In honor of my own two rising high school seniors, I’m hosting my first ever Seniors ONLY Mini Sessions!

Who are these for?

Your high school seniors! Lets celebrate this important milestone by giving the seniors a special day! I will have Fall Family Mini Sessions in November, as always, but the Senior Minis are just for the senior in your life.b

Details Please!

Where: My Greenwood Studio (310 NW 85th St. Seattle, WA 98117)

When: Sunday, September 17th. By appointment only.

Sitting Fee: $175

Digital Files: On sale for just $200 for a complete set (normally $650)

How long: 15 minutes of pure fun!

How do I book?

Simple! Just click the link to the left, choose a time that works best for you, and book your session.

Digital Files and Albums

Digital files and albums will be available for purchase (and on-sale) at the time of the session!

This is a question I get all the time, and the short answer is yes. It is totally safe! But let's break it down!

I'm not a doctor, obviously, but I have done a lot of research on this topic because it's a question I get so often!

False Reports

In 2015, The Daily Mail (a publication known for its questionable journalism) posted a story about a Chinese newborn who was blinded by a relative who took photos of the baby using a flash. This story has since been debunked but is still sighted by people who are concerned about using strobes and flash when photographing newborns and small children.

The Truth

When this story broke, parents and photographers around the world became concerned about the safety of using artificial light when photographing newborns and small children. But the claims made in that article are simply not true.

Ophthalmologist, Dr. Alex Levin was weighed in on the story in an interview with Yahoo Parenting and called the story of the blinded baby in China “inconceivable.”

He went on to say, “If this story were true, there would be lots of blind babies out there… Retinas are made to last, and it’s highly unlikely that this kind of light would cause damage… To attribute the blindness to the taking of a photograph would be incorrect. There’s no way that a camera can cause such damage.”

( https://petapixel.com/2015/07/29/baby-in-china-blinded-by-camera-flash-probably-not )

And according to Babymed.com, "The flash of a camera actually isn’t that bright at all. It only seems bright because it’s often contrasted by dark or indoor settings. The flash of light is no brighter than the light outside in the middle of the day, which is fine for a baby in small doses. The only really harmful light condition you should help your baby avoid is direct and constant sunlight, so always make sure you point your baby’s face away from the sun."

This is something I've read over and over again.

The light that comes from a flash is no brighter than the light you get through a window or from most light bulbs in your house. Now obviously, those lights would be too bright if one were to look directly at them for a long period of time, but we don't. And we don't look directly at the studio strobes for a long period of time either. A studio strobe fires for a fraction of a second. If you are using lights in the style I teach, it's being used at relatively low power and turned away from the baby.

My Approach to Lighting Newborns, Babies and Small Children

I use a low powered, 200-watt strobe flash in my studio and I'm usually shooting it at 50% power (sometimes lower).

My light is never pointed directly at my subject. I bounce the light off the back of an umbrella and then through the diffusion panel that I place on the front of my umbrella. So the light that is already at 50% power is then diffused, or softened.

I then place my light 45 to 90 degrees to my subject, so it's never pointed directly at the person I'm photographing.

Using lights in this way makes them very comfortable to sit in front of. In fact, most of the people I photograph (babies and adults alike) don't even notice the flash!

Personally, I find this style of lighting much more comfortable than sitting in front of continuous light or a bright window.

Your Baby’s Safety is Always My Top Concern

I’ve been working with newborns since 1999. I have over two decades of experience and a ton of training. Your baby’s safety and comfort are always my top concern!

Thats why I don’t use unnatural prosing or elaborate props. And that is why I created the lighting style that I use.

Follow this link to book your session!

Life is busy! I get it! Sometimes your kids don’t want to get dressed, or the baby has a blow out as you’re walking out the door! And we all know how bad Seattle traffic can be, right? So here are some things you need to know if you are running late to your photo session.

Try to plan ahead

I have found that the most common reason for running late is traffic! So keep an eye on the traffic reports the day of your shoot and give yourself plenty of time. I’m always at the studio at least an hour before a scheduled session, so if you arrive early, just text me and let me know! I’d much rather start your session early than late!

Also, if you have children in your family who are on a nap schedule, take their nap time into consideration when booking and allow a buffer when possible! if your child usually takes an 8:00 am, for example, book an 11:00 session rather than a 10:00. Children LOVE to wake up late on photoshoot days!

Call to let me know

If, despite your best laid plans, you are running late, call (or text) me to let me know! My studio number is 206-841-2260.

If I know you are running late then I can let you know if I can accommodate the new time, or if we’ll need to reschedule.

When to reschedule

If you think you are going to be more than 15 to 20 minutes late, you may want to consider rescheduling.

I often work with more than one client in a day and don’t want your session to be rushed if you are 25 to 30 minutes late to a 60 minute session. I would much rather reschedule so you can get the best possible experience.

Life Happens

Remember, I work with children and I’m a mother myself. So I understand that life happens! I will try to be as flexible as I can!

Baby-led newborn photography

I’ve been a newborn and family photographer for 24 years at the time of this post. I started my business in 1999 and I’ve always been passionate about providing the families I work with natural, unposed newborn portraits.

My work is clean and timeless. Free of the props and un-natural posing that is so popular in newborn photography today. That is something I take great pride in.

Here’s why.

Babies are perfect just as they are

You see, I believe babies a perfect just the way they are. They do not need elaborate props or posing to make them cute. They are babies!!! And babies just being babies is enough for me!

When I photograph a newborn, I want to capture them in all of their newborn perfectness!

I want your photos to reflect how you see them.

I photograph your children the way I photographed my own. With love, care and respect.

Your baby’s safety and comfort are my top priorities

Sadly a lot of the posing that is popular in newborn photography is unsafe. And all too often babies who are forced into “Taco” poses (yes… that is actually the name of a newborn pose) are inured in the process.

Stylized posing requires extensive training. And I will conceded that there are trained newborn photographers who do it very well. But I also I believe that if you need to be trained how to do a pose so that you do not seriously injure a baby, then maybe you just should be doing the pose!

Babies are tiny humans.

Babies are not tacos!

I want your photos to stand the test of time

We’ve all seen old family photos that may have been on trend when they were taken, but make us cringe now!

I don’t want that for you! And that is precisely why I stay away from trends.

My goal is to create something for you and your family that will hang on your wall for generations. Something that is timeless, so that you can look at in 10, 20 years from now and find it beautiful, not embarrassing!

Unposed newborn portraits are hard to find

I know that my approach to newborn photography is different. Most newborn photography is highly posed and requires a lot of props. You will not find that at my studio.

If simple, minimal and timeless is what you’re looking for in your newborn photography, then you are in the right place!

Follow this link to book your session! And if you do not see any openings on my schedule, feel free to send me an email! (sandra@sandracoan.com). I always leave room in my calendar for newborns!

I always say, there is nothing as beautiful as a newborn baby!  Those first moments are truly a magical time.  And that is why you want to make sure the person you are entrusting to create their newborn portraits is the best fit for you.  

But how do you go about finding the best one?  Especially when you live in a city like Seattle that has so many talented photographers to choose from!

Hopefully this post will help answer some of your questions!

Style

Before you dive deep into your online research, I encourage you to think about what style of photography you like!  

When it comes to newborn photography, most people think of photos that rely heavily on props and posing. But not all photographers shoot in that style!

I practice what is called “baby led posing”.  

What that means is that I only place newborns in poses that are natural and comfortable for them to be in.  So, for example, I’lI place your sleeping baby on their stomach, side or back.  But I will never position them in an unnatural position like a “taco” or “froggy” pose.

I also stay away from props in my work.  

I love images that are clean, minimal and timeless!

Knowing the style of photography that resonates most with you will help you narrow down your choices! 

Experience

Once you’ve found a photographer, or maybe a couple of photographers, whose style matches your own, check how much experience they have working in this genre.

Newborn photography is a very specialized field. It takes a lot of patience.  And you’ll want someone who has experience working with newborns, knows how to keep them comfortable and happy, and understands how to work efficiently!

I started my photography business in 1999 and have been working as a newborn photographer even since. Newborn photography is my specialty. And I work with over 100 families a year, so I have a ton of experience working with newborns!

Trust

When it comes to choosing a newborn photographer, trust is another important factor to consider!  

You want to make sure that the quality of work they show on their website is the same quality you can expect to get  if you choose to trust them with these once in a lifetime photos!!

So spend time looking through their portfolio and social media!  

Is their work consistent?  

Do they show a variety to clients? 

Is the work they post in the bright summer months the same quality as the work they post in the winter (that will tell you whether or not they know how to work in different lighting conditions). 

Also, look for awards and accolades!

I, for example, and an award winning photographer.  

I’m also an industry educator and a best selling author.  

I am trusted and partner with some of the biggest brands in the photography world, like Kodak, and Westcott Light!  So in addition to serving clients for over 20 years, I’ve earned the trust of my colleagues and industry leaders! 

That is something I'm very proud of. 

Next Steps

I hope this post was helpful!  If you have any questions, please let me know!  And if you’d like to schedule your newborn appointment, just follow this link!

One of the most common questions we get here at Sandra Coan Photography is this: What is the best age for newborn portraits?

Within the first 10 days is ideal

I recommend that you book your newborn session within the first ten days if you can!  

The earlier the better!

Here’s why

First of all, your baby will never be that tiny again.  And there is something very special about capturing the magic of those first days with your new baby.

Fresh newborns are also very sleepy!  So bringing them in when they are brand new increases your chances of getting those precious, sleeping baby photos.

Baby acne!  It’s totally normal, and it usually starts about two weeks after birth.  So getting your baby in for photos early  increases your chances of missing the baby breakout stage!

All that said, there is NO WRONG TIME to photograph your newborn

Listen, I’ve been a newborn photographer for 24 years at the time of this post.  I’m also a mother myself.  And the reality is, it’s not always possible to make that 10 day window!

I believe babies and perfect just as they are. That is why I do not pose the newborns I work with.

Having a newborn is wonderful.  But it can also be really hard!

So know this.  There is no WRONG time to photograph your baby.

Is a 3 week old baby still a newborn?  Yes!  And we can still get gorgeous photos?

Is it too late to bring a  4 or 5 week old baby in for photos?  Not at all!!!  4 and 5 week old babies are precious! 

Every age is the perfect age for photos!  And I promise you, you will never regret having photos taken!

Follow this link to book your session!

One of the biggest concerns the families I work with have when it comes to planning a photo shoot is whether or not their children, especially their toddlers, will “behave”.

I totally understand this concern!

When you book a family portrait session you are investing both time and money and you want it to be as perfect as can be!

There is no perfect

But after 24 years working as a professional photographer, this is what I’ve learned!

There is no perfect!

And being “perfect” is over rated anyway!

What I love about photographing toddlers

As a portrait photographer, my goal is to create images that capture the person I’m photographing as they truly are in this moment in life.

I work really hard to see the “real” because I find that beautiful.

As a mother, I want to look back at photos of my children and remember them as they’re authentic little selves.

The gift of toddlers is that they ONLY exist in “the real”. They haven’t learned to pose yet. They don’t have a rehearsed “picture face”. You will never get a fake smile from a two or three year old!

And that is why I LOVE working with them so much!

So what do I do is your child doesn’t want their photo taken?

When you and your child come into the studio, the first thing I do is make sure your toddler feels comfortable. Young children are often a little bit shy at first, so I give them time to warm up.

We talk and play for a few minutes, then we move into pictures.

If they are still feeling unsure, I’ll start with mom or dad sitting with them.

We play and sing songs!

I make it fun.

And I always bet something beautiful!

Don’t worry. You’re in good hands.

I’ve been photographing newborns, toddlers and children since 1999! Before that I was a kindergarten teacher. I’m also the mother of twins.

I know and understand children.

I truly enjoy them.

So when you come in for your family photos, don’t worry.

You are in good hands!

And if you even have any question or concerns before you session, do not hesitate to ask! You can always reach me at sandra@sandracoan.com

I have some exciting news for all of you dog moms and dads out there!

Santa Paws is coming to Seattle!!

This by-appointment Holiday portrait “pup-up” will take place on Sunday, Dec. 4th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm.

Appointments are a fun and festive five minutes. All sessions include digital files. And a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Dog Gone Seattle Resue!

Santa and I ask that all participating pups be house-trained and well-socialized! And yes, you are more than welcome to hop in the photos with your fur baby!

Follow this link to schedule your appointment!

Santa and I are BOTH jumping for joy!

For the first time since 2019, Santa will be visiting the studio for a full day of by-appointment Santa Sessions!!

I started offering Santa photos for my clients back in 2009, after a very stressful day of waiting two hours in a Santa line with 3-year-old twins.

No parent (or child) should have to endure that!

I knew I could create a MUCH better experience for my clients. After all, seeing Santa should be a fun, magical experience! NOT something that is stressful, hard, and time-consuming!

And so the by-appointment Santa Sessions were born!

Santa and I worked together for over ten years! Until Covid forced us to take a pause. During the pandemic, I honestly wasn’t sure if I would ever do this fun event again. But Santa and I both feel like it’s safe to begin again.

Plus, we’ve missed you!!

So here is what you need to know:

Santa sessions are by appointment, so you don't have to worry about standing in line.

Your child, or children, will have plenty of time to talk to Santa and share their wishlist!

The theme this year is Winter Wonderland- a simple white motif sure to make colors pop! So wear that red!!

The session fee of $225 includes your time with Santa, your photos session AND a complete set of digital files!

Our turnaround time is lightning fast, so you'll have your images to use for Holiday cards and gifts!

Santa Sessions will take place on Nov. 26th from 9am-2pm.

Space is limited! So follow this link to book your appointment today

Now that the weather actually feels like it's Fall, I'm ready for the festive Fall/Holiday season to begin!

And that means getting ready for Holiday Mini Sessions!

Holiday Minis are a much loved tradition at my studio. and will be happening on Nov. 12th and 13th this year!(I've created an online booking system this year to make scheduling your Mini Session extra easy. Just follow this link to get on the calendar.)

Here is what you need to know.

Minis are fun and fast 15-minute sessions! Perfect for a family photo for your holiday card, updated pictures of the kids, headshots for you and gifts for the grand parents!

​The price of a mini session is $175: due at time of booking.​

I'll also be offering SALE pricing on digital files, albums and prints when purchased at the time of your Mini Session. One-stop holiday shopping!​

Minis always sell out, so sign up today to save your spot!

​Follow this link to get on the schedule.​

And keep an eye on your inbox, I'll be announcing sign up for Santa photos soon!​

See you in November!