baby on the way

Client Closet Wishlist for 2021

Stephanie de Montigny May 11, 2021

Every year the studio puts together a wishlist of amazing garments, gowns, and dresses to add to the client closet, which is available for use by clients during outdoor and studio portrait sessions. This year, I have decided to publish this list and offer a complimentary session to anyone who purchases the dress for the studio as part of the Prop-to-Print Service. What Does This Mean For You? In short, using the client closet is free. The PtoP service goes

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Newborn Baby Aleksi – 2 weeks new

Stephanie de Montigny May 1, 2021

Baby Aleksi came to visit the portrait studio for his newborn photography session at just under 2 weeks new, 12 days old to be exact. This session felt extra special because his sister had visited the studio just two years prior for her own newborn session, and we incorporated a few subtle comparison photos into the portraits for their matching albums. And as with all sibling participants, we captured some of just her to help make her feel just as special as

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Celebrate Mother’s Day with Mommy & Me Photo Sessions

Stephanie de Montigny April 18, 2021

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got two very important women in my life: my mother and my daughter. As a professional photographer, I have put in the effort to capture images of my daughter and I, but the last one with my mother and I was from my wedding! It was only a few years ago, but that is a few too many. This got me thinking that I can’t possibly be the only one who doesn’t have

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How We Are Keeping You Safe During The Pandemic | Perks Of A Full-Service Studio

Stephanie de Montigny April 15, 2021

Let’s Start With The Updates WHAT CAN AND CANNOT HAPPEN DURING THE LOCKDOWN The ever-changing regulations and restrictions are confusing, to say the least, so here is a quick summary in regards to photography: the studio must be closed to all appointments, outdoor sessions are permitted within the city of Ottawa for up to four (4) persons from the same household (distanced), and supervised outdoor pickups are available for booking. This has been confirmed in writing by the Director of

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Babywearing 101: Top Tips For Transitioning from Newborn to Toddler Carriers

National Capital Doulas March 11, 2021

Babywearing had a HUGE impact on my early days as a mother, well through the first year, because any time my little girl refused to nap or was extra fussy, wearing her made all of the crank go away. Bonus that it allowed me to keep working, or sometimes just sit there and appreciate the silence… But at one point, despite how long she stayed so tiny, that stretchy wrap really started to hurt my back, so I turned to

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Newborn Baby Ainsley – 2 weeks new

Stephanie de Montigny March 4, 2021

Baby Ainsley came to visit the portrait studio for her newborn photography session at just under 2 weeks new, 10 days old to be exact. She slept most of the session, and when she was awake she was an adorable little spitfire of facial expressions! Her mamas were so loving and caring which made it easy for me to capture their beautiful family. World, meet Ainsley. Here are a few favourites from the session. How do I book a photo session? I’d

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Mama to Be Shannon | Barrhaven Photographer

Stephanie de Montigny February 28, 2021

This lovely mama is a childhood friend of mine and it was an absolute honour that she chose me to capture her journey to motherhood, and travelled all the way for her session. We took advantage of the studio client closet (available even during the pandemic) and she picked out this beautiful white gown to complete her look. If I do say so myself, she is stunning! World, meet Mama to be Shannon. Here are a few favourites from the

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Pregnant? Top 3 Overlooked Things You Absolutely Need To Do

Emily Edwards February 25, 2021

Discovering you’re pregnant is a big deal. It can feel like you are on the cusp of a great adventure or the most terrifying undertaking of your life, or both! Either way, you are going to have to start somewhere. Check out the top three suggestions from this seasoned parent, nurse, and virtual doula for where to start when you find out you are pregnant. You may be surprised to discover, the first three things have a lot less to

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Newborn Baby Jonas – 4 weeks new

Stephanie de Montigny February 16, 2021

Baby Jonas came to visit the portrait studio for his newborn photography session at just under 4 weeks new, 26 days new to be exact. He slept through almost the entire session which allowed us to capture a handful of beautiful grey & charcoal setups with plenty of variety to fill their beautiful portrait collection box. The family portraits are absolutely beautiful; I just love watching new parents interact with their new baby with love and connection. Without further ado… World,

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The Client Closet | Perks Of A Full-Service Studio

Stephanie de Montigny February 10, 2021

We’ve all been there: looking through our closets for something to wear feeling uninspired, self-conscious about things that don’t fit, and longing for something new. Then pregnancy happens and exacerbates it all! Our bodies change in size and in shape so the things that did fit really don’t anymore, we want to look amazing in something that flatters our baby bump but can’t justify the price tag for something so temporary knowing our bodies will change again once baby arrives,

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Everything You Need To Know About Baby’s First Foods

Olivia Farrow February 4, 2021

When my daughter was a few months old, the conversation of when to start giving her feeds inevitably came up, especially with all of my allergies and her severe eczema. Of course, I was the most educated between the two of us because of my job as a newborn photographer, and I had no idea of the complexity of giving baby solids for the first time! So I consulted with the experts in my network and I was absolutely pleased

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13 Questions You Need to Ask When Hiring A Newborn Photographer

Stephanie de Montigny January 28, 2021

Finding a newborn photographer is such an exciting task that can also feel daunting at times because you have no idea what you are looking at beyond pretty pictures and pricing. Here are the top questions you need to ask when hiring a newborn photographer for your top contenders to make sure you KNOW they are the best choice for you and your baby. 1. How long have you been photographing newborns? You want to ask how long they have

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Top 4 Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Sign Language

Jenni Lloyd, Mellow Baby January 14, 2021

Being able to communicate with others is second nature to me. I am fluent in English & French, and have known conversational Spanish since I was a kid. To imagine not being able to converse with someone, let alone communicate my basic needs, is somewhat frightening. That’s how baby feels when all they know how to do is cry to get what they want, which can eat at a parent’s sanity for sure! That is why my husband and I

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The Magic of Retouching | Perks Of A Full-Service Studio

Stephanie de Montigny December 27, 2020

When it comes to editing and retouching, there are so many misconceptions, myths, and magical things that come with it. Let’s jump straight into the details and clear it all up, including surprise photo-day acne! Then I’ll show you some before & after examples of what can be achieved. Retouching Myths Debunked MYTH: Newborns can hold themselves up (Uh, nope!) Babies don’t have the physical capabilities to do all of the poses you see online. Many of the ‘fancy’ poses

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Holiday Minis Roundup | 2020 | Ottawa Family Photographer

Stephanie de Montigny December 17, 2020

This year was a complete fluke for weather during our holiday minis and we ended up with TWENTY-degree weather in November, in Canada! I always hope for a fresh dusting of snow for Christmas and Winter minis, but this was better than I could have imagined—it was great for the toddlers and meant that I didn’t freeze either after a long day in the cold. Win, win, win! (Reminds me of why I love doing “Christmas in July” sessions!) The

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