After nearly 100 photography sessions, our 2022 is coming to an end. We have a few more sessions left before the official end of the year. But, I figured now is a good time to slow down for a moment and reflect on the journey Ani Portraits has taken the past twelve months, share some updates of what's coming in 2023, and some of our favorite blooper moments and photographs of 2022.
Goodbye 2022, Hello 2023
I had so much fun photographing everyone this year. There were so many special moments, creative photoshoots, kind people, and silly babies that it's hard to mention them all and compiling a collection of my favorite portraits for this blog was a definite challenge.
Rolls, rolls, and more rolls! If I've photographed your little one, you know how much I love those adorable rolls. Honestly, all their details are incredibly precious from their big doe eyes to their squishy cheeks. Even their tiny eyelashes are so cute, which is why I make it a priority to capture all those charming details during my baby photography sessions. Not only that, but each kiddo has a completely unique personality to showcase. Some are more mellow and others are little firecrackers. Babies like to keep me on my toes, that's for sure.
Over the course of the year, I've witnessed babies dive face first into their birthday cakes, shove fingers up their noses, try to tug their ears off, and just about everything in between. (Be sure to check the end of the blog for this year's silliest photos). There's never a dull moment when you work with little ones. At times, even my sides hurt by the end of a baby portrait session from laughing so hard.
With newborn photography sessions, there aren't as many silly instants, but there are still lots of rolls, sweet moments, and no shortage of potty outtakes. Cleaning supplies and baby wipes at the studio are always needed as diapers are usually not part of my newborn sessions. One of the most memorable newborn bloopers this year involved a major cleanup of my camera and prop carts. Since then, I've learned to always be aware of how I'm holding the baby and where their bottom is pointing at. After so many years, and so many potty accidents, I still sometimes forget to bring a change of clothing with me... you'd think I would know better by now.
Newborn sessions are usually the most difficult and take the most time and dedication. Don't be fooled by all the cute sleepy photos. There's a lot of soothing and feeding breaks involved in-between takes that allow us to get the perfect shot. This is where I like to capture the delicate features and wrap them up in those adorable womb-like poses we all love. In 2022, some of my favorite newborn sessions included sweet mom and baby moments, wrapping them up into little heart shapes, dressing them in sleepy hats, and capturing those beautiful detail shots. Of course my top requested poses are my "hand shots" and "placenta" wraps.
Maternity portraits are one of my favorite genres to photograph and are a bit different than working with kiddos. Making a woman feel beautiful and confident during a stage of life that can be filled with big changes, challenges, and often discomfort is one of my job's greatest rewards. Sometimes expecting moms come to me feeling nervous, especially when it's their first professional photography session, but once they see the back of the camera and we crack some jokes, they forget they're in a portrait studio. They leave feeling like goddesses with a big smile on their face.
It’s also such a blast playing with fabrics, clothing, and lighting to create these stunning looks. It's like the ultimate dress-up party. This year classic looks like sleek dresses, flowing fabric, jeans, and loose tops were popular choices as always. I had some brave moms-to-be let me explore new ideas such as motion blur, floral arrangements, body glitter, dance movements, and other out of the box styling choices, which was a lot of fun! I love being able to capture portraits that reflect my subject’s personality and natural beauty. As said by one of my recent maternity clients, Carolyn Husa, "To me, these photographs are empowering.” And I can't wait to continue empowering many more women in the future!
Speaking of the future... Ani Portraits has some BIG things planned for 2023. A studio overhaul has been on my list for a while and I’m finally ready to make it happen. I will be redesigning and modifying the studio space to provide an even better experience for clients. I plan to build some updates that allow a bigger playground for inspiration and the freedom to explore different styles and techniques. Of course, the client space too will receive some TLC with updated samples showcasing new products I’ll soon be introducing. These products will include stunning luxury wall art with more customizable design options.
Also, since I’m always looking for ways to be more creative, I plan to start a fine art portrait line for children ages 3 and older. Often we focus on documenting all the adorable milestones that occur during the first few years of life, but I've noticed once kids go to school, their school photos take over and fine art portraits are forgotten. I feel children deserve beautiful, artistic portraits to remember their childhood by, even during those awkward phases.
Lastly, I would like to thank all my wonderful clients who have been a bright spot in my life this year. You’ve given me so much joy, inspired me, and reminded me why I love my craft. I’m beyond excited to see many of you return to the photo studio next year with your newborns and little ones. Watching your families grow and seeing your babies blossom into young toddlers with animated personalities is one of the many joys of my job as a photographer. I hope to see many of you at my refreshed studio in 2023 :)
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