Casual Newborn Session with Twins in Hampden

Crystal and Renee live in a cozy little row house in Hampden with exposed brick, beautiful hardwood floors, and charming stained glass windows. I love that the aesthetic of in-home sessions is always defined by the style of a person's home. Some homes are bright and airy, some are patterned and colorful, but this special home lent a warm, glowing quality to the photos. Since life with twin newborns is all about snuggling, that's what I asked these sweet mamas to do. Not surprisingly, we mixed things up with burping, feeding, and a whole lot of giggling at all the adorable smiles and coos. Relaxed, low-key newborn photography is my favorite. 

Pierce's Park Family Session with Brothers

Diana and her boys met me at one of their favorite downtown Baltimore playgrounds, Pierce's Park. If you're local and have never been there, get on it! This was my first visit and I was totally blown away. It's a unique mix of giant interactive sculpture, a music garden, and luscious landscaping. I also love this location because you can see the beautiful architecture of some famous Baltimore landmarks off in the distance. The boys came dressed in dragon wings and- like all devoted moms- Diana showed up lugging a couple scooters and helmets and very likely snacks and band-aids in her backpack. We had so much fun running through the willow tunnel and pretending to fly.

Photographing kids in their element means following their lead, getting down on their level, and occasionally enticing them into situations where they're cuddling up on mom. (That often takes creativity, since running around independently is pretty exciting!) I asked Diana to sit still, close her eyes, and gave the boys the "secret" task of running up from behind and tickling her. And as our session came to a close, the three were rolling down a huge grassy hill and collapsing into each other with laughter. 

Baby Lia in a Mt. Vernon Row House

Grace and three month old Lia are visiting from Turkey, so grandpa hired me for an at home photography session to document this precious time in Lia's babyhood. It was a very cloudy day, and the light was dark and moody which matched the decor of the living room so well. After I shared these images with Grace, she shared this sweet sentiment: 

“I asked McKenzie to photograph me nursing because I didn't want to forget how intimate and deep these moments with Lia are. How could I have photos taken of her at this age without covering this thing we do so many times a day and during which we exchange such pure love with each other? Sometimes we just gaze into each other's eyes. Sometimes we make each other laugh and joke. Nursing is the definition of ‘quality time’ for us right now so it had to be documented.”

Grace, it was an honor. Thank you so much. 

Classic Newborn Photos at Home in Roland Park

Oh, how I love a good newborn session! Walking into a home that has a new baby is such a calm, quiet sensation. It's always such an honor to be invited! Grayson was born a month early, so Mary decided to give him a few extra weeks to grow before hiring a newborn photographer. Most of that month was spent snuggling, so that's exactly what I asked them to do while I was there!

For all of my in-home sessions, I like to walk around a house and scope out where the loveliest light is. At Mary's house, the nursery and living room were absolutely beautiful and filled with natural light. I loved how bright and airy they felt!

Rainy Day Mini Session at Rawlings Conservatory

I've had the honor of photographing Louisa (and now Morris) every six months of their lives. It's been a joy watching their parents settle into new roles and these kiddos reach new milestones- smiling, walking, running, talking. I'm humbled by the idea that someday this family will get to look back on a visual reminder of all the joy that these fleeting years were filled with. 

Even though it was a cold, rainy afternoon, we stayed warm and dry in the beautiful Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park. I'm normally down to make photos in almost any weather, but when tiny babies are involved, that can be tricky. I'm so glad this amazing venue exists! Both toddlers and big kids love putting quarters in the gumball-turned-fish-food dispenser and feeding the koi. It's a calm and peaceful environment and almost has the quiet air of a library. There are stunning archways made of vines, sweet-scented tropical flowers, giant banana trees (with real bananas), lemons, limes, cacti, a whole room dedicated to orchids, and a two-story greenhouse filled with enormous palm trees. It's the perfect place to wander around as a family. Slow, adventurous, and full of magical discoveries!  

Homeland Duck Pond Family Session

This is the third year I've had the privilege of photographing the Lindamood family, and watching their girls grow has been a complete joy. While they've gotten taller, more independent, more introspective, goofier, one thing has stayed the same- their affection for one another and their parents. They are the definition of a tight-knit family and I'm pretty sure Kevin and Melisa need to come out with a parenting book! We met around the pond in their old neighborhood, fed the ducks old bread, and chatted about the girls' new classes, books they've read, and places they visited since we last met. One year might blur into the next, especially if you're busy raising kids; But from my perspective, SO much changes in 365 days. Being able to make a series of images that shows that change from the outside in is why I love this job with all my heart!

Wild & Free Family Photos at Oregon Ridge Park

Oregon Ridge Park Nature Center is one of my favorite locations for family photo sessions because it has SO much variety- there's the nature center itself, full of fish, birds, snakes, bugs, giant taxidermied animals, and outside is full of fun adventures. There's a playground with cool log structures and a music garden, the chicken coop, the forest itself, winding trails, water, and dilapidated stone buildings. It's a hidden gem! I met the Bruno family there in October and it was a warm, Maryland fall evening and everyone was in high spirits. The kids ran through the trails until we reached the creek, where they splashed around and climbed over the log bridge until the sun went down. 

Rainy Family Session with Floral Dresses

Hanna reached out to me about taking photos of her new baby girl around the time she turned six months old. We planned to meet in this beautiful open meadow during October, but when they showed up, it immediately started misting. The forecast hadn't predicted any rain, but we embraced it and Marlow couldn't have been a happier baby. She smiled throughout our entire session, and by the end, her curls were even springier and coated with tiny raindrops! It was all just perfection. I'm so thankful this family braved the weather with me because I think we made some magical photographs together! 

Backyard Birthday Party in Catonsville

It's something pretty special to have a sister 24 years younger than you, and even more special to have the honor of planning her fifth birthday party and photographing it! Since she was about two, I've been painting with Astrid. She still remembers the time we painted leaves (and each other's feet) on her front porch one fall. We strung them up and made a garland for the fireplace. I wish I had one of those leaves. As much as I wish she were still two, I love watching her grow and become more confident in herself. It was only fitting that we have a "painting party," so my partner Matt went all out and built her a DIY spin art bike for kids. Her guests had a blast and everyone went home all tuckered out and (hopefully) ready for a long nap! 

Timeless Newborn Session at Home

Backyard First Birthday Party with Bunting

Kat and Cris asked me to document their baby girl's first birthday, right in their Maryland backyard. I sometimes look back on the few photos from my own first birthday party. Everyone's wearing those cone hats, there's a cake with one flickering candle, a huge teddy bear, and everyone is staring at me with the same eyes everyone's staring at Thea with. I hope someday she looks back at these photos and feels the same love I do looking at mine.

Kat took care to hang paper flowers from every tree, linen buntings were draped between them, and a tiny play theater was definitely the main toddler attraction! Older children crafted owl masks for each other, and everyone looked sweet as can be, hooting around. Mama walked a homemade strawberry cake out to her strawberry-loving gir, tears were held back, and wishes made.

Baltimore Newborn Session with Brother and Sister

Emily and Martin reached out to me before their first baby was born because they wanted casual, in-home photographs documenting their time as new parents. We hung out with the family cats,  fawned over Louisa's tiny fingernails, and took a walk down the city block, crunchy leaves underfoot 

When Morris was born, our session had an entirely different dynamic- that of a toddler big sister exploring what it means to welcome a tiny human into the family! Louisa gave him a few cuddles and was off to play just as fast. Everyone piled on mom and dad's bed, baby nursed, dad read a few picture books, and we all marveled at how much their family had changed in just a few years!  

Intimate Mother and Child Photo Session

Kat and Thea came to my meadow for a mother-daughter mini session when the buttercups were in full bloom. Our time together was quiet, reflective, and I think we both couldn't stop thinking about how this darling baby would be an amazing woman in the blink of an eye. Kat is a doula and I think her years of helping mamas welcome their own babes made her even more sensitive to her own journey being a mother. These two have such a remarkable bond. Thea is a content baby- she's smiley, curious, flirtatious, and looking into her eyes is like looking into that of a wise old soul's. It was an honor to document this moment in their journey together.

Folksy First Birthday Portraits in Hunt Valley

Dominique and Ina joined me at dusk in a field of buttercups to document her first trip around the sun. Ina was still getting a feel for her walking feet and those little fingers wrapped around mama's fingers were so precious and trusting. It's such a privilege getting to photograph the bond between a mother and baby at this specific time. I cherish the pictures of my mom and tiny-baby-me, and always like to imagine the babies I photograph finding these images twenty or thirty years down the road.  

Sunny Summer Woodland Family Photos

My first photo session with this sweet family was when Charlotte turned one and Ethan wasn't even a speck on the horizon. She walked around her bedroom with her little baby belly sticking out and nothing but frilly bloomers on, showing me her books and toys. It's an honor to have watched this family grow and change, so you can imagine how sad I was that after photographing them almost every six months since Charlotte's babyhood, I learned they were moving hundreds of miles away. I'm sure we'll cross paths again someday, and our time together will be all the more special! 

Erica is such a free-spirited, calm, and affectionate mama. We met on a summer morning when the sun was high and everything just glowed green and yellow against the blue sky. Ethan had just learned to walk (with a little hand-holding) and Charlotte entertained us by spinning around in circles. We found a magical grassy spot tucked away in the forest and played in the dirt, spotted a beautiful opening into a neighboring meadow, and eventually made our way down to the creek where the kids had a blast cooling off in the water. Sessions like these make my heart sing! 

In Home Lifestyle Newborn Session with Finn

Nothing quite compares to in-home newborn photography, and it's always such a calming treat in between documenting the hustle and bustle of weddings. Adrienne and Greg actually hired me to photograph their wedding several years ago, and when I learned about little Finn, I could hardly contain myself!! It was so fun catching up and seeing them in their new roles as mom and dad. 

It was a rainy morning, so we moved a big comfortable chair near the brightest window and fawned over the baby. His perfect little fingers, toes, peach fuzz, button nose... newborn babies are just pure magic! Little Finlay wanted nothing to do with not being held, so Adrienne and Greg took turns cradling him. Sometimes it's nice to take photos of baby solo, but I'm never going to advocate for forcing a baby into that position. If they need to be held, they need to be held! 

Looking back on your newborn photos, I imagine that's the exact feeling you'll be hoping to summon anyway- what it was like having your tiny curled up baby on your chest. The way their little head smelled sweet and milky, their fingers curled around yours, their wrinkly newborn legs, and itty bitty fingernails, and dreamtime puckering lips.

Mini Session at the Jarrettsville Sunflower Field

Low Key Backyard Family Photos During Summer

Family Session with Grandma in Clarksville

Fall Family Photos at Oregon Ridge Park