Okotoks Newborn Photographer - Dana Menendez Photography

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

Welcome to my blog, a space where the beauty of newborn photography is celebrated through the heartwarming stories of so many families and beautiful images of them. I hope you'll enjoy these sessions, which capture the earliest moments of life and offer a glimpse into my cozy studio nestled in Okotoks, AB, near Calgary.

If you're looking for a newborn photographer in Okotoks AB, please contact me, and let's chat!

Baby Maggie ~ Infant Portrait Session Okotoks, AB

World, meet Little Miss Maggie. What an absolute doll. She slept like a dream for her professional infant photoshoot with me. Look at how in love Mom and Dad are with their baby girl. She’s already got them wrapped around her finger (as she should!) The days after you bring a newborn home seem to go by quick…. don’t wait until it’s too late to capture them in those sleepy, curly poses you will miss when they outgrow that stage. “Blink and you miss it” as they say. You will find yourself saying that many times over the next several years with children. :). Let’s plan an infant portrait at my portrait studio in Okotoks, AB. Contact me for the details!

Dana Menendez Photography offers custom, personalized and fine art photography sessions for newborns and babies and is a full service boutique photography business. She treats each client with the greatest care and professionalism. Your memories and mile stones will be professionally documented and carefully edited to offer one of a kind unique portraits. Clients enjoy a variety of finished photography products such as canvas gallery wraps and albums, large prints and digital images. Please be sure to consider us for your newborn and baby photography needs.

Baby Giselle – Okotoks, AB Newborn Photography

World, meet Miss Giselle. Isn’t she a doll? Between those lashes, and a full head of hair, she was a total dream to photograph!

This little cutie visited my portrait studio for her professional newborn session not too long ago. Mom and Dad wanted neutrals and pink incorporated – I think I was able to make that happen!

When you book your newborn session with me, you won’t have to worry about bringing your own props, or worrying about what blankets you want to use. I have a studio full of the latest and greatest props!

Dana Menendez Photography offers custom, personalized and fine art photography sessions for newborns and babies and is a full service boutique photography business.

Little Parker – Older Baby Session – Okotoks AB

Dallas Newborn Photographer

I absolutely love what I do! I get to meet so many great families and snuggle those little babies… and then send them home LOL

This little guy was just over the 3 week mark, closer to 4 weeks, when he came to see me at the studio. The older the baby, the more awake they usually are, but he was totally zonked out the whole time! He was great and just settled into every pose we did. His Mom one request was to use a bear bonnet because she thought they were just adorable on little babies and she was not disappointed!

***this session was taken before my studio closed due to COVID19***

COVID19 Studio Policies – Okotoks Alberta

Studio cleanliness has always been a priority at Dana Menendez Photography. But with COVID-19 affecting so many people here are some policies and steps that I’m currently doing along with new procedures I’ll be implementing at my studio.

After every session the entire studio will receive a complete cleaning. From wiping down hard surfaces to vacuuming soft areas! As much as I hate cleaning, this has always been an essential part of ensuring my studio is clean and safe for all the families who come to see me.

I’ve always said “Anything the baby touches, is washed!” All blankets & wraps are machine washed after every session and any delicate items like hats, and headbands are also sprayed with lysol to kill any germs that may be lingering on them.

You’ll notice I have lots of hand sanitizer located around my studio. I’m always reaching for my sanitizer anytime I’m about to touch your baby. There’s also a bathroom to fully wash hands before every session and multiple times during your session.

Until further notice, everyone over the age of 10 is required to wear a mask while visiting my studio. Because I work closely with newborns and babies, their health is my number one priority. So in addition to extra hand washing and sanitizing I’ll also being wearing a mask during your session.

I’m asking that only immediate family be present during your session. This means only the people who are currently living in your household will be allowed at your session. I’m also requesting that if siblings are to be included in the pictures that you make arrangements to have them picked up and taken home after their portion of the session is over.

I’m also asking that you please stay in the waiting area. You can sit back and relax, and this allows me to maintain proper social distancing during your session. When I need an extra hand, I’ll let you know! You can see everything that’s happening during your session right from the waiting area!

Please refrain from bringing any outside props to your session. I have all the hats and wraps you’ll need! By keeping those props at home, I’m able to control items that are coming in and out of my studio during this time.

Studio Update – What I’m doing to protect your family – Okotoks Alberta

Dallas Newborn Photographer

I want to give you an update on the status of my studio. As some of you know, I had to close in the middle of March. It was a hard decision to make, and one that I knew was necessary because I work directly with newborns. Their safety is my number one priority and there was no way I could continue taking pictures of those little ones while keeping a safe ‘social distancing’ of 6 feet. Working with newborns is a very hands on job!

As of this post, my studio is classified as non-essential so I’m still not open for business, but I’m thinking of how my business will change once we are open.

Some changes I plan on implimenting for the first while is only allowing immediate family at the newborn session. This has been my policy is the past, but I’ve been pretty lenient about letting grandparents, aunts and uncles and even “BFFs” come for the session, but from now on I’m asking that only Parents come for the session.

Also, I will only be taking sessions every other day so that I can clean my studio and disinfect properly after each session. This means a full wipe down of all hard surfaces, along with machine washing blankets and wraps and hand washing the more delicate items like hats and headbands. Basically, anything the baby has touched, or I’ve touched, or the parents have touched will be washed and disinfected.

I will also ask that you take your shoes off upon entering the studio. I have a pair of shoes that I only wear in my studio that you’ll see me wearing, but no outside shoes will be permitted. So make sure you have some clean socks on 😉

Another change I’ll be making is that you’ll see me wearing a facemask during your session. I will also still practice social distancing with parents, but because I need to work closely with your newborn baby, the mask will add another barrier of protection.

I’m sure the more I think through things, and the more I work my session, these policies will change.

Every day, new information is released, I have no clue when I’ll be back to work full time, working with your precious little baby, but I’m really hoping and praying I’ll be able to take my first newborn client by July.

I truly appreciate all your love and support during these times. It’s meant the world to me to see so many of my friends and past clients showing their support for my small business.

How I keep my studio clean! – Okotoks Alberta

In the wake of COVID-19 and all the media attention it has received I really want to reassure my clients about what I’m doing in my studio to keep everything clean and safe for my littlest clients.

While my procedures are not new and really have nothing to do with COVID-19, I want to share with you the steps I take in my studio before, during, and after every session.

Before your session, I arrive at my studio 2 hours early to begin setting up. I wipe down all hard surface areas with disinfectants that are safe for newborns and young children. Areas such as doorknobs, light switches, tables, and even the coffeemaker are given a good cleaning. My lighting system, camera and lens’ are also wiped down.

When you arrive at my studio I strongly encourage everyone to either take a minute and wash their hands in the bathroom and use hand sanitizer before any physical interactions occur. You’ll see me sanitize my hands through out your session. I have hand sanitizer throughout my studio, so please help yourself!

After your session I gather up all washable items and everything is laundered in hot water and dried on high heat. If your baby touched it, I’ll wash it! Anything that’s not washable such as those little beds, bowls and baskets are wiped down and sanitized before I use them again. Even those little bonnets and headbands are spot cleaned and sanitized. Couches are chairs are also wiped down and sanitized!

I’ll be following the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization recommendations on preventing the spread of the COVID-19, but I want to assure my clients that my studio is thoroughly cleaned and these practices are nothing new for me! Those tiny little humans are my number one priority and their health and safety comes first!

Studio Policies and COVID-19 – Okotoks Alberta

Dear Clients, I just wanted to share my plan with you with regards to limiting the spread of respiratory illnesses such as the flu, whooping cough, and corona virus (COVID-19) within my studio. I have been following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) for updates and best practices regarding these illnesses and have implemented the following guidelines within my studio:

I am asking that only essential people attend sessions (i.e. Mom &Dad or Mom & Grandma)

All visitors are asked to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when you enter my studio. You can find hand sanitizer throughout my studio, please help yourself! I will sanitize my own hands periodically throughout your session.

All fabrics such as blankets, swaddles, backdrops and wraps will be washed after each session. Other items that are non-washable will be spot cleaned and sanitized prior to use.

Current recommendations by the CDC regarding the use of face masks by healthy people to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are that a face mask is only recommended if caring for someone with COVID-19.

While most of these practices have already been implemented prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, I want to let my clients know that I’m not taking this virus lightly and will do everything I can to help you feel safe when you come to visit my studio. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions you may have. Dana

Maddie is turning One! – Okotoks Alberta

Dallas Newborn Photographer

I can’t believe little Maddie is about to turn ONE! Time really does fly and I feel like she was just at my home studio for her newborn session, but here she is, about to celebrate her first birthday.

Maddie’s Mom signed up for one of my Milestone Mini Sessions which are perfect, quick little studio sessions that last between 10-20 minutes which are perfect for this age! Babies at this age have short attention spans and really don’t want someone trying to get their attention and making them sit for 30 mins – they’re ready to get up and explore!

She was all smiles when she first came in and as soon as I had my camera up, she was Ms. Serious, but I’m still in love with these pictures and those big blue eyes of hers!!

award winning Okotoks newborn photographer

Winter Newborn Awake Babies! – Okotoks Alberta

Dallas Newborn Photographer

Ok Mommas… it keeps happening and I’d like to know what’s up?

Yet again, I had a baby girl into the studio for her newborn session and she was ready to party it up! She came in for a Swaddle session but wanted nothing to do with being asleep so we just went with the flow and improvised.

We did a few wrapped and awake, a few “I’m going to wait for you to blink!” and then a bucket pose with one of my new favorite props. All in all, it was a fun session and she’s really such a pretty baby and I’m honored to have been chosen as her newborn photographer.

award winning dallas newborn photographer

Mini Newborn Session – Okotoks AB Newborn Photographer

One of my favorite types of newborn sessions that I offer is a mini session! These sessions are fully swaddled, meaning your little baby is wrapped up nice and snug the whole time and they typically last about an hour (a full session is 2-3 hours).

What I love about these sessions is how easy it is to get different looks and sets just by adding or taking away different wraps and headbands or bonnets! During a mini session I’ll move through 2 different set ups using either the fluffy fur you’ve seen in my portfolio and a prop set such as a basket or bed. I’ll focus on little details like those little fingers, that sweet nose and those toes!

Of course nothing really goes as planned sometimes. Lately I’ve had a lot of wide awake babies who aren’t really interested in sleeping, but we work with what we can! This last mini session last 2 hours because little girl was wide awake and move around like crazy!! But we still got some amazing pictures.

award winning Okotoks AB newborn photographer

Newborn Albums – Photo session albums – Okotoks AB

Okotoks, AB Newborn Photographer

I love albums!

One of my fondest memories growing up was sitting with my Grandmother and looking through family albums. I loved seeing relatives whom I had never met, but enjoyed hearing stories and how they were connected to my family. I loved hearing my Grandmother laugh over a picture, remember a funny moment and then sharing it with me.

I really love with my clients choose to include an album with their session because I know that one day they’re going to sit with their grandchildren, showing them the newborn pictures and knowing it’s going to bring them back to that moment!

When to book your 6 month session – Okotoks Alberta

Okotoks, AB Baby Photographer

Your baby is changing! They’re reaching new milestones and you might be wondering when you should schedule your next session with me.

While we all know that the newborn stage is my absolutely favorite, milestone sessions are a close 2nd!

It’s amazing how much your baby changes in just 6 months! Their little personalities are shining and they’re starting to explore more of their little worlds. Some have developed stranger danger, and others are happy to be held and cuddled by anyone and everyone (my daughter had stranger danger – bad!).

So what’s next?

Well, I recommend we schedule your next milestone sessions which is when your baby an sit up, unassisted! Sometimes this happens at 5 months, sometimes it’s not until they’re closer to 8 months. Every baby is different and that’s why I call my sessions Milestone Sessions and I love with my clients reach out to me just as their little one is about to sit up on their own.

During your milestone session I like to keep the setting very simple with a simple backdrop, simple clothing and all the focus on your sweet little baby! We’ll laugh, we’ll play, we may even cry and I’ll be there to capture it all.

Let’s Get You On My Calendar!

Sweet Little Peanut – Newborn Baby Girl Pictures – Okotoks AB

Dallas Tx Newborn Photographer

Babies come in all shapes and sizes. They’re not a one size fits all and that couldn’t have been more true for this little girl.

Over the last week I had some pretty large babies come into the studio. And by large, I mean 8-10lb babies who are full of chunk! I love me some chunky babies, but when this little one came in and I lifted her out of the car seat I thought I was going to throw her across the room (Of course I would never!!). She was soooo itty bitty, and so light! She wasn’t quite 6 lbs yet and she was light as a feather after my string of heavy weights 😉

I remember picking out my wraps ahead of time and thinking about how cute she’s going to look with each set I had planned out. But when I started wrapping her up, I was laughing because my wraps just kept going around, and around, and around! She was sooo tiny!

But she gave us the best little smirk 😉

You just had a baby, you’re tired, sore, just trying to make it day to day but you don’t want to miss out on these special moments. Let me do that for me! Book your Newborn Session now and check one more “to-do” thing off your list!

Eyes Wide Open – Newborn Boy Session – Okotoks AB

Dallas Tx Newborn Photographer

Ok seriously – what’s in the water? Or what’s in these new Moms milk?

Over the last couple weeks I’ve had new babies come in who have wanted nothing to do with Sleep! And when they do sleep, it’s for about 5 mins. You know, sometimes I just waited until they blinked – then snapped the picture and it looks like they’re in a deep, blissful sleep. hehe

But that’s ok! If babies want to stay awake, and not miss a thing, I welcome it! I love capturing those sweet little faces, trying to focus on me and my camera when I know it’s all just a big blur to them. These awake pictures turn out to be some of my favorites and I know the Mom’s love them too!

6 Month Old Milestone Session – Okotoks AB

Dallas Baby Photographer

One type of session that I quit doing a few years ago were milestone sessions. They were always one of my favorite ages to photograph but when I was in my home studio, I really didn’t have the space so I really stuck to newborns and that was it.

Now that I’m in my new studio I was excited to have my first sitter session scheduled and it went exactly as I imagined it would!

This adorable little girl has reached her next milestone and is now sitting up on her own! As you can see she was full of personality and had us all cracking up. Her parents kept saying “We don’t know where the tongue is from, she just started doing that!”

I love how her pictures came out and I’m really looking forward to my next round of sitters to come into the studio for their sessions!

Last Baby Of 2019 – Newborn Photography Session – Okotoks AB

Dallas Newborn Photographer

My last baby of 2019 did not disappoint!

She came in with an amazing head full of hair and she had the sweetest little personality.

When her Mom and I were choosing colors for her session she mentioned that she was open to any color, but still wanted some pinks! So we used my favorite color ever (for boys and girls) sage and as you can see, I think she was a fan too!

This little girls newborn session was a great way to end 2019!

An End to 2019 – Newborn Photographer – Okotoks Alberta

Dallas Newborn Photographer

2019 was an amazing and scary year for me and my business! I started off the year teaching preschool and I absolutely loved my little class of 3 and 4 yr olds. But I wasn’t able to focus all my attention on my business. I worked 3 days a week and the other 2 I was lesson planning! At the end of the school year we found out that our little school was closing – while this was a sad chapter in our lives, it also opened the doors for me to focus 100% of my energy back into my photography business.

And let me tell you – I jumped in with 2 feet and there are some days where I feel like I’m drowning and others where I feel like I’m floating along in a giant inflatable unicorn sipping on a margarita and loving my life!

I opened up my studio in September! I was moving out of my home studio and into a dedicated studio space where I didn’t have to worry about what my house looked like when clients came over and stopped worrying about how many ‘guests’ my clients brought a long with them. I love my studio! I have a waiting area for the parents to hang out in and a large shooting area where I can finally start offering milestone and maternity sessions! It’s a dream come true!

Since I was able to focus all my attention on my business I booked almost double the number of babies that I did last year and it’s amazing! I even got to see a couple of my favorite clients for babies number 2 and 3s!

With all that said, I want to thank all my clients from 2019 for such an amazing year and for coming back to me and trusting me to capture all these great memories for you. I’m hoping to offer more family and chirstmas sessions next year!

A Simple Studio Maternity Session – Okotoks Alberta

Dallas Newborn + Maternity Photographer

I’m not sure what it is about this session but I absolutely love studio maternity pictures! They’re so simple and really focus on you and your baby and not your surroundings. Maternity pictures really are about capturing this special time in your life when it’s just you and your baby. Leave the family and outdoor pictures to Fall and Winter sessions when you need to send out those Christmas cards. Let your maternity session be about YOU and capturing this amazing time in your life.

award winning maternity photographer dallas

Oh Clementine is One – Cake Smash Pictures – Okotoks AB

Okotoks, AB Newborn Photographer and Cake Smash Photographer

How has a year flown by already? I still remember this little peanuts newborn session. She was such an itty bitty little girl but just the sweetest! Her newborn session was a breeze so when her Mom reached out to me for First Birthday Pictures I knew it was going to be a fun session.

Clementine came in for a simple cake smash session and she was the daintiest little eater! She was all smiles, and loved her cake, but didn’t want to make a big mess. I have to admit, she was the cleanest cake smash session. She would take little bites, here and there, but never too much and definitely not enough to get dirty.

Eleanor’s Newborn Session – Okotoks Alberta Canada

Okotoks, AB Newborn Photographer

So many things about this little girls newborn session excites me!

Her Mom scheduled her newborn session back in June (yay for planning ahead!) so I’ve been looking forward to her session for a long time.

During that time we discussed if there was anything in particular she wanted to do for her session, especially with it being so close to Christmas. She mentioned a wrap that she really liked that was Christmas colors and asked if it was possible to find something similar.

It didn’t take me long to find the exact one she was looking for and I quickly added it to my newborn prop stash (and saved it just for her session hehe)! I was also able to find a headband to match the wrap and I just love love love how it all came together. I feel like it’s a classic Christmas set up, but without too much cheese.

I will definitely be adding this whole set up to my regular rotation – especially around Christmas!

A couple weeks later, I received a message from her sister (whom I know in person!) letting me know that her sister LOVES bunnies and asked if I had any bunny bonnets that we could use during her session and as luck would have it – I did! I couldn’t wait to pull it out for her little girl and if I’m honest, I think she makes the cutest little bunny ever.

Those aren’t the only things that made me excited about her session. When I was setting up in the studio, her Mom let me know that she was totally open to any colors and that she was actually tired of Pinks and Purples – so wouldn’t you know it. My ears perked up and I pulled a lovely sage and light blue from my supply of drops and these have to be some of my favorite pictures – I wish more Mom’s would request blues or greens!