Nashville Newborn Photographer | The Charm of Lived-In Spaces: Why You Don't Need a Pinterest-Perfect Home
Scrolling through social media these days, it is so easy to feel less than when it comes to our home. Other people's homes seem to be perfectly curated and decorated and look professionally done. But if you have ever stopped mid scroll, and looked around to see your son's dirty socks, your daughter's barbies strewn about and laundry on the sofa needing put away, you are not alone.
Guess what? That cozy, chaotic, well-used space you’re living in? It tells a story. One far more meaningful than a curated photo ever could.
Home Isn’t a Showroom—It’s a Story
A lived-in home is filled with personality. The dent in the coffee table? That’s from a board game night that got a little too competitive. The art on the fridge? Masterpieces by your kids or niece. The mismatched mugs in the kitchen? Each one collected from a place or moment that made you smile.
These imperfections don’t detract from your home’s beauty—they create it.
Real Life Is Messy, and That’s Okay
Perfection is exhausting. Living up to a social media standard of design can turn your home into a stage instead of a sanctuary. A home should work for you, not the other way around.
You don’t need throw pillows fluffed just so, or color-coded bookshelves to feel at peace in your space. Comfort and authenticity trump aesthetics every single time.
Design Should Support Life—Not Replace It
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a beautiful home, but beauty doesn’t always mean polished. A couch with worn cushions that everyone fights to nap on has value. So does a kitchen table with scratches from years of family dinners, homework, and impromptu heart-to-hearts.
When your space is designed around the life you live—not the one you think you should be living—it becomes truly beautiful.
The Emotional Layer of Home
Homes hold memory. That slightly wobbly chair you’ve had since college? It’s seen you through heartbreaks and late-night chats. The blanket thrown haphazardly over the couch? It’s comforted more people than you can count.
These things might not be “on brand” with current trends, but they are on brand with you. And that’s what makes them special.
Final Thoughts: Choose Soul Over Style
It’s okay to love beautiful interiors. But if you find yourself apologizing for your home every time someone visits, it might be time to reframe what “beautiful” really means.
Embrace the fingerprints on the glass, the cluttered entryway, the warm chaos of daily life. Because that’s what home really is—a place that holds you, not a place that performs for others.
So no, you don’t need a Pinterest-perfect home. You need a home that feels like you.
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Studio posed vs in-home lifestyle newborn photography
It's 2025 and a lot has changed in 10 years. I spent many years perfecting newborn posing and having a studio. I loved every second of it. But as life goes on and people change, I too changed. I changed my purpose behind my work and I changed how I felt about what I was doing. Does that mean I regretted it? Not at all. People shift. That's life. But since I have the unique position of having done posed newborn photography for over 6 years and now having done in-home lifestyle / documentary newborn photography for the past 8 years, I thought I would write about the differences, in case a mom out there is wondering, which one is right for her.
The poses.
Let's start with the difference in poses when comparing an in-home newborn session to a posed squishy newborn studio session. In the posed situation, baby is molded into various adorable poses that place them into a perfect position. the lips are brought out, the angles are perfect, the baby is folded to create a piece of art. It's absolutely precious. But what are the downsides?
Well, for one... did that baby ever naturally pose themselves that way? Not usually. So it kind of tells a false narrative. Vs... when you do an in-home newborn session just a week or two postpartum (or longer if doing a newborn video), the baby is never intentionally posed. Everything is organic and natural and the positions he or she puts themself in, tells the story of how that baby may have positioned itself in the womb. The story is what I am after in my work - the story was what I was missing in my old style of photography. The story is what we will miss.
The photos.
In the studio, the photos are very similar to the 90s olan mills days. (the thing we don't want to admit!) Everyone is posed the same as every other family and it's a factory assembly line. Your family is family #4 for the week, and will be put through all the same poses as the family before that and before that. It is very cookie cutter. Whereas, when I go into the home of a family, everything about them is unique, and I hone in on that. The furniture, the state their home is in (moving boxes tell the story of how you just moved into your new home just before baby was born), its all a time stamp of what life was like the year you had your baby. We miss these elements of story telling in some of our modern photography ways... in the 80s and 90s, we had albums from photos that we got off of a polaroid or a disposable camera. There were items randomly placed on a coffee table, the sofa was the mess that it was - and ALL of it told the story of that year and that time in your life. The beauty of the items laying around or the imperfections is the depth of the story told.
The pacing of the session
This might be the best part. With a studio session, there is stress about getting out of the house with a newborn and trying to remember all the things you'll need. You get to the studio and the photographer definitely has a lot of patience (I hope) and you can relax and watch your newborn be posed and photographed. But she might have someone else coming in and will move through the poses as quickly as she can for you and her - to let you get home and resting again. When I come to your home, it's just us hanging out. Baby's fussy? we just sit and chat and let you nurse. Need a snack? No problem, I set my camera down (or maybe I don't) and we just chat and eat. There is ZERO pressure. Not ready when I arrive? Cool, I will just chat with the hubby or pet the dog... You get my drift. I want nothing more for you than for this to be the easiest possible session ever. You don't even have to have a clean house, I wont flinch if it's a mess of stuff. If I need something moved, we just move it. All I care about is that you are able to enjoy your day being photographed as a family with a new baby. and that I leave and you feel like that experience was so easy and fun. I usually spend between 1-2 hours, depending on the family's pace at a session. You're my only session that day and I want to come with an open heart ready to give your session 150%.
In-home newborn photography is more candid, real life, capturing things like the nursery and your home, letting you just do what you have been doing - loving on your new baby - and Im just there to hang out while you do it. And if you happen to add on a film, I will even get to capture all of those amazing baby noises and coos - and how baby responds and lights up when you talk to them. If this is something you are interested in, contact me here!
Nashville Newborn Photographer | The Best Doulas in Nashville, Franklin, Spring Hill, TN and Beyond!
As a Nashville Birth Videographer and Photographer, I am blessed to be able to attend many home births. As such, I get to see so many birth providers and doulas and midwives support women in their journey of bringing their newborn into the world.Hiring a doula is such an integral part of your birth plans. I did not have a doula with my first birth and it turned out the epidurals do not work on my body (they gave me 3 and all 3 failed). So for my 2nd birth, I attended Bradley Method Birth Classes and hired me a doula!It was 2012, and the birth world wasn't what it is today. I found a few and interviewed them but ultimately chose a woman named Beulah (Man, if she wasn't 70 and was starting her business today, what a marketing campaign for Beulah the Doula!). She was amazing. Calm and centered. and I adored her. (I would recommend her, but I don't think she's practicing much these days!). All that to say, I truly know the importance of having a doula that meshes well with you and can stand up for you, plus support you WELL.Here are my top faves!!!
- Viergeni White. I have attended a few births with this lady and she is hands down the BEST doula. You know, being the best doula doesn't really have to do with WHAT they do? It's how they do it. It's their presence. Their soul. any doula can "do all the right things" but it really comes down to that plus their spiritual self and presence in the birth space. This sweet lady has such a deep connection with her moms, she prays audibly, shows up so happy to be there. She is so in tune with mom. Is just amazing.
2. Lyss Moore. I have not yet gotten to be in a birth with Lyss, but I have heard many MIDWIVES rave about her. She holds women well in their time of need and has a big heart for birth.3. Kimberly Williams. Kimberly is amazing. She's a gentle soul and loves the lord. She is an incredible doula with a peaceful presence in the birth space.
4. Amanda Githaiga. I have not yet had a birth with this doula, but she comes highly recommended by doulas on this list! She is who other doulas would hire for their birth - which speaks volumes. She is crunchy and Christian, which matters to many.5. Lauren Glass. I had a long VBAC with this lovely doula. She spent many hours with this momma, supporting her and helping her, mentally and physically. Mom even got transferred and Lauren's energy never waned. She is fierce and loving - an amazing combination for a doula.
Nashville Newborn Photographer | The Smith Family welcomes baby #2
I just loved spending a fall morning with The Smith family, capturing them in their new life with baby #2, a boy. They have enjoyed their time with a newborn and their 4 year old, being out on their land with their chickens, in their kitchen drinking coffee together... life together raising a 4 year old sweet girl who just became a big sister - who loves to read and put on makeup and be with her parents and baby brother. This time with littles is so fleeting (and exhausting!) and I love being able to give my sweet families their memories of this time that can go by in a blur. If you want your family captured, I would LOVE to chat! 
Nashville Newborn Photographer | The DeClue Family
Getting to enter a family's life and see them just a few weeks into their parenting journey, is such a fun experience. I love seeing them head over heels in love with this new human, a few weeks into their new lives, being entirely new people really, because having a baby changes you a million times over. I love thinking ahead to how she won't be this tiny for long. How they will grow into their parenthood. How as a couple they are going to change and grow together, raising a little girl. I love thinking about how soon she will sit up, then crawl, and one day walk. How in a few short weeks, the babbling and teething will come and she will say her first word. and how amazing it will all be for these two parents. If you want me to come capture your life with your new baby or as a family, please reach out to me here, I would LOVE to chat!
Nashville, Tennessee Newborn Photographer | The Guarienti Family
I truly believe, 100%, God selects my clients. He picks them out so beautifully.Brooke contacted me in August about a maternity and newborn session at her home and land northwest of Nashville. We captured her maternity session back in September on a beautiful summer day. I truly fell in love with this sweet family. Meeting them, they are so down to earth, loving, and kind. Truly trying their hardest to raise amazing boys (and succeeding!). Their older son is OBSESSED with baby brother, a truly good sign of good parenting (don't worry, you can be good parents and have an older son who isn't a fan like I did 🤣)We spent a morning just hanging out with together, chatting about all things newborn, politics, family, nursing and so on. It really is just a chill time of hanging out together. I don't force a tight schedule or rush the session, just go with the flow, stay as long as I need to. Let the toddler run the show 🤣🤣🤣If you would like maternity and or newborn photos, please reach out to me! I would love to connect.
Nashville Videographer + Photographer | The Smith Family
My sweet friend, Alisha, and I met via Facebook years ago. She lives 3 hours away in Chattanooga. Occasionally she comes to Nashville and we try to see one another. We chat by phone regularly and just adore one another. Last October of 2023, she became pregnant. An amazing surprise. Even though it was her 3rd* pregnancy, she got big fast compared to the other 2 pregnancies. Her husband kept telling her he thought it was twins. So, in an attempt to prove him wrong, she got an ultrasound. (She wanted a home birth and in that birth world they don't automatically do ultrasounds). So she gets the ultrasound and it is indeed twins! she said she screamed and PASSED OUT! 😂😂😂If you knew Alisha, you would know that she is a woman of great power. This girl backs down from nothing. She also struggles with control and surrender, to which God gave her twins 😂😂😂Her pregnancy was REALLY hard. physically just SO hard. mentally hard, because everyone placed so many doubts in her mind (or they tried to anyway).I have never been more proud of a mama. She tracked her food and ate as much protein as she could. she was on a beautiful array of supplements and minerals. Having a degree in developmental psychology, I understand what she would need to carry theses babies as long as possible. She carried them to FORTY WEEKS. She had Etta first, weighed 7 lbs something. and Truett second, weighing in at over 9 lbs and BREECH. At home. with her amazing midwives.Watching her go through it all, I decided that my baby gift would be a newborn/family film after the twins arrived. I drove down and our other friend, Khloe (and her doula) came too, and after the film and photos were done, we all ate tacos that Alisha had made for cinco de mayo. It was so fun and a memory I will carry forever.She is SO grateful for this film of this unpredictable life they are living. They built a home and moved in last fall and now have these precious twins and two older girls to raise. It's such a beautiful life and a gift she gets to live. Enjoy her film and photos.If you want a family film, please reach out to me here! I would love to talk!
Nashville Newborn Photographer | 6 week old Baby June
Being asked to capture life entering the world, families living their days, families building their life and culture and future generations, it's all so much in the best way. This incredible family has hired me not only for two of their home births, but for two family films and two newborn sessions. I LOVE capturing how well they love one another. Their intentional parenting, how they really work hard to cultivate love and relationship and connection in their family culture. I cannot wait to film them in October!
Their 3rd baby is not only a girl, but she has the most amazing red hair. I tried my best to capture it, but it was like the camera couldn't quite tell the story of this amazing hair do. The poof, the mullet, the dark and red mixed. It was some of the most amazing baby hair I have ever seen. and she had like 4 chins if you caught her at the right angle 🤣 I am so obsessed. I cannot wait to see how she changes and if this red hair sticks around!
Nashville Newborn Photographer | The Morrison Family
Those days after you have your second baby... so much joy, your heart is SO full because you have TWO babies and you cannot believe it. But, it honestly comes with some heartache, that most people don't warn you about. The feeling of wondering if your older child feels loved still, how they are coping with bringing another baby into the home. It's really hard on a mama.I loved how this family loves so deeply. They love being together and sharing kisses and hugs and books. They are just so devoted to being together and loving one another well. I just absolutely enjoyed spending time with them, capturing these early years in their long journey of parenthood to come.If you have followed my work for some time, you know Im not super into posing. The only sessions with some light posing, are newborn sessions. And even then, I let as much organic emotion come through as possible. I try to take any candid photos that might come naturally as well.If you would like a newborn session, please reach out to me and let's talk! 
Nashville Family Videographer + Photographer | The Taylor Family
Filming this family twice in a year, gosh it's the biggest compliment. Not only did they hire me for their incredible home birth, but then to hire me to capture their family with their newest newborn (not to mention, they are former wedding videographers)... It's the BIGGEST compliment.Having families who now hire me annually, brings me near tears. It has been a dream to have this unique business and seeing it having grown into what it is, makes me so happy.I love this family because they truly prioritize simplicity over busy, connection over things. Their are so engaged with their kids and truly love one another. They make every effort to live their lives to the fullest and to be fully present with their family. I loved capturing them playing and gardening. My favorite scenes are of them planting their garden and of mom and her daughter going to the coop to get the eggs. I love audio in family films and how it really brings the story to life. Engaging all of the senses, so bring you back to that very moment.
The Taylor Family | April 2024 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.
Nashville Newborn Photographer | The Morrison Family
What I loved and appreciated about this family was that they had such a deepened gratitude for having a baby, for becoming parents. It was quite like their biggest dreams in life had come true. They are already the most intentional parents, loving their sweet baby girl fully. Embracing life as parents together, as a team, a unit. Their new baby girl is the piece that bonds them now. I absolutely adore their film and photos and how it all came together.
If you would like to have a family video and photos done after you have your baby, please let's chat!
The Morrison Family | January 2024 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.
What age should newborn photos be taken? | Nashville Newborn Photographer
When is the best age to take newborn photos?
TL;DR Any age is a good age for relaxed, natural newborn photos.
You have a newborn for all of 7 weeks. So when is this 7 week period, is a good time to take newborn photos?
It varies by style, for sure. If you want the posed newborn photos (I used to pose newborns for many years), you'll definitely need to do them within 10 days of birth. After about 5-6 years of posing newborns and then discovering my true inner self within documentary photography and videography, I now prefer the style of in-home relaxed newborn photos. I want to tell the story of what your baby preferred or did not prefer during their newborn stage.
Maybe they always had their hand up by their face. Or they make a scrunchy face often during the day. With offering newborn videography, I can also capture their little noises or coos. In-home newborn photography allows for baby to lead the session. We are able to capture any nursing photos (if you want), as well as how dad naturally interacts with your newborn baby!
There are many advantages to waiting until the baby is closer to 4-6 weeks old, especially if clients are hiring my to do videography. In the earlier weeks, baby won't interact with mom and dad much. But closer to 4-5 weeks, they are cooing and smiling and making eye contact. I give my clients the choice between photography around 2 weeks old or later, when they are more interactive. Because my clients can hire me for just photos, or for video+photos, that might alter their response as well. If they are hiring me for just photos, my clients tend to choose to have their in-home newborn session closer to 2 weeks, which is super precious.
2 week old Babies:
If you are wanting to capture that really young newborn stage, then this is the time frame for you! It is the most common time newborn babies are photographed. Babies are still sleepy, and curling up like they did in the womb. They are very snuggly and don't have any newborn acne, typically.
3-4 week old Babies:
This stage might offer some baby acne. If this really bothers you, you might put the session off until it clears. (I am very flexible with newborn bookings!). But for a photographer who captures real life, it doesn't phase me. However, how much acne can vary widely and a baby with worse acne, might be a situation to put it off a few more weeks until their acne clears. During this stage of development, babies tend to go through growth spurts and can be crankier and hungrier and needier.
5-7 week old Babies:
I love capturing babies most at either 2 weeks old, or in this 5-7 week window. They are more alert in this window and interacting more, which is great for video and for photos. Mom has had more time to recover from birth and everyone has fallen into their roles as mom and dad. Babies have filled out, they keep their eyes open more and they most likely are smiling by now!
Older Babies:
Don't let any belief out there make you think you have missed a magic window to capture your baby. The beauty of lifestyle photos, is that any time, is a good time to capture your life with your baby!
If you want newborn or even older babies photos, please reach out! I would love to help.
Nashville Newborn Photographer | The Morgan Family
This session was years in the making. Jillian has wanted to hire me forever and after becoming pregnant with #2, was able to convince her husband to have a newborn family video of their early days with a teeny new daughter. The film turned out absolutely amazing and she immediately booked her 2nd film 😂
They have an older daughter, who is completely smitten with her little baby sister. I loved highlighting that new relationship in their film and photos. They will always have precious video to remember the beginning of their daughters' sisterhood. How big sis would read and sing to her baby sister. Years from now when big sis is giving her little sister boy advice, this film is going to be 100x more meaningful. It literally makes me tear up thinking about it.
My 3 favorite things about this family film + photo session...
#1 How mom responded after seeing her film.
This is literally my MOST favorite part of the entire process. I LOVE filming and I LOVE editing but getting to experience mom's (and dad's) responses to seeing it, is just on a whole other level. Here are some quotes from her texts to me:
"I think my heart just stopped"
"I don’t have words… you truly have a gift!"
"I forgot about her baby Afro 🥰"
"I am going to watch it on repeat, truly amazing! Thank you SO much!!!"
"I am so thankful we finally did it!"
"You turned my ordinary into extraordinary!!"
"If I was rich, I would get one every month for the first year of life!"
#2 Dad's authentic chit chat with his new baby girl.
He is incredibly smitten and has this southern accent. His sweet but hilarious personality really shines through.
#3 Absolutely big sister and her love for her baby sister.
How she kisses her, talks to her, sings to her, reads to her and just organically shows her love. It makes me tear up every time I watch their film!
The Morgan Family | December 2023 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.
5 Reasons you should consider In-home newborn photography | Nashville Newborn Photographer
After having a baby, the recovery can be hard. Either your birth canal hurts or you've just had major abdominal surgery. Leaving home with a toddler and a newborn to carry everyone off to a newborn studio shoot, can be difficult. and too much on your postpartum body. This is just one of the many reasons I love in-home newborn photography.
Keep reading for the top 5 reasons to have your newborn shoot at home.
#1 It's more authentic.
In the 80s and 90s, we captured some newborn photos at the hospital with the traditional pink and blue hospital hat and the bracelet, but we also took a lot of candids at home with our cameras. Somehow, with the modern way we get photos done, we seem to have less of our candid lives. Having someone enter your home and simply be a fly on the wall, letting you be comfortable leads to more authentic images. You'll be able to look back at them and see the things that were on your coffee table, telling the story of the year you had a newborn. (like, maybe a Stanley sits there, and you would remember when the Stanleys were flying off the shelves). You might remember in the 80s, it was common for there to be a large circle ash tray. Something so simple can tell the most amazing stories. You would remember the sofa you had during the newborn stage. The way you had her nursery set up. The way her older sister adjusted to life with a little baby in the house. The middle of the night feeds, the way she grabbed tightly onto your finger. There are all of these tiny moments in our every day with a newborn and it only lasts 7 weeks.
#2 Getting photos is easier at home.
With little to no posing, Everyone, including big brother or sister, and dad, can be relaxed in their environment rather than walking into a studio they have rarely been to, and being told to sit here and smile, or kiss baby, etc. Which creates pressure. That pressure can lead to melt downs, and inauthentic and forced photos.
#3 There is no schedule.
When I show up, Im there on your clock, not mine. In a studio setting, there are usually set windows for each client. But when Im at my client's home, I can pause when baby needs to nurse (and can capture that if mom wants) and can take a break if the older sibling is feeling overwhelmed. I can set my camera down, and just be a friend who came over for a visit. I do whatever leads to authentic photos. Im never rushed and am only there to tell the story you want told.
#4 Each baby is beautiful just as they are.
While I spent years posing newborns, I have since learned that when I chose to do that, I was preventing mom of memories of how here baby was as a baby. How they chose to lay, how they preferred their hands to be. How they chose to lay their head. Oftentimes, parents will see their photos of their newborn baby and say "oh my gosh, she did that in utero!" and refer to previous ultrasounds or just the way baby seemed to constantly bring their hand up by their face like they had done it 100X before.
#5 There is no special window to capture baby in.
Depending on if you want newborn videography or just photography alone, You can have your session anywhere from 2-6 weeks after having your baby. If you want videography, I let my clients choose, of course, but often recommend around 4 weeks when baby is starting to interact with mom and dad, so we can really get some great audio and footage. I work with each family individually, and customize their session to what they want. Even if they want an earlier newborn session, we don't have to capture it in that first 10 days to get the posed type of photography, so we can even wait until baby is 2 weeks old and mom is moving around better and feels more herself. Plus, given that I'm trying to tell the story of what it was like to have a newborn, I tend to like mom and dad to have some time to process the fact that they have a newborn! It's so surreal at first!
If you are in the Nashville area, or want me to travel to you, feel free to reach out or take a look at my work!
The Birth Story of Melody Ann | Nashville Birth Videographer + Photographer
Melody Ann Rhodes Allen Birth Story (as told by the mother, Emily)
December 29th 2023
With her 1 month Earth side quickly approaching (Friday) I didn’t want to put off sharing our birth story any longer! I am so proud to share our story. When preparing for a home birth, listening and reading about positive home births and mamas experiences was so beneficial for me. My hope is that this would serve as the same for others ❤️ Daniel recorded some time stamps so I’m going to go through the sequence of events in that way.
The Birth of Melody Ann | December 2023 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.
Brief context and a little bit of my why on choosing a homebirth. I had the pleasure of meeting my beloved midwives as my own clients before I ever became one of theirs. Over the span of knowing Sarah fuqua for a few months into a year I met Sara Rosser. We became fast friends and I grew to understand their work a lot more. We shared a lot of commonalities with all things natural and holistic. I had always wanted a third child but felt so blessed to have two healthy children, so I had come to terms with having our two and calling it quits, well, God had other plans! ❤️ I’ll always say the Sarah’s final last words were if you ever have a third…😉 From the very first prenatal appointment in our living room I could tell this experience was already going to be vastly different from my previous two births. I felt held, heard, understood , and incredibly lucky to be under the care of my friends. Then I had the pleasure of meeting the force of nature that is Jennie our photographer. If I was going to do this I wanted it to be documented and she is the ultimate expert in this field!! We had the all-star team in place! I was already confident in my body with the way I birthed my other two (induced/epidural/vaginal delivery/labor time lasting less than 8 hours for both) so I was ready to embark on this new adventure!
2:45 AM: I woke up to a sudden leak of fluid and when I got up to check I dismissed it and went back to lay down. Not a minute later I felt baby move and this time a lot more fluid was leaking out so Daniel and I both got up and I got a test strip to check if it was amniotic fluid, sure enough, it was! We looked at each other excitedly! I was so excited to have this happen naturally for me and not have my waters broken in the hospital like with my other two. I called Sarah Fuqua to let her know and she told me “I was just dreaming you were calling me and then I picked up!” (I swear God made her for this work) she proceeded to tell us to try to lay back down and rest and that she understood it may be difficult to since our adrenaline spiked but that we’d need all the energy for labor in the near future. So we listened and tried to fall back asleep. We may have dozed off a little bit but eventually I just woke up expectant of baby’s arrival soon!
4:30 AM: I took a shower and prayed for Daniel, baby and myself, our midwives, my sister and our photographer. I prayed everything would flow seamlessly and that this birth would turn out to glorify him. I gave up my surrender and told him I trust in his design to help me birth my baby.
5:00 AM: By this time my sister had woken up and met us with the same amount of excitement we both were having! We started reminiscing on our birth stories together and it was such special time spent that I won’t ever forget. I had imagined that since my water broke I would start contracting soon but nothing was happening other than a steady flow of fluid.
We hung out chit chatting until our kiddos woke up at 6:45 and 7:15. Grace and Daniel made them breakfast, got them dressed and sent off to hang out with our best friends Jake and Cristy who live in our neighborhood.
9 AM rolls around and I still wasn’t feeling anything, like nothing at all, just more fluid leaking. I kind of started getting discouraged because I thought I should be feeling something by now. I asked my midwives what I could be doing to get things started. They had me start the miles circuit which is laying in certain positions to get the baby in optimal birthing position. I spent about an hour doing that until their arrival at our house.
11:15 AM I told them I am ready to do whatever in order to meet our baby soon! Another final last words scenario…😂 Sarah fuqua proceeded to have me climb our stairs three steps at a time for 15 mins straight 🥵 I felt like I bossed that out 💪🏻 and was ready to move on to the next thing. Shaking apples! That helped baby get into a good position. After this I contemplated a cervical check…I was always used to cervical checks in the hospital and didn’t necessarily think I wanted to do that this time around. But, my eagerness got the best of me and I asked them check. They said I was dilated to 4 centimeters…In my previous labors 4 centimeters was the point when I got an epidural so I was excited to feel everything in its entirety moving forward.
12:15 PM we came up with a game plan on what I’d do next; eat lunch, maybe go walk around target, come back and rest. My sweet friend Betsy showed up with lunch for us and during that time I experienced a large contraction. Hoorayyyy!! Bets prayed with me which was such a burst of encouragement to get me started into my steady flow of contractions. We ditched the game plan of going to Target because I felt like I needed to head upstairs to get more comfortable.
12:30 PM By this point my contractions were lasting 1 min each and coming 4 mins apart. Technically this indicates active labor, but I was in denial. I was hunched over holding myself up on our bed mumbling “I think I’m fine, don’t call Jennie yet”. To which Daniel and Grace called BS and called the troops in 😂 (thankfully) Then they asked if I wanted them to set the birth pool up. We wanted to time it just right so the water would stay warm. I couldn’t get out a yes or no and just said “I don’t know” and Grace said “that’s our answer” so they proceeded to start filling up the pool. Now this part of our home birth was Daniel’s territory. He was going to handle the pool and filling it up. When we went to do a practice round of blowing up the pool and connecting the water hose to our shower head, the water wasn’t fully flowing through the hose and kind of leaking out. Daniel said it’d be fine and that we didn’t need an adapter but he’d use tape if needed 🫠 alas, the day comes and as im contracting on and off the toilet and swaying side to side on all fours on the ground, I see water splashing all up and down the wall. The water wasn’t filling the pool fully and we ran out of hot water. To which I then start to cry and express “I knew this was going to happen!! I just wanted the water to work out!” Grace explained in this moment her and Daniel shared a gaze of terror like we are about to figure this sh*t out if it’s the last thing we do, lol! So they snapped into action with a new plan.
1:50 PM So by this time my midwives were actively guiding and coaching me through contractions. Grace and Daniel, the king and queen that they are started heating up multiple pots and bowls of water on the stove and microwave to take up the stairs to fill the tub (by any means necessary 😂) I was so thankful I was able to get relief in the warm pool water. All while that was happening Sarah fuqua had me on the dilation station (toilet) with my feet up on a squatty potty (not my favorite thing in the world) but this was getting me more and more dilated, I could feel it.
2:30 PM My photographer Jennie rushes over and arrives right in perfect timing! Praise Jesus!! Another perfectly timed part of our story. I remember I asked for music to be put on. “what my fathers like” by Bridge Worship came on and the intro had me in tears. The songs lyrics always made me cry during my pregnancy and it gave me comfort during this part of my labor. “After all that I’d done, didn’t know what I’d find, but you ran out to me, and to my surprise put a robe on my back a ring on my hand a crown on my head and you welcomed me in” This was such a impactful moment for me to remind me how much I am loved by my Father and how he always takes care of me. I was so proud of my body and the decision I made to birth at home. I was trusting the process and trying to stay as limp as possible and just let my body do its thing rather than tense up. After this I got out of the pool and into our bed. Sarah and Daniel started massaging my hips and applying counter pressure which felt so good! She had me alter from side to side which did not feel so good lol. I remember feeling at this point like I couldn’t go on any longer to which I expressed to Sarah and her reply was “you were made to do this, just melt into the bed” those words pushed me through the mental wall I was facing. The next feeling I had was intense pressure to go to the bathroom 💩 I actually fully thought I 💩 on the bed and I was very embarrassed, but come to find out never did (so crazy how it feels like that!) I really wanted to birth in the pool so I made a quick move from the bed into the pool, where I started to feel the overwhelming urge to push. The contractions were very intense at this point and I knew baby was about to arrive. I was on my knees in the pool with my arms draped over the edge completely focused on my body and my baby. Daniel and Sarah were positioned behind me pouring the warm over me and getting ready to receive our bundle of joy. I summoned all the energy I had left and with two primal roars and two huge pushes our newborn baby was out at 3:15 PM!!
During this pregnancy we decided to be surprised by the gender of our baby. So moments after the birth, I excitedly asked, is it a boy or girl!?! Daniel took a look and got to proclaim we had another precious baby girl!!! We were so happy! I had always heard the natural unmedicated post birth euphoria was unexplainable and transformative. I was so proud of my decision, I GOT to experience it this time! That was the most incredible thing I have ever been through. My body is incredible. I am incredible. My baby girl is incredible. My husband is incredible. My birth team is incredible. BIRTH is INCREDIBLE!!! Undisturbed, unmedicated, physiological birth. It is how God intended. It is whole. It is perfectly by design. It is not scary. It is transformative. It is powerful. It is sacred. It is the forging into motherhood. I have been made new, for the third time. In charge, confident, remarkable mama bear who accomplished her goal, my Everest. Thank you to my whole rockstar team and my incredible community of friends and family to help turn this into a reality. I wouldn’t have been able to take the steps needed to see this through, with out you. I will be forever grateful, I love you!!!
If you would like your birth videoed and photographed, you can contact me here!
Nashville Family Videographer | Product Feature: The Video Playbook
A few years ago, a client of mine pointed me to this video playbook. I thought "ohh that is kinda neat" and ordered a studio sample. When it came, I truly thought it was meh. Fast forward a few months when I displayed it at my booth at The Enliven Wellness Expo. Oh my GOSH, people went crazy over it!!! Clients absolutely love these. I think because I have older kiddos, I didn't see much value in it. But now that a few clients have them, I see why they love them!
#1 Their small kids go to bed watching their film.
They fight over who gets to fall asleep watching it. 🥺
Can you imagine being able to fall asleep watching your family on film laugh and hug and say precious things to one another?
#2 It's a SUPER easy way to rewatch your film.
You can set it on the coffee table and just pick it up any time!
#3 It is easy to change out.
It works like a thumb drive, so you can just add or delete multiple films!
For my clients, after they have had their 3rd film, I gift them one 🥺
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Franklin Tennessee Newborn Photographer | The Whisten Family
I had the beautiful honor of filming this family twice in a year. Once, before the arrival of their 2nd boy. After they had their sweet new baby boy, we filmed a newborn family film in their home to capture that sweet time of having a toddler big brother and little newborn baby brother. Their older son is absolutely in love with his baby bro. You have to watch this film and all the sweet things he says to his baby brother. 🥹 It literally melted me.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Whisten Family | November 2022 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.
5 Tips for Newborn In-Home Photos | Nashville Family Photographer
Your baby is a Newborn for SEVEN WEEKS!!! That's it! Isn't that wild?!
Keep reading for 5 tips to best capture this time in your family's life.
Being a Nashville Family Filmmaker and Photographer, I would love to talk with you about how I can help freeze time for you.
Having a newborn is one of the MOST precious time in Parenthood. This little person you made and now you get to know them so intimately 🥺
Being invited into a family's home to photograph their life with their newborn is the SUCH a huge Honor. I never take it lightly.
I know they will never get this time back.
# 1 Keep your new baby fed and comfortable
There is no pressure to keep your baby in a perfect mood. The session revolves around what baby needs. If your baby is hungry, you are more than welcome to stop and feed them. I will video and or photograph this for you so you can remember what it was like to feed a tiny newborn 🥹
There is no need to alter their natural rhythms during your session. Just relax and spend time admiring your baby and I will make magic happen 😘
#2 Open the curtains or blinds
I use natural light for the majority of my shoots. If it's too rainy causing it to be too dark in your home, we will reschedule for a brighter day.
#3 Pick Mid Morning
I usually suggest to my clients that we begin around 10 am. It's usually the magic time in the morning where baby is not fussy and tired. Baby will usually give us a good hour to work with. If baby does become fussy, I have no problem putting my camera down and letting you get baby settled. (You can get a similar newborn sweater here)
#4 It doesn't have to be spotless
Every home I have come into during the newborn stage has had some level of mess. Or they stuff it all in the bathroom 🤣
I won't judge you. In fact, I will probably tell you how messy my own home is WITHOUT a newborn 🤣
#5 Wear whatever you want.
I mean, maybe change out of your pajamas 🤣
But wear something cozy, as relaxed as you want. Something somewhat similar to regular daily wear. Muted colors and neutrals work beautifully.
Franklin Tennessee Newborn Photographer | Welcoming Baby #3
This family ... is just absolutely precious. They have 2 girls and on their 3rd pregnancy, had a baby boy. Typically when I am at newborn or family photography sessions, kiddos are slow to warm up to me. I give them their space and just let them decide how we engage. I also want to be somewhat of a fly on the wall. These girls were SUPER into me right away - which I absolutely loved! Problem is, if I overly engage with them early on, their session won't show their typical life! So I kinda have to kindly ignore for a bit. Finally at the end of our shoot, I was able to sit with their oldest daughter and she initiated snuggles. I happily obliged. Their girls were seriously the most precious.
Mom only wanted images on the internet without their faces. (man, there were some amazing shots I cannot share!).
3 Things I LOVED about this session:
#1 how super excited their older daughters were to have a little brother.
#2 Dad and I had a lot in common (mom too!) Dad and I are both cross fitters, that's ALWAYS fun!!
#3 How laid back the entire vibe was. They just felt like they had fully surrendered to the sweet chaos of their little family.
If you would like a newborn session, I would LOVE to chat with you!!! Contact me here!
Nashville Family Photographer | Full Circle: Maternity, Birth, Newborn Photography + Videography For The Lush Family
Any time a client hires me to photograph their family or create a video of their family, I am BEYOND honored. I know that's cliche, but its also HONEST. But when a family hires me more than once a year (I have several who do!) its just a compounded emotion. I bond with my clients, its the perk of my job. We become friends. We chat parenting and exchange wisdom. Anytime Malary has had a baby, she has hired me for maternity, newborn, baby and family photography. Once I added film, she began to get films too... for newborn/family sessions... But now I offer birth videography and photography, so she added that 😂😂😂 Which was AMAZING.
When I'm with The Lush Family, I feel their bond - these boys are SO closely bonded. I feel their love and passion for raising a close knit family. I feel the power of a mother who is determined to have the best damn life together. I feel her sentimental nature and love for things meaningful.
I think I did a great job of creating films that brought them back to this very moment in time. What it was like during her labor and delivery (film will not be posted) and what it was like to have a newborn baby boy, baby #5. I think the boys will rewatch it and remember what it was like, too. Im starting to get emotional when Im with them, because her oldest is starting to morph into a teenager and I can see it is around the corner. I tell her to hold on to him, he is changing. Little Wyatt is almost gone, and in his place will be a man looking child 😂 Its a sad and beautiful transition.
Let's walk through The Lush Family sessions from this year.
Here is a sneak peek from Malary's Birth:
Newborn Film:
The Lush Family | June 2023 | Short Version from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.
Photos from their Newborn Family Photography and Film Session:
