Bellies
Brand New
Babies
Posted on December 28, 2011
I didn’t realize how hard it would be to choose just TEN images from the whole year until I started going back through my archives! To be honest, I probably could have chosen ten per birth for this particular category – each birth experience is so different and the images truly tell the story of a woman’s journey to bring her baby into the world.
Birth Photography is an intimate specialty. Not only do you have to be well versed in different lighting situations and maneuver quietly and stealthily in a hospital or home environment so as not to disturb the laboring mother, her support team, and the staff (if in a hospital), but you also have to read body language and cues well. After photographing births for nearly 2 years, I feel as though I know when to take a step back and put the camera down and when to keep the camera in my hand because things are going to move quickly. It’s a delicate balance between knowing when to snap that perfect moment’s photo and when to allow for privacy or modesty.
But the emotion captured in the images from births takes my breath away. There is something so raw and so deep about the moments surrounding the birth of a child…and being privileged enough to witness and capture it? Priceless. Enjoy my top 10…okay, 11…favorite birth images of 2011.
And I had to add this one of last week’s Christmas birth. It isn’t often that I am allowed or able to capture this moment, so when I am, I take full advantage!
Posted on March 18, 2011
What is a Mini-Sesssion anyway? A mini-session is basically a scaled down version of a custom photo session with Kimberlin Gray Photography. It includes a 20 minute portrait session and 5 Gift Prints from the 5-10 fully edited images. Special a la carte items are also offered at a discounted rate only for these mini-sessions a few times a year!
What do I need to do? Mini-sessions are booked first come, first serve and will only be reserved online with payment made via PayPal. You must visit http://kimberlingray.bookmonline.com/schedules/springminis to see available session times and book your spot! Don’t delay – these will go FAST! I’m only offering 4 family sessions (evening times) and 4 baby sessions (afternoon times). {Baby sessions are for single babies or less than 3 siblings – my home studio isn’t big enough for full families!} When you have booked and paid for your session, please fill out the Mini-Session Portrait Agreement. Then, you’re all set and I’ll see you on April 16th!
What is the “catch”? The only catch is that these are limited sessions which go fast! They are pre-paid and the fee is non-refundable. If you have to cancel for any reason, the fee is transferred to a regular portrait session to be held within 6 months. RAIN DATE: In the event of inclement weather, the same schedule will apply the following Saturday, April 23rd.
Hope to see you in April!!
Posted on January 1, 2011
I have been seeing other photographers that I admire posting their “Top 10 of 2010″ blog posts all week long. So, I planned to sit down on the Eve of 2011 to put together my Top 10…and it quickly became a Top 100 list. There are just too many beautiful babies, gorgeous moms-to-be, fabulous families, and cute as a button kids that I photographed this past year. In fact, counting mini-sessions, I had 133 sessions this year. Holy Moly! Even I was surprised at that number! So, choosing just 10 was simply impossible.
I settled on my Top 25. When going back through all 133 sessions, I was drawn most to those images that did more than simply capture the moment. I absolutely love those images where you can feel the emotion or the connection between the subjects being photographed. Family is so important and being able to give images to my clients that capture how they feel about one another is my ultimate goal.
So, without further ado, here are my personal favorite 25 images from 2010. I even wrote captions under each to give you a little more insight on why I picked them! (Click here to see the FAN FAVORITE of 2010 – I didn’t include it on my list, even though it is a fave of mine, too 
because it has been featured so recently.)
I love nothing more than to snap the shutter at the exact moment when those big smiles appear!
The contrast between Daddy's ink and baby's sweet face in timeless black & white makes this a sure favorite
Not only was the light just perfect this summer day, but the little flowers in the left corner made this perfection!
Out of all my silhouettes this year (and there are so many that I loooove) this one still makes my heart sing!
One of my first births - and this shot really captured the feeling of a hospital birth
Jumping shots are nothing new in the photog. world, but this many people jumping for joy is too awesome!
The curls....the sweet expression...totally natural placement of hands on cheeks...total love.
Big sister-to-be already in love with her baby sis
I love the little fingers and toes peeking out and the bum up in the air with this pose
I was honored to be asked to photograph the special relationship between nursing mom and daughter. The eye contact is the best!
This pose came about totally on the fly. We set up to have daddy and baby and the sky was getting dark, rain rolling in, so I decided to put mom in the shot at the last second. Absolutely one of my all time favorites!
Pure joy + beautiful light = FAVE
This family was so perfectly dressed for their holiday mini-session. Love the contrast and texture in this shot!
I couldn't resist including this one. I totally "borrowed" the idea from another photographer, but made it work especially well with the lines in the wall behind the belly.
This seemingly remote, forest location was just a tiny spot off to the side of this family's house. But it sure gives that secluded, wooded forest feel, doesn't it?
I just love the colors and depth of this family shot!
Can't you just feel the love? <3
The yellow and white outfits contrast so nicely with the green grass. And, for all my photog friends, NO head-swapping!
Another emotional choice. The first time a mother really gets a good look at her firstborn? Priceless.
I'm in love with this hat. And the baby is pretty darn cute, too.
Opposites attract, right? I love the close-up differences of this couple's eyes. Stunningly beautiful.
This one struck me as exuding peaceful and hopeful energy - exactly what maternity portraits should capture.
And finally, one for the record books. These girls are ages 6, 5, 4, 3, and 8 months. And we had 15 minutes in which to capture them together as a gift to their grandparents. Mission Accomplished!
I hope you enjoyed my walk down memory lane! There were many, many more that I wanted to include, but just didn’t have the time and space. So now, out with the old…..and on to 2011! See you next year! 
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Posted on December 26, 2010
Posted on November 23, 2010
You might remember a while back, I wrote a post about bigger prints being better for your walls. No? Well, you can see it by clicking here.
Another photographer I admire, Amy Ro, wrote a similar post that you can read by clicking here. She even went so far as to put photos in different sizes up on her mantle so you can see the difference!
Need a little nudge in the right direction? Why not give yourself a holiday present? I’m offering my BIGGER IS BETTER promotion again so that some of you who just couldn’t bring yourself to order prints over the paltry, tiny, itty bitty 8×10 can enjoy your favorite family photo as the centerpiece of your wall in 2011. I always say that the more people in the photo, the bigger it should be. So, a full family picture should never be under 11×14 if you’re hanging it on the wall!
If you had a session with KGP in 2010 (and your gallery is not still outstanding), you qualify for this promotion! YAY! Order your favorite print in any size 10×10 and up and you will receive it at the following discounted rate. The bigger you go, the more you save, up to HALF OFF! How’s that for a deal?
Please e-mail me at kimberlin.gray@gmail.com if you’re interested! I’ll even waive the fee to re-host your gallery so you can choose your favorite image to GO BIG!