others who I have so enjoyed getting to know this year, esp in the SS/PNO group! I love all of you guys and in addition to the business help, I appreciate your friendship so much!!
In the same nature of all of the guidance I have received, I always try to pay it forward.
I just simply marvel at the generosity and altruism of a group of people who could be rivals, but instead are friends. XOXO
And some snaps of us (3 of these were taken by Ingrid Kaslik, always documenting she is)
I’m so excited for 2010! I’m working on my resolutions and they will be very doable so I plan to accomplish them all! 
Happy New Year to you all! May 2010 bring you peace, health, prosperity, love, & joy as well as patience, hope, compassion, kindness, tolerance, an open mind, and an open heart. <3 It’s so important that we cherish other human beings, from all walks of life! Blessings to each one of you!
I looked around my hard drive for a profound image to post tonight, and then thought my last session of 2009- a newborn session- would be appropriate. What else better represents a fresh new year/start than a new life?!
So I haven’t been to a session or touched photoshop in 2 solid weeks! It’s been GLORIOUS!! I do have one session I need to finish editing and then I’m off for the rest of this week! Then back to photographing my wonderful clients starting January 2nd!
Am I the only one who has a little post-Christmas letdown? At least my hubby is home all week so it’s still vacation! Hope everyone had a wonder holiday!!
Whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year, Happy Holidays to you from BabySnap Photography! I’m soooo excited to spend the next 10 days with my family, seeing my kids faces Christmas morning, playing Wii and board games, baking cookies and cake balls, eating a ton, and just soaking in all that is family!
… are found in this slideshow! It’s been so wonderful to meet and spend time with all of you. I am truly touched by each family I work with, I love all of the different faces, personalities, family dynamics & interactions. I feel so lucky to be able to give you a small moment in time, captured so that you may remember more clearly…
For the 2009 slideshow, I picked some client favorites, as well as some of MY favorites that may not have made it to the blog or website yet. Enjoy!
How amazing that I’m wrapping up my third year as owner of BabySnap Photography. How blessed I feel reflecting on this journey, realizing that not only do I get to be a mom (my biggest dream, top priority, & most loved job ever), but I’m also a photographer. Many photographers say that they’ve had a camera in their hands their whole life, it sounds cliche I know, but true for many of us. When I don’t pick up my camera for days or a week, I start to feel withdrawals, a true ache in my soul, it’s weird. It will preoccupy me until I find the time to grab it and shoot something, usually my kids. Those moments are when I know that my passion is still alive, even though I get bogged down in the “business”, in making sure I get the shots my clients want, making sure I answer all emails/calls in a timely manner, staying up until 1am in photoshop, filing & paying my monthly taxes (it’s not just “making money doing something I love” like I once thought, not that simple)… but underneath the tasks of being a business owner is my passion for a camera. That’s what makes me so lucky to have this photographer job, I get to have TWO jobs that I love. A mom & a photographer.
Ok so the original point of blogging tonight was lost when I slipped into my sentiments, so let me get back on track…
BabySnap pricing will be changing a little for 2010 so for the rest of December, if you book your 2010 session (”book” means schedule your session and pay your session fee), you will be locked in to 2009 prices. So get your calendar out and save a few bucks. I’m so excited to see where 2010 will take BabySnap! Look for blog posts soon with a session giveaway for a needy family, as well as a 2009 slideshow!
These pictures were taken the day my husband and I “attempted” to get a holiday picture of our kids. There was frustration, yelling, and laughing (much like my clients’ sessions haha), but I got a few I like. These 2 are just for fun, the big one is out of focus but I don’t care (and when it’s my own kids I don’t have to care!), and the smaller one is pretty much how the “session” went (my little one Felicity looks like she’s saying ROCK ON! while my oldest looks concerned).
This was my last session of 2009! I’m not taking anymore sessions this year, as I need the next couple of weeks to catch up on orders and most importantly spend time with my family. I can’t wait to bake cookies with my kids, build gingerbread houses, and play Wii Rockband! I’ll still be around and returning calls and emails though!
So onto Lillie… she was so cute with her spiky light brown hair and sweet little sounds. I enjoyed spending time with her parents and even some extended family members (and the cable guy who had sweat pouring since we had the heat up to 85 or so, poor guy heehee). Congratulations again R family, Lillie is beautiful!
I knit this candy-cane hat the night before our session since she’s a December baby!
1.5 sessions to edit, then one more session this weekend and I’m done for 2009. Once orders are done, I’m using the time to catch up on the business side of my business and spend TONS of time with my family. They think I ran away for the past 6 weeks! I can’t wait to play Wii!
Tonight I had to post another image from this session, I’m swooning over the tenderness…
Started editing this session tonight and this was the very first image I opened- knew it had to be my blog post for the day. These kind of images make me giddy, a man and his baby, sooooo sweet!
No time for words tonight, just a couple more favorites as I’m an editing maniac. Happy Monday!
In my family, we celebrate the religious meaning of Christmas, and incorporate gifts into it as a celebration. So Santa is a part of it, and he’s a HUGE deal here! I get giddy just thinking about him coming, and don’t let me watch The Polar Express or I’ll get all sentimental. The excitement, the magic, the mystery… all such a sweet part of childhood (and adulthood in my case). I can’t wait to see my kids’ faces when they see the cookie plate- I guess I’ll always hear the bell ring…
As I’m editing, wanted to share this cutie!
23 days until the reindeer fly into town! Dasher & Dancer aren’t as cute as this guy is though! Happy December everyone!
I love and hate December. Love the “feeling” of the holiday spirit, the music, the magic. Hate the rush, the rude people like the lady that almost ran me over tonight, who forget about the holiday spirit, scrooges! We’ll just focus on the nice people though! And adorable newborn reindeer babies!
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