A little past the holidays, but I had to get in a blog for my amazing mini-session families! Many of which are either past clients or friends, making the sessions that much more enjoyable.  Although we had some pretty chilly days, they stuck it out! Thank you guys for coming out!

She's finally here! I feel like I've been talking about this little lady for ever! We've come along way since Bobby and Melissa's announcement session and maternity session. But now it's her time to shine, and that she did! I drove down to their home in south Jersey, where we spent sometime trying to get her into a nice sleep, but with no avail! I swear my non-sleeping newborns must be a record by now ;) We moved first into family shots before getting her into a few poses in the end.  I can't wait to watch her grow up, I'm pretty sure daddy's going to be chasing off the boys once this little one gets older! Enjoy every minute with her, it goes fast!

Even though Rudy was a little older than typical newborns, he was still perfection during his shoot.  No he didn't sleep throughout it or even for most of it (we did a pretty good job of making it seem like he did, didn't we?)  But the look and even a little smile he gave his mom and dad were so worth it.  It was such a pleasure hanging out with Kathleen, Matt, and of course Rudy for the day.  Thank you for having me!

So excited to use blogstomp for the first time with none other than Evan's 9 month session! Although our day was a little chilly for November, Evan was such a trooper.  I must give credit to mom Erica's awesome fashion sense, not only does Evan always look dapper, but their family as a whole always looks the part! I'm so glad we got the fall foliage we were hoping for.  Can't wait to post Evan's Holiday mini-session! 

I struggle with newborns. I really do.  And I've had a lot of trouble admitting that.  Who wants to acknowledge they just aren't that good at something and don't really like it that much either.  I slowly realized the past few months that posed newborns are not for me and I think it took me reflecting on my own experience for a newborn to come to that realization.  Colton would have had the worst newborn session.  He stirred all the time when he slept, was always wide awaken, and his arms were permanently glued to the sides of his head.  I am not Anne Geddes and I don't have to be. I'm Kristen Maus, and I photograph lifestyle newborns.  There I said it, and it felt good :)

Anyway, back to Nathan's session.  Theresa contacted me a few weeks ago that she wanted a newborn session but her son Nathan was already a week old.  We realized we had limited time to work so I managed to squeeze her in at the end of a busy work week.  I was so excited when Theresa said she wanted mainly lifestyle with a few posed.  When I arrived and met Theresa you would have never known she just gave birth, seriously.  I got to meet little Nathan and right away got to experienced not just the connection between Theresa and him, but Theresa's mom as well.  It was so sweet watching her not just with Nathan, but Theresa as well.  I truly believe there's no time you need your mom than after childbirth.  Nathan's dad Jackson joined us at the end of our session for some super sweet family shots.  Did I mention the gorgeous lighting in their home? Seriously I wish I could rent it out for all my newborn sessions! 

I can't believe it was almost 7 months ago that we were doing Bobby and Melissa's announcement session, and here we are just waiting for the arrival of Loriana any day now.  It's been so great seeing Bobby and Melissa grow as a couple, I can't wait to see them as parents, they are going to be awesome!  We ended up doing the session right before Melissa's shower at her family's church.  It was especially significant because Loriana is being named after Melissa's late aunt Lori, who has been memorialized at the garden there.  Thank you for having me capture such an emotional and exciting time in your lives!

A few months ago, I was asked if I was interested in donating a session for a local fundraiser beef steak.  It only took a few minutes of hearing Julia's story, that I jumped at the opportunity to get involved.  Here's a link to Julia's page where you can donate and get updates! While at the benefit I heard a super cute family had won the session I had donated. But low and behold, Shannon was kind enough to donate half of her session to  Lori, who had also tried to win.  It seemed like the gift that kept on giving :) During our session I got to spend time with Cailtin and Jackson, who absolutely hammed it up for me.  One of the easiest sessions yet!  Thank you guys for spending some time with me on a beautiful late August day!

I've know Jenna for a few years since she started doing my hair.  Seeing her grow through her pregnancy, finding out she was having a girl, discussing names, and turning into a beautiful mother, has been such a joy.  I was thrilled when she asked if I could do a family session of her, Sean, and  Jocelyn.  We met on a great Sunday that had the perfect mix of sun and clouds.  Ms. Jocelyn was absolutely perfect, she was in the best mood!  Thank you guys so much for being so fun and sweet!

When I showed up to take portraits for Alexandra's Communion, I couldn't believe how gorgeous she looked, she was just like a mini-bride!  Even all dolled up, she was still an adorable, sweet, little girl who just loved being dressed up.  I loved spending the afternoon with Alexandra, her sisters, and parents.  They gave me such a great mix of formal and candid shots.  I also got some of my favorite detail shots to date.  I hope you enjoy!

Big thanks to the Tama family for having me over, I just loved capturing Alexandra's beautiful personality!

I think there are 30 pictures of me and Colton, of that I think I like 10 of them, of that I think 5 are selfies, and of that I think 3 show my face.  And that makes me so sad.  Gaining 65lbs during my pregnancy was  tough. I haven't always been a skinny girl, but to work so hard to lose weight and see it all go back on has been difficult.  I have no one to blame but myself really. I love ice cream, have trouble fitting working out in, and haven't done much about it.  When I realized I hadn't changed my profile picture in so many months, it really hit me then.  I was always taking the picture, saying no to posting it on Facebook, or cutting myself out.  I'm so worried Colton will grow up, have to bring in a picture of him and his mom for school, and there won't be any.  I realized that as much as I'd love to be skinny to get real professional pictures done, I can't wait around forever, so I should work with what I can do now.  I also realized, no one is looking at me in the pictures, they're looking at me AND Colton and just how much love there is between us.  

First and foremost, I've had an amazing and inspiring group of photographer mom friends who have really pushed me to see beyond the perfect in pictures.  These girls live all over the country so if you're anywhere outside of NJ, you should check them out: Sarah Peyton Photography, Amy Brink Photography, Jamie Peltier Photography, Rachael Osborn Photography,  Leanne Feil Photography, and Jennifer Sutherland Photography.  Also, the Facebook group We Were There Too.  They are a group dedicated to moms getting out from behind the camera to in front of it.  And lastly, my husband Joe who always told me to get in them and supported this crazy idea.

Mother's day morning I woke up and got ready.  It was a beautiful day and I knew it was meant to be.  Batteries were charged and we just waited for Colton to get up (not something that normally happens).  We dressed him in the outfit I han been envisioning and got to the park.  I was a little surprised how sunny it was but we made the best of it.  First we started with the tripod for the three of us and then handed the camera over to Joe who did a great job (seriously, his composition rocks).  I'm so grateful I did this and I need to do it more.  ALL moms do.