Erin DuPree | Seattle Family Photographer

A FUN Newborn Session!| Seattle Newborn Photographer

Let’s face it–having a Seattle newborn photographer take photos in your own home sounds a bit nerve wracking, right?  You worry about the kids, the dog, whether the baby will be crying the whole time, and you worry about what you should wear.

I’m here to tell you that it’s OK.  Relax, and enjoy the moment.  I’m just a nearly silent observer, allowing your family to go about their usual routine, with just a few small nudges toward the light.

It’s ok to jump off the furniture, just this once!  (Ok, only if Mom says yes. )

 

The Landrus Family | Seattle Maternity Photographer

As a Seattle maternity photographer, I get to meet so many beautiful people.  Melissa invited me into their lovely vintage-styled home to help photograph their final days as a Family of 3.

Miss Hadley, aka Big Sister, had the biggest smile, an infectious laugh, and a mighty desire to move move move–as every nearly-2 year old should.  Toddlers are the absolute best part of this job.  I need more of Hadley in my life.  This job, as a family photographer in Seattle, is made sweeter for getting to meet little people like her!

During any lifestyle photography session, the goal is to tell the story of a real family in their real home.  That means games with the kids, reading books, show and tell, and even snack time!  There’s no pressure to act a certain way, or stand still and say “cheese.”  Silly, energetic children can let their REAL smiles shine when the cameras are brought to them!

The vintage decor, and light shining through the windows made this session and photos simply effortless.  I’m considering hiring Melissa to come personally decorate my own home.

Melissa and Hadley’s adventures and vintage charm can be followed on Instagram @MelissaLandrus and her Blog

Stay tuned for more photos of this family of FOUR once I’ve met their new addition for newborn photos!  

Creating Moments in the Dark | Seattle Maternity Photographer

Our Seattle Autumn’s tend to be quite dreary and dark, but don’t let that discourage you from your desire to have beautiful photos.  As a Seattle maternity photographer, I can capture beautifully tender moments with the tiniest amount of light from a single window.  The use of dramatic light can add an interesting dimension to your beloved photos.

Sweet Maeve | Seattle Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

This lifestyle newborn session took my breath away.  Their home had beautiful light, and we were even able to have a short session at a local Christmas tree farm for those first Christmas photos as a family of 3!  So many perfect moments were captured with little Maeve, and her family will be cherishing them for years to come in a beautiful photo album.

The Birth of Addison | Seattle Birth Photographer

Birth photography is exhilarating.  It’s full of ups and downs, and beautiful emotions.  Something even a bit more incredible, is watching a woman fight through her fears to successfully give birth vaginally after having a previous cesarean – called a VBAC in the birthing community.

As a Seattle birth photographer, I am constantly in awe over the job that I have, especially because of all the new people I am able to meet.  Some of these people are brand new to this world, and others are a bit more seasoned.  One of the lovely people I met during this birth is a wonderful doula, Ildi Sebestyen.  It was a joy to work with her and to witness the power of such a kind and wonderful soul, and I hope to have the pleasure of working alongside her again in the very near future.  She was such a tremendous support for this laboring mama, and a huge aid in her success.

Little miss Addison was born to an incredibly strong mother, and welcomed by her happy father, and new big brother.

If you are searching for a Seattle Birth Photographer, I would love to treat you to tea and pastries while we chat and get to know each other.  Contact me today!  

 

And baby makes 4 | Seattle Newborn Photographer

My goal with each lifestyle newborn session is to capture the real moments that happen when you least expect them.  Toddlers, especially, are the funniest little creatures and their antics are what truly makes my job SO much fun.

This family contacted me this past summer to document their new family of 4 once their son Maddox was born.  They truly loved the idea of a Lifestyle Newborn Session, and I couldn’t have been happier to bring it to life!

**Erin DuPree Photography is booking 2017 Lifestyle Newborn Sessions now!  Book your newborn session by December 1st and receive a complimentary Maternity session.** 

 

A Speedy Arrival | Seattle Birth Photographer

 

As a Seattle birth photographer, I do my absolute best to ensure my timely arrival during your labor.  Occasionally, though, a birth happens SO fast, that I can’t make it in time!  This was the case for the speedy arrival of this little guy–within one hour of arriving at the hospital.  This super fast birth surprised everyone.  The first photo in this gallery is the first photo I took as I walked in the door–5 minutes after his birth.  I’m so happy I was able to capture these first sweet moments for this beautiful family, and be there while he was introduced to his big brother.

 

Mommies Really Do Glow | Seattle Maternity Photographer

As a Seattle maternity photographer, I want to make sure that each woman who comes to me feels beautiful when looking at her photographs.  You may not be too happy with your body while it’s changing so drastically, but my job is to show the beauty that is evident to everyone around you.

It’s true–you really do glow when you’re pregnant.  There’s a luminescence to your skin, and you often walk around with a tiny hint of a secret smile on your lips, long before you start to show your secret to the world.

For Erin, it really shows through the photos from her maternity session.   We waded in a creek and got a bit wet, and then ended the evening while watching a herd of elk march across an open field.  It was the perfect Seattle maternity session, and it was a magical ending to a beautiful Summer.

Being a birth photographer is a true blessing, and I never get tired (well, actually I get exhausted) of the stories I get to watch unfold, knowing that I am one of the very first to meet a brand new person.  In just a few short weeks, I’ll have the honor to be present during the birth of Erin’s first child.

 

Holiday Mini Photo Sessions | Seattle Family Photographer

The holiday season is approaching quickly, and now’s the time to book your holiday photo session to get those cards in the mail!  Beginning October 1st, I will have a handful of slots available for new clients to take part in these exclusive photo sessions, on a first come, first serve basis.  These short and sweet photo sessions will take place on the Eastside of Seattle, in the Snoqualmie Valley!

Bring your family in their best holiday (or non-holiday) themed outfits and we’ll create smiles together to capture that perfect photo for your cards.  Your photos will be ready to view within one week of your session, with multiple card designs to choose from.  Once ordered, your holiday cards will be delivered to you within 1 week.   Additional photos and products will be available for purchase, as well!

 

 

Clara’s Arrival 9.17.16 | Seattle Birth Photographer

Some days are harder to forget than others… Some days will literally be ingrained into your memory forever.  September 16th & 17th and all it’s details, will be remembered.

Clara Mae was born at 5:43 AM on September 17th, 2016, weighing 7 lbs 4 oz.

At just past 37 weeks pregnant, the plan had been for my friend Tiffany to check into Valley Medical Hospital in Renton, WA sometime in the morning of Friday the 16th for a medically necessary induction due to Polyhydramnios–severe excess amniotic fluid. One of the more well known dangers of polyhydramnios is the risk of an umbilical cord prolapse if the water has broken.  It’s a rare–but all too serious–risk, and the reason for the induction.  Careful monitoring is key in such a severe case.

I arrived at just past 11 am to be both friend and birth photographer, and we walked, chatted about various things, and routinely checked the clock in frustration for not hearing from the hospital to head in to begin the induction process.  The 16th was a full Harvest Moon, and a LOT of women rushed into the labor and delivery ward, many with broken waters.  No space was available.

After many impatient hours of waiting to hear back, we got word of a room available and checked in just before 5 pm.  Inductions, we knew, can take a while.  But we joked, sang, danced, and laughed for quite a while, until things began to become a bit more serious.  Labor was not progressing very quickly, and though we didn’t expect it to go fast, Tiffany was ready to get the ball rolling and get this baby delivered.  An epidural was set so they could slowly and carefully puncture the amniotic sack to release some of the excess fluid around Clara, in hopes that she would be able to descend and kick start a more productive labor pattern.

Niagara Falls happened–everywhere.  Fluid rushed out in amounts that shocked everyone.  Not entirely unexpected, but still a shock to witness!  Tiffany’s belly went from a hard and distended beach ball to nearly half the size.  I could actually *see* Clara’s body outline now, where I couldn’t before.  We couldn’t previously even see her movement from the outside!

At this point, things changed.

Unfortunately, the very sudden loss of an incredible amount of amniotic fluid led to a very sudden drop in Clara’s heart rate, and the decels were not recovering.  You see, one of the lesser known dangers, and one that I’m sure the staff never expected (as it’s considerably more rare,) is the risk of a placental abruption.  The very quick loss of such a large amount of fluid caused the placenta to tear away from the wall of the uterus, resulting in one of the most dangerous and gut wrenching moments of our lives.

Tiffany was swept into an OR and safely delivered Clara at 5:43 AM under general anesthesia.  Thank you to the wonderful staff at Valley Medical Hospital, who literally saved the lives of my best friend and her daughter.  I cannot express my immense gratitude to wonderful people who did their jobs so fast.  It isn’t possible to convey.

Birth is an enigma.  We can hope and pray that things will go smoothly, and they often do without much complication.  Sometimes, it doesn’t.  I’m happy to say that Clara is healthy and perfect, and Tiffany’s strength made me cry.  She may have had a different birth experience than we hoped (obviously) but her baby is safe and healthy, and so is she.