We all love those perfectly posed and beautifully styled newborn photos.  Many would say “well, that’s easy.  The baby is sleeping in those photos and you can move and dress them however you wish.”  But that assumption can’t be any further from the truth.  Through this article, I would like to describe the reality of how newborn photo sessions are conducted and some of the challenges we face.  Hopefully this will help parents gain a better understanding and have a much more enjoyable session.

It is almost certain that the baby will cry at some point during the session.  Especially when we are trying for those cute and curvy-posed types of photos.  Ideally, the baby is in deep sleep and we can move and style the little angel freely.  But it normally does not work like that.  Every slight move of the baby wakes them up and each baby behaves differently when they are being disrupted.  Oftentimes, babies cry for a short few seconds while they are being adjusted into a pose.  We usually give them a little massage to help calm them down and they fall right back to sleep quickly.  If crying resumes, we pick the baby up and hold them until they fall back to sleep.  This process can repeat itself many times over and I understand when the parents instinct to protect their baby and may be worried or even concerned the cries becomes more frequent and louder.  However, staying calm and having patience is the best way to calm your baby.   My team has over 5 years of experience handling newborns and small children and we place your baby’s safety and comfort as our top priority.  Let’s try not to be overly worried first; if you really don’t feel comfortable with the process, please let us know and we are more than happy to stop at anytime.  

For each session, we aim to try for at least 3 different styles for the newborn photos and also some family portraits.  Another challenge exists if you have toddlers and/or multiple children.  We have to keep the toddlers engaged and the newborns calm simultaneously for the photos to turn out perfectly.  We’re also mindful that newborns have very frequent feeding and diaper changing schedules and we work accordingly to seize those precious free moments we have in between.  Consequently, a standard newborn session can easily run up to 3 hours.

Each session requires a good team on all sides – we should all stay calm and try to relax.  The best photos are captured when everyone is genuinely having a good time and with minimal stress involved.

I hope by now you have gained a clear idea of the challenges we face during the newborn sessions.  Have a little faith in yourself and us – together we can create the most amazing photos that your family will treasure forever.  Want to know more?  Give me a shout and I’m happy to answer all of your questions.

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer (previous post)

The post What if my baby cries during the newborn photo session? appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

My favorite time of the year is here!  The magical season is making everyone so happy.  Recently, I revisited a lot of moms who just have their second or third child.  It’s always exciting to meet their older child/children again years after meeting them the first time when they were a few days old.  I really want to thank you all for sharing your happiest moments with me years after years.

Besides earning the big trust from my repeating clients, there are two more exciting news of this year I want to share. First, byJanelle photography is being featured on three leading publications in Hong Kong – Time Out Family, Expatliving and Sassymama. 

Second, I have a new team member Stella who is a certified nanny.  Stella is very experienced with newborns and she has taken care of her grandson since day 1 who is now 6 years old!  As we all know, newborns are very unpredictable and sometimes the newborn session does not always go as smooth as we plan it.  Having Stella on board is a big plus for me and you (parents!).  She’s so excellent at calming a crying baby and she also loves to share her tips on taking care of newborns.  Don’t be shy – you can ask her anything next time when you see her.  Stella also has a photography background. Her father-in-law is a famous photographer in Hong Kong and Stella used to assist him.  Aren’t we lucky?

I feel blessed for being able to work with so many amazing people. Thank you again for your big support.  A friendly reminder – booking for the first half of 2017 are filling up fast. Contact me now to lock in your ideal date for your next photo session.

Follow me on Instagram (@byjanelle_photography) and facebook page (facebook.com/byjanelle.net) for more instant updates. 

Wishing you all a wonderful year in 2017!

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer (previous post)

The post Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

On top of that, my article is also being published on the Sassy Mama’s website! Come check it out – Top 5 Tips To Prepare For A Newborn Photography Session.

Thank you Sassy Mama for such an amazing opportunity and it feels warm to be a part of this loving community.

The post Thank you Sassy Mama – Newborn Photography appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

I did a little research on newborn jaundice and here is what I learnt – apparently most newborn babies have jaundice in the first few weeks and some are more noticeable than others.  Jaundice causes the skin to look yellowish because of the high levels of pigment in the blood called bilirubin. During pregnancy, mother’s liver eliminate bilirubin for her baby. After birth, newborn baby’s liver has not yet fully developed to remove bilirubin on their own. Therefore, pigments build up to cause the yellowish problem on their skin. That’s one of the most common reasons for newborn jaundice.

The ideal age to photograph a newborn is between 7 and 14 days old. Newborns sleep more deeply at this age and have greater flexibility and ease of posture. Since mild newborn jaundice will not affect the photo quality in most cases and I can correct the yellowish skin color in post production, it’s not necessary to postpone a newborn session.

I understand every situation is different. For newborns with more severe jaundice, treatments are required in the first few weeks. Don’t worry, older newborn photos can be equality (if not more) as cute and precious.

We take no more than 3 bookings per week to ensure the best photo quality and provide a more flexible schedule for every family. Book early today to secure your slot and start sharing your family story with us (contact).

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer 

The post Should I postpone the newborn photo session if my baby has newborn jaundice? appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

Year 2015 went by like a blink of an eye. I didn’t even have time for a wrap up earlier.  So much had happened in 2015 – a lot of traveling, work was unexpectedly busy and I had learned to face a lot of new challeges (I’d like to see it mostly good, haha!). Two highlights I would like to mention. First, THANK YOU! YES! YOU! MY AUDIENCE! I honesty didn’t expect how many of you had actually read my blog before reaching out to me. You always put a smile on my face when I see your emails/texts/calls that how much you like my photos AND my blog. THANK YOU! Every time I see your comments, it motives me and I know the fact that I’m not the only audience to my blog Second, following your passion and doing what you absolute love every
day is truly amazing. To me, you know what that is. My photography work has inspired a close friend of mine on turning her habit/passion into something bigger! I’m very blessed to have friends who I can share my happiness from photography and through that I inspire others on pursuing their own passions.

Moving forward 2016,  I’ll continue on my mission to meet more newborn babies in town and re-meet all the familiar faces again. It’s always great to re-meet the baby 6  to 9 months after I have taken their newborn photos. They always surprise me how fast they grow but their facial expressions always remain the same!

We are luck that having a pretty warm winter this year. I found the weather is quite perfect for taking some outdoor family photo. Wanna explore some beautiful outdoor places in Hong Kong with me? Contact me to schedule

your next photo session! Looking forward to hearing from you and Happy 2016!

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer .

The post Happy New Year! – Family Photography Hong Kong appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

 A year ago, my one and only sister gave birth to this chubby-chub cutie.  Time just flies too quickly. I feel like that was not long ago when I took some newborn photos of my niece. She can now walk, mumble a few words and fight for toys with her older brother. Wow! Quite a lot of achievements. haha! Alright, I let the cutie pie shows you her transformation!

Happy 1st Birthday to you, my beautiful niece! Wishing you a good health and a life full of happiness. Love, Autie Janelle

The post Happy Birthday to our beautiful princess appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

Newborn Photography

The ideal age to photograph a newborn is between 7 and 14 days old. Newborns sleep more deeply at this age and have greater flexibility and ease of posture. We also want to avoid any potential instances of newborn acne which usually flares up between  2 and 3 weeks of age.

3 months Baby Photography

At this juncture, the babies’ neck and upper-body strength start to develop.  One of the best ways to photograph 3 months old babies is to have them lying on their stomach. They are now able to support their head and chest with their arms, but not yet able to turn their body on their own. This being the case, the baby is able to stay still for some cute photos.

6 months Baby Photography

The ability to roll has usually arrived by now! Not only can babies now roll from their backs to their stomach and back again, they can also rise up on their hands and knees. Typically 6 month old baby photos feature a lot more action, movement and poses compared to earlier ages.

9 months Baby Photography

The crawler is here! Starting at this age onwards, it’s all about the chase They can now crawl, sit, roll and change into any positions easily. It’s a lot more challenging to pose the baby now. The best shots are often spontaneous where we let the babies be and just have fun! 

Every moment of your baby’s first 9 months is special. Capture those memories forever! Speak to your photographer early to ensure you have all the precious moments covered!

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer

The post Newborn vs baby photography (3, 6 and 9 months) appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer

The post Happy Mother’s Day! appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

I’m asked quite often about how I took the leap of faith to become a full time photographer. Hmmm… there is no short answer for that, but I’d say fulfillment plays a big part. I enjoy every single bit of my work. All of your love stories and life stories are fascinating, and your parenting tips will come in handy to me one day ! And the stratification from seeing every one of you having a great time shooting with me and loving the photos is priceless. I do have doubts about myself when work isn’t going the way I want it to. But I always (try to) keep in mind that staying focused and being positive is the way to success!

On a personal note – a lot of new and old faces have walked into / back into my life lately. The last few months haven’t been easy, and I want to say thank you to the ones who have held my hand through this. Some people just completely surprise me, and you all play an important part of my story.  Tyra, your wit and wisdom shocks me! Janice, you always gets my back! <3

The humid spring of Hong Kong has officially arrived but nothing stops us to go outdoors and have some fun. The backdrop of the old street scene of Hong Kong in Central, the beach and the park are just a few options for your stunning outdoor maternity photography session. Share your amazing ideas with me, and we’ll spend a fun afternoon together!

Weekends in April and May are filling up quickly! Book your session now!

Some more maternity photos to share – http://byjanelle.net/myarts/bellies/

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer (previous post)

The post Maternity Photography – I love Hong Kong! appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.

The post Baby Photography – Photojournalism appeared first on Hong Kong Newborn & Family Photographer.