Y’all know I love pictures and think of everything as a photo opportunity (maybe to a fault). I’m doing better about enjoying life through my own view instead of through the lens of an iPhone camera, but I still can’t help but to want all the pictures… I think I love them so much because they capture fleeting moments in time and can spark wonderful memories to cherish.
I thought time flew by before I had a baby, but my gosh, it feels like it’s on overdrive now. Bodie is 11 weeks old and growing up way too fast. I just want to bottle up all of his “littleness” and hold onto it forever. Even before I became pregnant, I had dreamt of having photos taken of a squishy, little newborn. Fast forward to a photo shoot of 15-day-old Bodie with Reflections by Talea Photography, and my dream came true! We had the absolute DREAMIEST, newborn session—our experience was delightful, and I could not be more obsessed with the images she captured.
Talea is an amazing photographer based out of Owensboro, KY. She specializes in newborns, families, and maternity.
From the moment we walked into the studio, I was blown away by the attention to detail and serene environment. There was exposed brick, high ceilings, and whimsical yet rustic touches. It was like a baby/mama Anthropologie, and I loved every bit of it. She had a coffee bar, a sitting area, multiple scenes/stages set up for the shoot, and a letter board welcoming Bodie to the studio. (I haven’t visited Talea’s new studio yet – new as of last week – but it looks just as ethereal and inviting as the one pictured in this post.)
Something that really sets Talea apart is that she has a carefully curated baby, child, and mama wardrobe, complete with all the colors, blankets, bonnets, and wraps you could dream of. For Bodie’s solo pictures, we did several neutral color palettes. We also did a few photos Bodie and me together, and I was able to pick out a gorgeous dress from her collection. Talk about a relief… I was running on virtually no sleep at that point so not having to worry about what to wear (or what would fit) was so nice.
Another thing Talea does wonderfully is interact with babies. After that photo shoot, I can definitely attest to her baby-whispering capabilities—it’s borderline unbelievable. She knows how to comfort and place a little one so perfectly and get the exact shot she has in mind, and I was completely comfortable with her holding him, moving him around, and setting him up for the pictures.
Beyond the amazing experience I had during the photo shoot, Luke and I couldn’t love the pictures more! Our hearts turned straight to mush when we saw the images she captured of our little baby Bodie. We will forever treasure them, and I’ll “oohh and ahhh” at them (with some occasional tears) for the rest of my life. One of the (many) things Luke and I love about Talea’s work is that she doesn’t over-edit her photographs. Prime example: Bodie’s feet were super red for a few weeks after birth (typical for newborns). She softened that in her editing just enough to not be distracting, but the photos definitely still show his little red feet. We loved this approach since red feet were part of Bodie at that age, and we didn’t want to hide or erase anything that was part of who he was during that time. (This is in contrast to some newborn photographers who want their “products” looking like porcelain dolls – no thanks!)
As for the final product, we chose to do an heirloom album after selecting the images we loved the most. The products she offers are super high quality and created to last for hundreds of years… literally. Truly a treasure.
If you live in Nashville (or anywhere just outside of her location for that matter), I highly recommend the two-hour drive to have her photograph your little one or your family. Her passion for what she does, dreamy studio, and ability to capture a little one’s most precious “tiny time” of infancy and turn it into art is so worth it.
You can visit her website, www.reflectionsbytalea.com, or check her out on Instagram, @reflectionsbytalea, to see more precious newborn photos and all of the different heirloom products she offers.
Hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look at our fun day in the studio. I know I’m biased, but isn’t Bodie absolutely precious? He’s such an angel baby and I won’t get over these images for a long, long time 😍. xoxo.
