Blog: Newborn, Maternity, & Milestone Photographer in Okotoks AB

Did you know the Froggy Pose is actually composed of 2 images to create one? Not a lot of new parents realize that the baby’s CAN NOT do this pose on their own! They’re always in awe when I show them how I safely pose their baby and never knew it was a composite!

The froggy pose is a popular and adorable pose for newborn photography. However, it requires some special attention and care to be executed safely. Here are some steps to follow to achieve the froggy pose safely:

1. Start with a well-fed, well-rested, and calm newborn baby. It’s important to ensure that the baby is comfortable and not hungry or fussy before attempting any poses.
2. Use a spotter or an assistant. A second pair of hands is essential to ensure that the baby is fully supported and safe throughout the pose.
3. Choose a soft and comfortable surface. It’s important to use a surface that is safe for the baby, such as a padded surface or a soft blanket.
4. Position the baby in a “froggy” pose with their chin resting on their hands. To do this, gently support the baby’s head and neck with one hand while using the other hand to position the baby’s hands in front of their face. Keep the baby’s elbows close to their body to ensure their safety and comfort.
5. Take multiple shots. It’s important to take multiple shots from different angles to ensure that you capture the perfect shot while keeping the baby safe.
6. Do not attempt the pose if the baby is not comfortable or if they begin to fuss. The safety and comfort of the baby should always come first.

Can we talk about the things that are only cute on baby’s? Like Logans double chin, for example?

Ok seriously – how cute is this guys double chin? No matter how I posed him, or moved him, or wrapped him, his double chin was here to stay!

Logan’s Mom scheduled his baby pictures when he was about 3 weeks old. We went with a swaddle session since he was on the ‘older’ side of newborn sessions. It’s easier for the babies to sleep more soundly when they’re completely wrapped and Jordan did not disappoint!

At first I was a little worried he was going to be totally away for his session, like this big sister was, but he was perfect – and such a chunk!

Let’s talk family pictures! I always love when parents choose to include family portraits with their newborn session.

These moments are fleeting!

You can see how much they love their little girl!

New Moms – I’m not going to sugar coat this for you – you’re going to be tired and the last thing you’re going to want to do is get all dolled up, early in the morning, for family pictures, but I can assure you – it’s worth it!

I also work with an amazing Make Up Artist who will make you look and feel beautiful. Erica from Eyes By Erica will come to your home so you can get ready in the comfort of your own home, and she will apply makeup that will compliment your natural beauty!

It was such an honor to photograph this session!

When Mom-to-be emailed me to book their session, she mentioned that they wanted to include the Grandmothers in their family pictures and I of course said YES!

I absolutely love all the pictures from their session. They really show how much that little girl is loved by her parents, and also her grandmothers! And can we take a minute and talk about how gorgeous the grandmothers are?

This family was absolutely stunning!

I would love to be your families Newborn Photographer! I specialize in creating memories for you and your family – based in Okotoks Alberta I service all areas including Calgary, Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley

I’ve been waiting for this session for 9 months! I’m excited to announce that I had the honor of taking my very own nieces Newborn Pictures!

I feel like I’ve been waiting all year for this very special moment and it was finally here. I may be biases, but my niece is absolutely adorable and can you believe all that hair?

With the addition of little Ella our family now has 3 girls and 1 boy cousin. I think we all secretly hoped she was going to be a he, mostly for my own sons sake, but we’re all just smitten with this little girl.

I think our whole family agrees she finally makes us all feel ‘complete’ – and – all our baby makers are now closed hehe.

Ella came in for her session when she was just over 10 days old and what made this session so very special, besides the fact that she’s my niece, was that I was able to have my Mother In-Law attend the session.

For years she’s always wondered what a newborn session was all about. She loves all the pictures I share online, but she was never able to attend one until now. It was a special moment for our whole family.

I can’t wait to watch sweet little Ella grow up!

I’m a little bit in love with Magnolia’s Newborn Pictures! When her Mom booked me for her session she let me know that her baby had come a little earlier than they expected but she was hoping I would be able to get her in as she was afraid she was going to miss out on pictures.

While I try and limit how many newborn sessions I take each month, I usually leave a little bit of wiggle room for just this reason! I would hate for any parent to miss out on this moment because of something out of their control.

When Magnolia (isn’t that the cutest name?) came in, Mom’s phone reminder went off for her 39 week check up, which we found pretty funny!

I decided to keep things simple for Magnolia’s newborn session and stick with classic white tones and I love how these pictures came out.

I’m now booking Spring and Newborn Sessions – Don’t wait until your baby is already here – contact me today!

This little girl was the second “Piper” I’ve had into the studio for a Newborn session, in 1 week! Normally I’ll have a few babies with the same name throughout the year, but never within the same week!

She was the sleepiest little newborn and really made my job (can you believe this is my job?) super easy. She really relaxed into every pose and was just a happy baby!

I’m now booking spring and summer due dates for 2021! Please reach out and let’s plan your Maternity or Newborn session! I would love to be your families Newborn Photographer! I specialize in creating memories for you and your family – based in Okotoks Alberta I service all areas including Calgary, Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley

Digital Images are SOOOO 2020 – Prints are where it’s at in 2021! One service that my clients love when they book a session is how easy I make it for them to order more than just digital images.

Each of my collections includes your choice of an Album, Wall Art and digitals for you to share online! I take all the work out of creating those albums, and choosing the perfect picture to display in your home.

I absolutely love the picture this client chose for their Canvas Print! They also ordered Matted Folio Prints to give as gifts to family and friends (hello – perfect gift ideas!) along with their favorite digitals.

I love when my parents walk in and the first words out of their mouths is “We read your Newborn Prep Guide and Piper is sound asleep and ready for her newborn session!”

And sound asleep she was! Piper was a dream baby and I love how her pictures came out. Mom wanted simple, pink and neutral colors for her session but I couldn’t help but throw in a splash of blue! Dad’s love this blue flowery wrap!

We started Piper’s session with some sleepy curly poses on the table, and then moved onto the wrapped portion of her session.

We ended her session with the classic Mug Shots which are always a favorite! It’s the part of the session where I make babies mad and then send them home! Ok – not really – but these are still my favorites!

I would love to be your families Newborn Photographer! I specialize in creating memories for you and your family – based in Okotoks Alberta I service all areas including Calgary, Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley

Emily might have been one of the most happiest and smiliest newborns I’ve had in the studio lately. She came in ready for her newborn session, along with her Big Sister, Grandparents, and of course, her parents!

We started off her session with family pictures, and then moved onto sibling pictures and finally, we took pictures of Emily on her own. I always start my sessions with family pictures. As I say, I like to get the “hard part” out of the way so that my families can sit back and relax for the rest of the newborn session.

During Emily’s newborn session, big sister wasn’t too sure about her sister and prefered to sit with Dad while we took family pictures. She was shy and unsure about what all was going on. She did amazing though and we finally did get some pictures of Big Sister and Little Sister together that I know their parents are going to love.

This little princess was such a peach during her Newborn Session! She was just a dream to work with and I’m so thankful her parents chose me as their newborn photographer.

We started her session with some of my favorite, classic poses. She slept like a champ and let me pose her as needed. You can tell her parents followed my prep guide!

Mom also let me know this was a Rainbow baby and wanted to incorporate that into her session. I have these cute little rainbow hearts that I save for just these types of sessions. Mom loved the set up!

We finished with my one of a kind Black & White Expressions! I love these because I do them at all my sessions. Newborn, 6 month and One year! It’s so fun to see how much these babies change at each of their milestone. Also, can she be any cuter? She kept pulling the funniest faces!

About Dana Menendez Photography

Dana Menendez Photography offers custom, personalized, and fine art photography sessions for newborns and babies. It is a full-service boutique photography business. I treat each client with the greatest care and professionalism. Your memories and milestones will be professionally documented and carefully edited to offer one-of-a-kind, unique portraits. My clients enjoy a variety of finished photography products, like canvas gallery wraps and albums, large prints, and digital images.

Please be sure to consider me for your newborn and baby photography needs throughout Calgary, AB. This includes High River, Okotoks, Black Diamond, and Cochrane. I’d love to chat with you!

“Hi – I’m interested in booking a newborn session and we want to include family pictures!”

Well – can we talk about how fun this newborn session was? They’re now a party of six and while it was exhausting to get everyone looking at the camera, it was also a lot of fun! The 3 oldest were so well behaved and patient with me while I got everyone in position.

Mom’s one wish was a family picture where they’re all looking at the camera and I think we delivered! She also wanted one of all the siblings together and we definitely made that happen too.

f you’re on the fence about booking a Newborn Session please contact me and let’s talk about scheduling your session and creating these memories!

Let’s make memories for you and your family! Contact me today and schedule your Maternity, Newborn or Milestone session. I would love to be your families Newborn Photographer! I specialize in creating memories for you and your family – based in Okotoks Alberta I service all areas including Calgary, Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley

Welcome to the world Little Mason!

One of the best parts of my job is watching families grow. This is the 3rd time I’ve photographed this family. 2 Newborn sessions and 1 milestone sessions and it’s such a joy each time!

When families come to me for their 2nd and 3rd babies it’s like visiting with old friends. Returning clients are definitely my favorite sessions as we get to sit and catch up on their family and I get to see how much their first baby has changed – especially when they come in for family pictures!

Mason looks just like this big sister! They’re almost identical (which means, he’s probably going to get those big blue eyes, just like this sister) and it was so fun seeing Big Sister love on her Little Brother!

I would love to be your families Newborn Photographer! I specialize in creating memories for you and your family – based in Okotoks Alberta I service all areas including Calgary, Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley

I know! I post a lot of pictures of Newborns and you might think that’s all I photographer, but nope! It doesn’t stop at the newborn stage.. I love every little milestone, up to 1 year.

It makes me smile everytime a past client comes back to me for their babies next milestone. Sometimes they come to me for their 3 month session, their 6 month sessions and then their 1 year session! And.. sometimes it’s in between those ages – just like little Daniela here!

I first met this family when her Mom contacted me right after the lockdown started lifting from Covid19 and my studio was finally back open. She was worried she was going to miss out on those precious newborn pictures and that I wouldn’t be able to fit her in because it was such late notice (I think she may have contacted me at the beginning of the week and she was in the studio that same week?!)

And here we are… 8 months later and she’s back at the studio to celebrate her “I can sit up on my own” session! I was worried she would have ‘stranger danger’ since we’ve all pretty much been quarientining since March of last year, but she was all smiles!

I would love to be your families Newborn Photographer! I specialize in creating memories for you and your family – based in Okotoks Alberta I service all areas including Calgary, Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley