Shanna Chess Photography

 It was so fun to have Fox and his mom in my Eugene, Oregon photography studio towards the beginning of this year. This little guy was absolutely adorable! Enjoy his photos! Fox was just perfect for me. Super sleepy, which makes my job as a newborn photographer so much easier. I’ve learned lots of tricks over the years, through both training and experience, to help babies stay happy during their session. And before parents come in, I send them a guide with tips they can follow before bringing their little one to see me to make it more likely that baby will be nice and sleepy at the studio. With full newborn photography sessions, we have quite a bit more time for feeding and cuddles in case baby is fussy. My mini sessions—like this one—are shorter, so it’s even more helpful when baby is calm. Fox couldn’t have been better for his photos! We did some naked shots on my white beanbag for some really clean, minimalist pictures. And I love the vivid blues mom chose for his swaddle poses.

 It was a pleasure to have beautiful mama-to-be Bri and her husband Hunter in my Eugene, Oregon photography studio early this year for a maternity photography session. We started off doing hair and makeup with my go-to girl, Sami. I offer professional hair and makeup services with my full maternity sessions. This is a really popular option with clients! I want you to look and feel your very best during your maternity photo shoot, and provide not only hair and makeup services, but also a wide range of beautiful gowns so you can have the special, luxury experience you deserve. Once hair and makeup was finished, we spent some time in the studio for some couples photographs and maternity portraits of Bri. She chose my cream silk maternity gown, a new mauve tulle, and then a black strapless gown for a more modern look. I love the combination of different textures and colors. We finished our session with some milk bath maternity photos. Milk baths can be added to either my full or mini mate

 It’s been a while since I’ve shared any maternity photos on the blog—and even longer since I’ve had a whole family in the studio for a maternity photography session! So much fun! I’m excited to finally share the great photos we got. Jacquellynn wanted both studio and milk bath photos for her session. Milk baths are a really fun and beautiful option—something a little different! (Both my full and mini maternity sessions can include a milk bath option as an add-on. If you’re thinking about your own maternity photography session, check out the investment page for more details.) Dad (Dylan) and older brother Eden joined us for the first part of our session. We got some wonderful family photos—I love how they turned out! Expecting mothers often ask if their spouse/partner and the other kiddos in the family can join in for part of the maternity session, and the answer is, “Absolutely!” It’s wonderful to have all that family support when you’re getting ready to welcome a new baby, and I

 It was so great to see this family again as they welcomed the newest member! Brandi Jo and Nathan welcomed baby number four to their growing family last year. I had done newborn pictures for their third baby (Bowen) and was thrilled when they asked me to do a newborn photography session for Navy as well! Both parents and all of Navy’s older siblings (Beck, Maesa Jo, and Bowen) were able to join us. I always love it when the whole family is involved in newborn pictures. As a photographer and a mom I know how important it is to capture those relationships. That’s one of the reasons I make sure my Eugene, Oregon photography studio is a comfortable place for the whole family. I keep it well stocked with toys and snacks for siblings and coffee for mom and dad. Several of my clients have told me how much they enjoy the comfortable, relaxing experience of being in my studio while I take care of their little one’s baby pictures. Makes me so happy! Since I had photographed this family before

 I know we woke up to fog this morning in Eugene, but the past couple of days have been absolutely gorgeous! Sunshine and blue skies—plus I’ve been seeing daffodils and tulips popping up around town. All the color and warmth are getting me so excited for spring! I am itching to get outside again, but for now I thought this would be the perfect time to share photos from my outdoor minis last summer. These have become an annual tradition for me and something I look forward to every year! I generally hold spring minis, late summer/early fall minis (like these), as well as Christmas minis. Many of my clients join me for these outdoor mini photography sessions every year, so I try to switch up the location. It’s fun for me to try new places, and I want to make sure my clients have something new and different for their experience. Last year a friend of mine was kind enough to let me use her property in Veneta. It’s a beautiful place—even has a vineyard and a cute little pond. We spread thes