Nashville Family Photographer | Tips for relaxing during your family session
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 Birth Photographer | The Birth of Shiloh Owen
Being hired to video and photograph the most important days of a family's live.... it's just beyond words. It's a gift, and honor, and I truly never take it for granted.
Krista reached out to me about filming her birth. She and her husband are former wedding videographers themselves. There is no greater compliment than when other photographers and videographers choose me.
I was incredibly blessed to be able to come to Krista's birth of her 3rd baby, during the day time. We had such gorgeous weather for her March Birth. Her home birth team was incredible. Krista's labor progressed so fast, we worried the midwife would not make it! Baby was born within 10 minutes of the midwife arriving. It was fast, but incredibly beautiful.
Krista and Patrick did not find out the gender of their baby until he arrived. It was such an incredible moment as she found out he was a boy!
Doula: Kimberly Williams of https://growingyournest.com/
Midwife: Cameron https://libertymidwife.com/
The Birth of Shiloh PG 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.
4 Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping | Nashville Birth Videographer + Photographer
In my 3 years of birth photography and videography experience, I have been drawn to so many elements presented before me in the birth space. Because of my decision to niche and only offer my services for home births, I frequently see similar birth plan decisions play out in the birth space. One of those being delayed cord clamping. I have yet to see any babies not delayed. I wondered what the benefits were, as this wasn't a known thing when I had my own babies in 2009 + 2012. As a person with a BS in developmental psychology, anything that affects a baby's health or development interests me. I thought I would share with you what I found.
According to the American College of obstetricians and gynecologists, here are 4 benefits of delayed cord clamping.
#1 Blood Benefits
In full term newborns, delayed cord clamping increases hemoglobin levels at birth and improves iron stores in the first months of life, which in turn can affect development. I know both of my boys had "low hemoglobin" and I remember wondering how and why, as I was nursing. My 2nd baby, I even went so far as to serve him liver for one of his first foods and he still had this issue.
#2 Circulation + preterm babies
Delaying cord clamping was associated with SIGNIFICANT neonatal benefits in PRETERM babies. It improves their circulation, then better establish red blood cell volume.
#3 Premature Babies Benefit
In Premature babies, there is a lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (a severe complication within the intestines in premature babies).
#4 Reduced risks for preterm babies
Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping also decreases the need for a blood transfusion and decreases risk of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants.
If I were having a baby today, I would have a doula ready to keep the hospital from clamping too early especially if I went into labor early.
If you are thinking about having your birth filmed and photographed, please reach out!
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.