Autumn Beckman Photography
  • Home
  • Animal Rescue
  • Portfolio
    • Animals
    • Live Music
    • Personal Gallery
  • About Autumn
  • Contact

Newborn Bereavement Photography?

10/15/2010

0 Comments

 
I was just talking to a friend who works in the neonatal intensive care unit at a local hospital, asking him about newborn photography there. It's my understanding that there are a few national photography companies who have cornered the market on hospital newborn photography and who  have signed contracts with the institutions so no other photographers can work on their grounds. He said that he doesn't know whether the nursery has a photographer since he doesn't work in that department but that his unit has a photographer who takes portraits of babies who have passed away. I'd never heard of this. Never thought of it. What a difficult job!

So I did a little research and found out there is a national non-profit organization of photographers who volunteers to do such work: Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. It sounds a bit morbid at first but once I started reading their through their site it makes perfect sense. Parents want to remember their child and this is the only time to take professional portraits. The photos, like any other portraits (especially of loved ones who have since deceased) are memorials to the person pictured and are treasured by those who have survived them. I'm happy to see that this is volunteer work and that parents aren't being asked to pay for the portrait sessions in such difficult times (though, on the other hand, I started watching the television series "Six Feet Under" recently and they make good points that the bereavement business is a business and that they can't just give their services away to everyone who is experiencing loss). But I'm glad this is volunteer work. A baby's death is different from that of someone older, someone who's had more of a chance to live and whose loved ones have had a chance to get to know them and form memories of them. I'm interested in filling out the application to offer my photography services but such an emotionally taxing job requires me to think about it for a few days before I jump right in.

If you are interested, you can make a donation on their website. Click here.
0 Comments

Baby Evan photo session

10/13/2010

1 Comment

 
Well, I didn't have much time to play with my new camera and lenses between now and the time they arrived...until this weekend when I booked my first newborn baby photo session! The day before I bought lots of props - cushy blankets, textured baskets - and did a test shoot with a baby doll. Then, Saturday morning, I photographed week-old baby Evan in his home. His mom and I planned to do some nude photos of him on his belly in a basket but he would have none of it! He wanted to be clothed, warm, and swaddled...so that's what he got and he was a fantastic little model. Here's a sneak peek at one of his close-ups. I will post more to the Portrait Gallery page over the next few days.

And I have Denise and Joel's wedding to shoot this Saturday! Busy week. My sister, Emily, of Something Blue Events is coordinating the event so we'll be traveling together to Edna, TX. I can't wait to photograph the couple and their family in the gorgeous setting of the state park they've chosen as their venue. Nature gives us the most incredible environments for photography.
Picture
1 Comment

    Author

    Autumn Beckman
    Artist/Owner of
    Autumn Beckman Photography
    and Autumn's Dogs

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2011
    February 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010

    Categories

    All
    Advertising
    Album
    Autumns Dogs
    Bridal Show
    Causes
    Coordination
    Discounts
    Environmental Responsibility
    Gifts
    Newborn
    Offers
    Photography
    Portrait
    Retouching
    Shows
    Sisters Sisters Weddings
    Social Responsibility
    Something Blue Events
    Texas Wine
    Weddings By Emily

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.