At just 15 days old, sweet baby Oloha came to my newborn photography studio in Odessa, Ontario, just minutes from Kingston, for her first professional portraits. She brought along her family—including a very important big brother—and gave us the most wonderfully peaceful session.
Oloha slept so soundly as we moved through her different setups, barely noticing all the activity happening around her. We captured everything from colourful newborn portraits filled with her family’s favourite shades to soft, simple images that showed off her tiny features. But some of my favourites from the day were the photographs of Oloha and her big brother together, documenting the very beginning of a relationship that will grow right along with them.
For families looking for newborn photography in the Kingston, Ontario area, sessions like Oloha’s are a lovely example of how we can create plenty of variety while keeping the experience comfortable, relaxed and focused on your new baby.
Colourful Newborn Photography with a Personal Touch
Choosing Colours and Details That Feel Like Your Family
Not every newborn photography session needs to be filled with neutrals. Oloha’s family loves colour, so we embraced it!
Yellow, purple and pink brought cheerful pops of colour to her portraits, while cream and white gave us softer, more timeless images to balance the final gallery. We used these colours throughout her blankets and wraps, along with fluffy blue, cream and pink fur that created cozy little places for her to sleep.
One of the things I love about planning newborn photos is being able to make each session look different. Your favourite colours can become the starting point for the entire session, whether you love rich jewel tones, pretty pastels, earthy shades or simple neutrals.
For Oloha, we could move from a sunny yellow setup to a soft cream portrait and then introduce pink or purple without losing the focus on her. Delicate floral and beaded headbands finished some of the looks with just enough detail to frame her little face.
And that really is the goal with newborn styling. The blankets, wraps and accessories should make the photograph beautiful, but when you look at the finished portrait, your baby should always be the first thing you notice.
At 15 days old, Oloha still had all those wonderful newborn details—tiny curled fingers, soft cheeks, sleepy expressions and the ability to somehow look perfectly comfortable tucked into the smallest little spaces. Those were the things worth celebrating.
What Is a Studio Newborn Photography Session Really Like?
A Relaxed Experience for Baby, Parents and Older Siblings
If you’re expecting your second baby, you might be wondering how a newborn session works when an older sibling comes along.
The answer is: we make room for them to be a kid.
My newborn photography studio in Odessa is designed to be comfortable for the entire family, not just the new baby. The studio is kept warm and cozy for newborns, and there are toys available for older children so they don’t have to spend the entire session waiting quietly for their turn in front of the camera.
Oloha’s big brother could play while we concentrated on his little sister and then join us when it was time for sibling photographs. It makes the experience much more relaxed for everyone—and usually makes those sibling portraits easier too.
Meanwhile, Oloha seemed determined to sleep through the whole thing.
She slept so soundlessly nestled into her wraps and blankets that we were able to take our time and photograph her in several different setups. There was no need to rush from one photograph to the next.
That slower pace is an important part of my approach to newborn photography in Kingston, Ontario. Babies don’t know there’s a photography schedule! If they need to eat, we stop. If they need to be cuddled, we cuddle them. If an older sibling needs a snack or a little time to play, that’s perfectly fine too.
My goal is for parents to be able to settle into the studio, watch their baby's portraits being created and enjoy the experience rather than worrying about whether everyone is “cooperating.”
Newborn and Sibling Photos: The Beginning of Their Story Together
One of My Favourite Photographs from Oloha’s Session
I love creating beautiful individual newborn portraits, but there is something about sibling photographs that gets me every time.
Oloha’s big brother had only known his little sister for 15 days.
Think about that for a moment.
Everything about their relationship was brand new, and we had the opportunity to photograph it right at the beginning.
One of my favourite images from the session was their portrait together. It wasn’t simply about getting two children into the same photograph. It was about preserving this tiny window in their lives when Oloha was brand new and her brother was just beginning to discover what it meant to have a little sister.
Someday, these two will have an entire childhood of memories together. They’ll have inside jokes, adventures, arguments, holidays, family traditions and stories their parents will tell over and over again.
But this is where it started.
Those are the photographs that become especially meaningful with time.
I also loved Oloha’s simpler individual portraits. With all the beautiful colours we incorporated into her session, some of my favourites were still the quiet images where she was sound asleep, surrounded by soft texture with nothing distracting from her tiny face.
A professional Kingston baby photographer can give you beautiful photographs of how your newborn looked, but I think the most meaningful galleries also remind you what this season of your family’s life felt like.
For Oloha’s family, that meant a peacefully sleeping new baby, a proud new big brother and the beginning of a completely new chapter together.
Looking for a Newborn Photographer Near Kingston, Ontario?
If you’re expecting a baby and researching newborn photographers in Kingston, Ontario, I’d love to welcome your family to my studio.
Located in Odessa, just minutes from Kingston, my cozy newborn photography studio is designed for babies, parents and older siblings to feel comfortable. We’ll plan your session around colours and styling you love, but more importantly, we’ll make room for the little moments and connections that make your family yours.
Newborns stay this tiny for such a short time. The sleepy expressions, curled-up poses and first interactions between siblings quickly become something you can only remember through photographs.
If you’re expecting, contact me to reserve your newborn photography session and let’s create photographs that tell the beginning of your baby’s story.