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Juniper’s Newborn Photography Session

Well, we blinked and our Juniper is now 7 weeks old!  Pinch me now.

I figured that before she heads off to college, it was high time to share the photos from her newborn photography session when she was just 2 weeks earth-side.  And yes, I’m totally that proud mama showing off photos and videos of her newborn to anyone who will humor me…including the grocery clerks at Publix!  No lie.  Plus, what better way to start your week than with an onslaught of cute baby photos?  Amiright?

I was actually a Nervous Nelly in the hours before our friend Mandy from Kossina Creative showed up at our house for the photo session.  It had been a rough night of sleep for our sweet Junie the night before, and I wondered if Mandy would be able to capture any decent photos before we suffered a meltdown.  But thankfully, I think the previous night’s sleep strike worked in our favor because our gal sweetly snoozed through the afternoon, waking just a few times, and then falling back asleep again, allowing Mandy to capture a wide variety of set-ups and adorable accessories.  Our Juniper was a champ!

I’ll share most of the photos in order of how they were photographed, but I can’t resist kicking off with my absolute favorite photo.  Are you ready?  Dangerously high levels of cuteness follow.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

That’s right.  Your eyes do not deceive you.  That is indeed a smiling baby in a bucket.  I tell ya what, she’s a heart-breaker already!

As you may have spied on Instagram, I shared how last week, Junie started flashing real live smiles at us during her awake-time.  And it is totally rocking our worlds.  (Here’s my letter to Junie detailing my response to the first real smiles she shared with me.)

But this photo captured a rare reflex smile—one of those fast-as-a-lightening-grins that happen in those early stages of her REM cycle.  Usually just as she starts to nod off, her face contorts into all manner of wild expressions—from furrowed brow and pouty lip to a joyous smile like you see here!  Mark was actually gently stroking her head when this precious moment occurred, and we all freaked out while Mandy snapped away.

I was so happy she captured this gem!  It of course made the front of our *Tiny Prints birth announcements that I heart so much.  (FYI you can use my affiliate link to get $20 off your $40 purchase at Tiny Prints from now through November 7, 2016.  Yay for deals!)  And I’ll show the back of the announcement later on in this post….

Newborn Birth Announcement with Tiny Prints | Here's the front of our announcement...just a smiling baby in a bucket!

Oh, and before I go any further, I’ve gotta brag on my friend Mandy from Kossina Creative for a moment.  While Mandy has years of experience shooting couples and family photos here in Orlando (especially her own!), this was her first official newborn shoot.  Though you’d never believe it after seeing all the breathtaking images and precious moments she captured of our family of three.  My jaw practically hit my laptop keyboard when I first laid eyes on this collection.  Plus, she was such a pro behind-the-scenes, gently manipulating Juniper into all sorts of snuggly positions.  She quickly turned this Nervous Nelly mama into a Calm Callie.  {Grin.}

I snapped a few behind-the-scenes photos, so you could see Mandy’s sweet set-up.  We started indoors using various blanket backdrops atop Mandy’s mega huge DIY’d bean-bag.  She made great use of my favorite corner of the house for photographs—the one where natural light streams in from two different angles.  We were both sweating bullets within minutes, though.  In order to make things extra comfortable for our sleeping babe, I turned up the indoor temp to 80 degrees.  Plus, we had a space-heater on full blast.  Add in the white noise I played from my cell phone, and Junie was primed for a photo session to remember!

“Alright Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close up!”

Our Newborn Photographer, Mandy from Kossina Creative, working her magic!
Family & Newborn Photographer, Mandy from Kossina Creative

First, the “white on white” angelic series:

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Junie loves to sit with her legs crossed at the ankles like that even still.  Such a proper little lady!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Just a quick backdrop and hair bow change for one of my favorite looks.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

I can’t help but get sleepy looking at these photos.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Remember the baby outfits and hair accessories on display on the clothesline at my Charming Mint & Gray Baby Shower this spring?  At long last, I got to try the mint bloomers and white hair bow on our girl.  She even opened her eyes for a spell in between yawns.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness! Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

And before we took a break for me to feed this little nugget (modeling is hard work!), Mandy managed a few more indoor shots.  This is one of my favorites because it captures her curious gaze.  Doesn’t she look like an old soul here?

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

And how ’bout these precious little baby feet?  One of the highlights of my day is getting to kiss those ten toes.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Dad joined us in the backyard for the outdoor portion of the photo session where Junie re-entered her sleepy stupor, milk drunk and cozy in the humid, summer heat.  (Though I dare say, I think we had it hotter inside than out, which is quite the feat in Florida in June.  Go us!)

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Look how tiny her hand looks next to mine!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Pondering deep thoughts in her slumber, no doubt.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

This is the shot that made the back of our Tiny Prints birth announcements.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

I love how this trio of images really pops on the black background!

Newborn Birth Announcement with Tiny Prints | Here's the back of our announcement...a trio of photos from Juniper's Newborn Photography Session.

The petite velvet bows from Jack & June on Etsy have stolen my heart. I like big bows and I cannot lie, but sometimes going the petite route allows the subject herself to take the spotlight. And shine in the spotlight she did!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

While Mandy shot some photos of Baby Moses—er, I mean, Juniper—on the mini-dock, Mark hopped onto his paddle-board.  I love that these images capture Junie along with her dad in “his natural habitat.”  It won’t be long before she is sitting cross-legged on the front of that board along with him, the two of them careening across the lake.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

After the “Baby Moses in the Reeds” segment of the shoot, then came the adorable bucket images.  You know how cats just love to plop themselves right in the middle of wherever the action is?  Well, sure enough, once Junie nestled down into her bucket, on wandered Mangey-cat, curious as could be!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Big sister guarding ‘lil sis.  These two will be thick as thieves before we know it.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

We made a special request that Mandy capture the “Hurricane swirl” atop Junie’s sweet head.  Looks like Mama passed on her cowlick tendencies!  Though it may be a nuisance later, it sure is adorable now.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

These two images seemed worthy of an animated GIF.  Those little feet outstretched and dramatic hand raised with her yawn crack me up (especially if I imagine her singing opera: “Figaro, figaro!”).

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

That little waving hand means it’s time to start wrapping up this post!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

It was only at the very end when we were attempting a final shot in a baby carriage that Junie decided she was done.  After all, nearly four hours had passed!  And we had plenty of photo treasures to delight in.  They’ll serve as sweet memories of this special season of Juniper’s infancy.

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

It’s true, what they say: that children grow up so fast.  Already, at just seven weeks of age, Juniper has changed so much from even last week!  It makes me all the more thankful for the gift of photos like these to freeze some of the magic moments in time.

Dear reader, thank you for soaking up some of the magic with me today!

Juniper's 2 week newborn photography shoot: adorable hair bows, muslin swaddles, and a sweet smiling baby in a bucket. Brace yourself for the cuteness!

Your Turn

  • Do you have any tips or tricks for taking photos of precious little ones?
  • Have you seen any clever newborn photo shoots lately?
  • Or perhaps you’d like to share which Junie-photo is your favorite?

Now that I’ve gabbed your ear off, I’m all ears!  The comments section awaits you below.

For More Junie-Cuteness…

…you can click HERE to check out the photos from her “Fresh 48” photography session at the hospital where she was just as cute and even more snooze-tastic.

And though things have been a bit quieter here on the blog during my maternity leave, pop by Instagram to check out the latest and greatest updates on “Junie-toots” (my nephew Jeremiah’s affectionate nickname for his baby cousin).

Have a marvelous Monday, friends!

All photos by Kossina Creative. Please do not repost without permission.

*Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, The Thinking Closet may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for helping to support this site!

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47 Comments

  1. These photos just melt my heart! Love looking and re-looking! Mandy captured Juniper’s personality as well as yours and Mark’s! What a treat to have these photos to remember her at this early age…she is growing and changing constantly now.

    It was delightful to meet Mandy recently. What talented friends you have!

  2. These pictures will be a great keep sake for years to come. Hang onto the memories that are happening each day. Juniper is a blessing to you, and a beautiful little girl. I really like the bucket pictures, she fit to perfectly. God’s blessings to all of you as you start this chapter in your lives.

  3. Oh what a beautiful baby Lauren! Juniper is a lovely name and she has such a sweetness about her and she seems to love the camera already! She’s photogenic and already doing her first model shoot….. 4 hours wow!
    Congratulations to you and your entire family and thank you so much for sharing the best parts of your life Lauren! And I just love your writing! Many hugs, Sandy

    1. I know! The time flew, actually. Especially for her since she slept through most of it, sweet girl that she is. Thanks so much for the warm words and congrats! I’m so blessed by you.

  4. She is sooooo precious. I love the bucket photos, but I also love the photo of the back of her head. Her hair is beautiful. May your lives be filled with much love, joy happiness, laughs and giggles. Blessings to all of you

    1. Aw, I love the back of the had one, too! We’ve called it her hurricane swirl…but just today it was looking like a cinnamon swirl to me (probably my stomach talking, ha ha). Just more evidence of God’s creativity! Thanks for the warm wishes and blessings. So loving of you!

  5. I am so happy for you both! Your photos are so lovely and joyful that I feel that way just looking at them. Juniper is gorgeous and you are a beautiful family! Enjoy!

  6. Juniper is a cutie pie for sure….love the photos of your beautiful family. Enjoy every minute, because they grow up too fast!

  7. Oh your daughter is so precious! Congratulations! I love the ones of her in the basket with her hands up near her chin. I have always loved that pose!

  8. Your daughter is absolutely stunning!! I’m a regular reader of yours… also a blogger and Early Childhood Educator (preschool teacher, to be exact!) so I have a super special soft spot for little ones. I have no doubt she’ll be as intelligent, strong, and creative as you have proven to be! I can’t wait to watch her grow more and more!

    1. Bethany, your support and kind words about our angel mean the world to me! Thank you so much for coming along for the ride! (It’s so much better with co-travelers and fellow creatives like yourself.)

  9. Oh I can see your LOVE ♡ on every foto … and read it in every word! What a wonderful foto session ☆

    And you are right – they are growing soooo fast … some month ago … I carried my little baby son as you on your lovely fotos and “pffffff” he is 18 years and were are sitting on his school end party last week. Unbelievable! I wish your little family a great time with this little wonder!
    Greetings from far far away … from Germany
    Saphira

    1. Oh wow! Congrats to your “little boy” all grown up on his graduation! What a wonderful milestone. I’m sure the time will fly for us, as well. Doing our best to savor every moment…even the tough ones. Thanks so much for sending your warm words from across the pond. We feel the love, Saphira! (You have a beautiful name by the way.)

  10. We loved the pics! She is sooooooooooocute! You 2 r sooooooo blessed. Maybe when we visit Sarah in Oct we can stop by or December!!!!

  11. Lauren these are absolutely precious and adorable photos!! Priceless treasures of your wonderful gift from God!!

  12. A post about both the Lankers AND the Kossinas?! It couldn’t get much better 🙂
    Applauds to you, Mandy, and Juniper for hanging in there and grabbing all these gems for us to go crazy over!!! They are SO adorable… and I can’t believe how big she is getting… eek!!!

    1. I know! She is growing like a weed…or a Juniper tree! Tee hee. But looking back at these has gotten me nostalgic, and it was only last month! Sheesh. I’m a mess. Just another excuse to bust out the DSLR camera and take some more pics of her! Thanks for delighting in her and in every photo and video we share. Auntie Darling is the bestest.

  13. I got your gorgeous birth announcement in the mail the other day and have looked at it so many times. Just the sweetest, most beautiful family ever! Junie Bug is precious, my dear – ya done good 🙂

    These photos are STUNNING! Mandy is such a talent. I have to say, you look incredible – 2 weeks postpartum when these were snapped? WOW!

    My favorite…and it’s seriously hard to pick one…but I love the one with Mangey laying next to her in the bucket. Like two peas in a pod already 🙂

    These photos almost make me want another one…almost 😉 I love you and your sweet family so, so much Lauren. Thank you for sharing sweet Junie with us! XOXO

    1. This thoughtful, specific, articulate, love-filled comment is the kind I want to print out on paper and then tuck in my pocket…and forget about…so it will surprise me and wash over me with the same warmth like it just did on an ordinary Thursday a few weeks from now…and again and again and again. Thank you for being YOU! And for rejoicing with us in Junie’s arrival! So happy you enjoyed the birth announcement. 😉

    1. Aw, thanks for stepping into my shoes for a moment and relating to me on the anxiety front. Classic new parent moment! Ha ha. So glad things went smoothly (and I know we would have survived even if they had not). But still! 😉

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