Hannah Drews Photography is now featured on Thumbtack! This is an internet marketplace where clients can search for local services and read reviews from previous clients. Hopefully Thumbtack will bring in some new smiling faces for Hannah Drews Photography!
Thumbtack
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
Kinzie Bridge Fashion Shoot- Chicago Photographer
I am always on the lookout for a new photo shoot location, and when I visited the Merchandise Mart the other week, I saw the view from the Kinzie bridge and knew I had to do a shoot there asap. Luckily, I have a wonderful friend (and natural model) who writes for a fashion blog and was looking to take some portraits for an upcoming post. She wore a perfectly chic outfit that matched the gritty cityscape and bridge graffiti. Check out her blog, 2girlsin2cities, for great fashion inspiration and great DIY projects.
If any high school seniors are looking for a unique portrait location, contact me to book your Kinzie Bridge/Downtown Chicago session this spring!
If any high school seniors are looking for a unique portrait location, contact me to book your Kinzie Bridge/Downtown Chicago session this spring!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Hello, Lyla! - Chicago Newborn Baby Photographer
Sessions like this one remind me just how wonderful this job can be. I am so lucky to be able to go into my client's homes and meet their newest family members, sometimes only a few days after being born, and leave feeling like I have created new friendships. This session was so much fun because not only did I get to photography a sweet 4 day old baby girl, but I also got to shoot her older brother who was not quite one year old. Hudson was such a charmer, and very quick to smile which made my job very easy. Lyla was wide awake for the first 30 minutes of the session, but once she gave in to the tiredness, she was out for the next couple hours. The little car and trailer was such a cute idea, and I am sure these siblings will become great friends in the coming years. Welcome to the world, Lyla, and happy first birthday, Hudson!
Hello, Percy! - Chicago Newborn Baby Photographer
Little Percy decided to come 5 weeks early and surprise his family in time for Christmas (and in time for that week of freeezing cold & snow in Chicago!). The day of Percy's newborn photo session, he was already a few weeks old, so he was very aware of my lens and the sounds of my camera. He was such a sweet boy, and spent most of the time wide-eyed and quiet, just taking everything in.
Percy was my first little client to try out my up-cycled newborn pants and although he was kind of swimming in them, I still think they are adorable. Welcome to the world, Percy!
Percy was my first little client to try out my up-cycled newborn pants and although he was kind of swimming in them, I still think they are adorable. Welcome to the world, Percy!
Monday, January 6, 2014
DIY: Newborn Photography Prop- Upcycled Pants and Hat Set Tutorial - Chicago Newborn Photographer
One of my new year's resolutions is to create more handmade photography props as well as blog at least once a week. Here's to killing two birds with one stone!
Starting out as a newborn photographer, it quickly became clear that this is a very expensive business and requires a hefty investment. A simple newborn set-up includes a custom beanbag, backdrop stand, backdrop blankets, baskets, wraps, hats, and headbands. Not to mention the professional photography equipment! I have always loved crafts and if I see something that looks possible to recreate, I will try my hand at it before shelling out lots of money (most sets start around $45!). So when I started seeing sweet little pants in newborn portraits, I knew I had to find a way to make them and incorporate them in my own sessions.
First, I headed to a local thrift store to find a few sweaters (or you could just go digging around your closet). I ended up buying 3 sweaters made from different materials for a whopping $9.oo!
The hat was very very simple. I cut a sleeve off a sweater, turned it inside out, sewed up the edge, turned it back, and used some yarn to tie it closed. That. Was. It.
Go make yourself some newborn hats!
Now for the pants:
Turn the fabric wrong side out and pin all around the edges. Sew the length of the leg with about 1/4" seam allowance. Then sew along the U-shape to form the legs. I recommend testing out your sewing machine with the one inch wide strip to get your settings correct before beginning on the pants. In order to form the waistband, fold down the top edge about 3/4" and pin. I would wrap whatever string, yarn, or elastic you want for the drawstring around the waist before sewing. It was much easier than trying to feed a thin piece of yarn through after the waistband was already formed.
Turn your work right side out, and don't mind the strangely wide waist, it will get synched up in a moment. Poke to small holes in the waistband and pull out both sides of your drawstring, tightening the waist. Take a moment to marvel at your handiwork! You can stop here and have a delightfully cute newborn prop, or take it to another crafty level and find some scrap fabric to sew on little pockets, knee patches, or ruffles!
Thanks to little premie Percy for being my first model :-)
I would love to see the pants you create! Feel free to post a link to your photo page so we can see the props in action.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Happy Holidays! Year in Review - Chicago Newborn and Family Photographer
Aren't the holidays always a whirlwind?? I spent a lovely week in Michigan with my family and was able to take some cute shots of my sister and niece in a snowball fight, and also had waaaay to many cookies and pieces of pie!
I also had the whole week off to look forward to the new year and to brainstorm ideas to improve my business in 2014. I am going to focus more on newborns as well as offer some great canvas and print package options. There will also be a mini session sometime around Valentine's Day, so keep an eye on the blog and facebook page for more info :-)
Here are some of my favorite images from 2013 and I look forward to meeting lots of new little babies and creating lasting relationships with families. Happy New Year!
I also had the whole week off to look forward to the new year and to brainstorm ideas to improve my business in 2014. I am going to focus more on newborns as well as offer some great canvas and print package options. There will also be a mini session sometime around Valentine's Day, so keep an eye on the blog and facebook page for more info :-)
Here are some of my favorite images from 2013 and I look forward to meeting lots of new little babies and creating lasting relationships with families. Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 7, 2013
My 3 Best Secrets For Getting Newborn Babies to Sleep - Chicago Newborn Baby Photographer
I absolutely love newborn sessions. I get my baby fix and am able to create beautiful images for my clients. I have always been pretty good with kids and babies, but trying to photograph newborns is a whole different game.
One of my first sessions was a bit of a disaster- the baby would not fall asleep, so creating those cute little squishy poses was out of the question. The mom and I tried wrapping, swaying, bouncing, feeding, burping, you name it and this little girl was not going to sleep. It took almost 2 hours before she finally wore her self out and slept. For fifteen minutes. This is what we all felt like by the end:
I tried to view that session as a learning experience and then threw myself into gaining as much information about newborn photography as possible. Over the following months, I watched countless tutorials, read blogs and articles about newborn safety, joined facebook groups, and had many new little clients along the way.
Here are my 3 best secrets for getting newborns to sleep during a photo shoot:
1. Turn up the HEAT! Ideally, you want the studio to be around 80-85 degrees and have a space heater nearby for added warmth. Not sure your room is warm enough? Spend a few minutes in the studio prepping and organizing your props. If you start sweating, baby is likely to be a happy client.
Be sure to tell the parents that the room will be very warm so they can plan their wardrobe accordingly. Breastfeeding moms are more easily dehydrated so always offer something to drink when the session starts. (I always have a pitcher of lemon water or Vitamin Water handy)
2. HUSH little baby. While babies are in the womb they become accustomed to all sorts of sounds- heartbeat, digestion, mom's voice, etc. Once they are born, white noise can be extremely calming, especially those that mimic the sounds they have heard for the past 9 months. I use the white noise baby app, and keep it on for the entire session. I usually have it on my phone and place it under the blankets or behind whatever prop the baby is in. A shushing sound also works wonders, and don't be afraid to get kind of loud. "SHHHHH" near the baby's ear can be very relaxing to a fussy newborn.
3. Take a breath and RELAX. Babies are great at picking up queues in their environment, including stress and tension. When mom and dad (or you) are stressed, the baby will certainly sense that and show her frustration. New parents are understandably a little tense when they are asked to hand over their most precious cargo, but try to reassure them that the baby is in good hands. Make sure you have seating nearby so their little one is always in sight. I usually have mom sit in for the first couple poses so she is comfortable and then suggest that she go relax on the couch, catch up on some sleep, watch tv, or whatever she has been missing the last week since the baby was born. I have had quite a few moms take me up on my napping offer :-)
Every newborn photographer has had a session where the baby just does not want to sleep. Mom says something like "He is never like this!" and the frustration keeps growing. Take a moment to think about how you can make the environment more calm and soothing for everyone and the session will go smoother. While each baby is unique, the advice above can be applied in almost every session and will help you to create images that the family will cherish forever!
One of my first sessions was a bit of a disaster- the baby would not fall asleep, so creating those cute little squishy poses was out of the question. The mom and I tried wrapping, swaying, bouncing, feeding, burping, you name it and this little girl was not going to sleep. It took almost 2 hours before she finally wore her self out and slept. For fifteen minutes. This is what we all felt like by the end:
I tried to view that session as a learning experience and then threw myself into gaining as much information about newborn photography as possible. Over the following months, I watched countless tutorials, read blogs and articles about newborn safety, joined facebook groups, and had many new little clients along the way.
Here are my 3 best secrets for getting newborns to sleep during a photo shoot:
1. Turn up the HEAT! Ideally, you want the studio to be around 80-85 degrees and have a space heater nearby for added warmth. Not sure your room is warm enough? Spend a few minutes in the studio prepping and organizing your props. If you start sweating, baby is likely to be a happy client.
Be sure to tell the parents that the room will be very warm so they can plan their wardrobe accordingly. Breastfeeding moms are more easily dehydrated so always offer something to drink when the session starts. (I always have a pitcher of lemon water or Vitamin Water handy)
2. HUSH little baby. While babies are in the womb they become accustomed to all sorts of sounds- heartbeat, digestion, mom's voice, etc. Once they are born, white noise can be extremely calming, especially those that mimic the sounds they have heard for the past 9 months. I use the white noise baby app, and keep it on for the entire session. I usually have it on my phone and place it under the blankets or behind whatever prop the baby is in. A shushing sound also works wonders, and don't be afraid to get kind of loud. "SHHHHH" near the baby's ear can be very relaxing to a fussy newborn.
3. Take a breath and RELAX. Babies are great at picking up queues in their environment, including stress and tension. When mom and dad (or you) are stressed, the baby will certainly sense that and show her frustration. New parents are understandably a little tense when they are asked to hand over their most precious cargo, but try to reassure them that the baby is in good hands. Make sure you have seating nearby so their little one is always in sight. I usually have mom sit in for the first couple poses so she is comfortable and then suggest that she go relax on the couch, catch up on some sleep, watch tv, or whatever she has been missing the last week since the baby was born. I have had quite a few moms take me up on my napping offer :-)
Every newborn photographer has had a session where the baby just does not want to sleep. Mom says something like "He is never like this!" and the frustration keeps growing. Take a moment to think about how you can make the environment more calm and soothing for everyone and the session will go smoother. While each baby is unique, the advice above can be applied in almost every session and will help you to create images that the family will cherish forever!
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