st. louis child photographer » specializing in newborn, children, engagement, maternity & high school senior photography

One of the reasons I love being a photographer in St. Louis is because you can get a 65 degree day on the last day of December! Jackie & I moved her maternity session date up at the last minute so she didn’t freeze outside . . . we did however have all the other elements – tornado, rain, sun, clouds, LOTS of mud, but I assure you we weren’t cold!  Thanks for a fun day, Jackie and for being so flexible.  Here’s a little preview for you and I can’t wait to meet & photograph your sweet newborn girl!

To contact Melanie or see more of her work click here – St. Louis Child Photographer

This was a photography session I did with my son RIGHT before the weather turned cold.  There was still a hint of color and the evening sun was just perfect.  I found this cool new location and I couldn’t wait to try it out.  There are lots of fun old tires, old desks & lockers and the best part is it is surrounded by fields, my favorite! My son is always up for going out together and taking pictures and I knew he’d love the old tires.  What boy wouldn’t?!  His laugh is so infextious . . . can’t you almost hear him by just looking at this first picture?  I was so glad to be able to capture it with my camera!

I’m so glad that the leaves stayed on the trees so much longer this fall.  The warm fall colors and sunlight are always the perfect backdrop for a photography session. I think we found the last patch of yellow trees left in all of St. Charles!

You’ll love to take a peek at this little guy. At only 6 months he is already a heart breaker! I can’t get over his beautiful blue eyes.  That first year of life goes by so fast and it was a pleasure to help capture some memories for this family.  

I love meeting new families, but there’s no greater honor than a “repeat client.” It is so fun for me to be able to watch children grow and families grow.  I had the pleasure of meeting Miss A as a newborn ( you can see her here).  And at one year old she is still just as beautiful outside BUT now she has this sparking personality to match! 

Kelly, I’ll have a few more previews for you this weekend, but I just had to get this one posted tonight. It’s quite possibly one of my all time favorite image – I just ADORE  it! 

I could photograph him all day every day – he has the kindest heart and I love him to pieces!  This image is going big in my house . . adore his expression and the amazing fall back light. 

On a side note . . .this is actually a good example of how to “layer” when outfitting for a session.  I would even throw on a hat or scarf to add a little more. Check out the Gap  or J Crew’s crewcuts when looking for ideas – they style very well.

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as promised . . . .some more of my fav images

I recently had a little getaway to Chicago with one of my BFF’s Valerie.  We’ve always had so much in common and even started our photography business’ at the same time.  Anyway, it was a wonderful weekend filled with shopping, the spa ( here’s a great local Aveda salon/spa, Studio Branca ), laughing and a chance to photograph each other – which doesn’t happen often.  I love this image of us . . . it’s not perfect (like my bugging eyes) but we actually did it with a timer and it’s one of the few photographs of us together. So I love it!

Left: Me         Right: Valerie, Valerie Ott Photography

I have a lot more images that I haven’t gotten to but here’s a few taken by Val and processed by me. I’ll put more up in another post.

Have you seen these yellow goldenrod flowers that are in the fields right now?!! Gorgeous . . . a perfect compliment to a “golden girl”, Josie. I am always excited any time I get to photograph her – she’s such a natural in front of the camera.  And speaking of natural, check out her lip color! That is ALL natural – NO lip gloss and NO editing by me. Wow, lucky girl!

One of the greatest things about photography is the fact that a person, family, event etc. is being documented. People, and in particular, children, are constantly changing before our eyes and often the days go by so fast that we hardly notice UNTIL we take the time to look at a photograph.  Make sure you are documenting your family/events with photographs – you will never regret it.  Check out how much can change in a year.  You can see this young man here.  Good bye glasses, short hair and hello grown up teenager . . . . .

Just a few days old, this little guy was so fun to photograph. He did great, but I gave him a work out! For all you “mommies to be” remember this little tip – the best time to photograph a newborn is before they are 8 days old. Yes, that is a CRAZY time, I know. But they change fast and you will be so glad those first days (which to most are a blur) are captured for you to remember forever. Babies are most cooperative during that first week – week 1/2 of life.  Contact me while you are still pregnant and I’ll make sure to get your due date on my calendar so I can set aside blocks of time.

I ADORE these two photographs . . . really, they make my heart smile. I’ll post more of little Ezekiel later but I can’t wait for mom & dad to see these.

Welcome to the family, little Ezekiel. You can tell from the expressions that everyone is so happy to meet him!

Can’t wait to post his newborn session next (workin’ hard) - I’ve got one of the MOST beautiful images of mama & baby ever!

first smile, aweeeee!

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It isn’t often that I’m able to capture the birth of a newborn – mostly because my schedule with 2 little ones makes it difficult.  But for the times it does work out I LOVE to do it.  This was the first time to be a part of an unmedicated, home birth and let me just say . . . . peaceful, beautiful and down right amazing!  Now how cute is this – Eric & Lisa wore matching ACDC shirts because they were ready to “rock and roll” this birth.  They also chose not to find out the gender of the baby ahead of time so how exciting to discover it was a beautiful, healthy boy!

I’ve got lots more to blog (including the sibblings reaction meeting their little baby brother for the 1st time & baby E’s newborn session)  - so keep checking back over the next few days . . .  for now here is part 1.

I usually never think about Christmas this early in the year, but when I saw this coffee mug I knew immediatly I needed to put it on my list. Of course I don’t actually drink coffee, but it would be SO cute to drink my diet coke or hot chocolate from.  You can get it here for $23.00.  I’ve never ordered anything from there before, but I also see that it is available through ebay.