Jessica Riehl Photography Blog » Newborn

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Jessica — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:31:58 +0000

I know this is a sad post, but I think it is important to spread the word about this service. I am a member photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep and recently helped staff a both at the NY state Perinatal Conference in Albany. We had a wonderful opportunity to chat with the doctors, nurses, social workers and nonprofits who help parents and families through the troubling times of a premie birth. A mother who used the service was able to join us to share her experience. NILMDTS is an important service to know about, because there are babies who don’t make it home from the hospital. In speaking about NILMDTS to parents and families, many mothers wish they had images of their child. Many babies don’t receive birth or death certificates, so this is often the only tangible memory from the birth of their child.

We offer a free service to photograph the babies with their families at the hospital or at home if hospice is an option. Families receive a free CD of images and we have recommended at cost labs who can print images so the uncomfortableness of going to Walmart is eliminated. We are all also on call, so we can be at the hospital in a relatively short time. And, there are 8,000 photographers all over the world who donate their time and services. So, we are everywhere!

If you or a friend you know of is in need of the service, please go to the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep website and click on Find A Photographer. Simply email or call a photographer and tell them your situation. They will help you out.

On a positive note, many babies who were photographed go on to live famous and profound lives. They inspire the creation of playgrounds and scholarships, helping those around them live happier lives.

I was very proud to find out that one of my images was used for the national brochure and exhibit. It just reminds me how important these photographs are. They are literally priceless. If you’d like to read an article on Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, please follow this link. You can also visit their website for more information.

Here is the image that was featured on the exhibit:

Here is the photograph that was used in the brochure:

Baby R…the Navy’s newest member!

Jessica — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:00:14 +0000

The Navy welcomed its newest member back in April (I’m catching up on blog posts). So, not quite the newest, but the newest in Ballston Spa! We had a quiet session here at my studio: relaxing, falling asleep, and eating. We tried to do a photo with Dad’s Navy hat, but Ethan was just a little bit too big and fussy by the time we tried. But, his mom (a budding photographer) was able to capture it at home.

{Addyson}

Jessica — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:53:09 +0000

I think baby Addyson has the most beautiful delicate hands I have ever seen on a newborn. She came to visit me in the studio, but wasn’t very happy that day, so we met at the Chesapeake Arboretum to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather. It was a pleasure to meet you Ms. Addyson and welcome our world!

Jessica

{Xavier}

Jessica — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:58:58 +0000

Welcome to Baby Xavier…he was absolutely wonderful for his first photo shoot in the studio and his momma looked wonderful!

{Jac Is Here}

Jessica — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:43:43 +0000

It’s a beautiful day and I am meeting another lovely ray of sunshine. This one has luscious big lips, blond hair, and baby rolls to die for. Jac’s arrived to keep his big sister company and possibly drive her crazy later down the road. I know about this since I’m the oldest. But it’s ok, it all evens out in the end. Jac is such a a beautiful baby, sleeping on the wooly blanket letting me roll him over and undress him. Riley waits for me to get done photographing Jac so she can have me all to herself. She shows me how soft the hydrangea petals feel on her skin. I want to be a little kid all over again so I can experience life just as Riley does.

Welcome Jac. The world has been waiting just for you.

~Jessica

The second image is the slideshow…click on the right and left sides of the image to advance through the images.

[svgallery name="jac"]

{Ryker}

Jessica — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:39:31 +0000

Ryker is softly sleeping in the basket, finally. His little eyes are shut and his hands resting lightly at his side. He was wide awake when his sister held him for the first time, pulling on his ear, feeling his lips, and giving kisses. He cried when April changed his diaper and calmed down with the sound of her heartbeat and a soothing snack. Mike held him tenderly as dads do and we looked at the difference between the size of their hands. There was fuzz between his toes and he still had his umbilical cord, proof he was only 7 days old when I visited. He yawned at the end because being photographed is hard work…all that smiling and sleeping can get to a kid.

Welcome Ryker. We are so glad you are here.

~Jessica

The second image is the slideshow…click on the right and left sides of the image to advance through the images.

[svgallery name="Ryker"]

{Baby Anne}

Jessica — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:37:55 +0000

Welcome to the world, Baby Anne. We are so excited to meet you and so happy you arrived healthy and happy. Although you were a bit big for your momma…9 lbs and 10 ounces! Wowzers!

I had the pleasure to spend some time recently with Baby Anne and her momma, Ryall, who’s maternity images I photographed. Anne is absolutely beautiful, I think we will all agree. It took us sometime to get her to sleep, but once we did, she was out like a light. It was a pleasure to experiment with different baskets, bowls and fabrics to create something truly unique. I think we’ll call it Bebe Art. Anne’s photos were captured when she was barely six days old.

A note on newborn sessions: if you are interested in having your newborn photographed, the best time is the first 7 days while they are still sleepy and flexible. After 2 weeks there is also the possibility of baby acne occuring. When booking a newborn session if you know you are having a c-section or are being induced we will go ahead and set your appointment. If not, then I’ll write your due date in the calendar and once you get home from the hospital you can call me to schedule your appointment. I understand you will be recovering, so we will take your session slowly and keep your movement around the house to a minimum. Most newborn sessions take about 2-3 hours to allow for nursing, diaper changing and lulling to sleep.

Cheers,

Jessica

I love her expresssion...wonder what she's thinking?

This is the dress Ryall and her sister wore on their way home from the hospital.

{In The News}

Jessica — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:09:26 +0000

As many of you know, I work with a non-profit called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. We provide breavement photography to newborn babies who never make it home to the hospital. I don’t talk about it often, because it is a difficult subject to discuss. I was recently able to talk about Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep with Viginia Pilot writer, Elizabeth Simpson. She is a wonderful person and amazing writer and the Virginia Pilot ran an article this past Sunday in the magazine section. If you are interested in reading the article, the link is below.

{Short Lives Remembered}

Cheers,

Jessica

{Baby Joshua}

Jessica — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:20:17 +0000

Baby Joshua has arrived! Isn’t he lovely?

I had a wonderful time spending a couple of hours with Joshua’s family…they are no strangers to JRP and it was such a pleasure to photograph their latest addition. Joshua was so sweet and his big brother Jackson, was a trip. Jackson and I are big pals by now, so he’s no stranger to hamming it up. Joshua slept through most of the session except for when we tried to do naked bum photos. He was not happy about losing his diapers. And as always with newborn sessions, somebody got peed on. It wasn’t me….

Welcome to the big wide world, Joshua and we are so happy that you have arrived healthy and sound.

Cheers,

Jessica