Instead of doing this maternity session outside with this grey weather, we did them in my Newtown Ohio studio. The studio has so many backdrop options plus my lighting in the studio is perfect. I also have a client closet of maternity dresses and outfits for my clients to wear!
December was an exciting month for Sonja B Photography. I photographed two small weddings, endless family portraits, a birth and a 2-day Hindu Celebration for a 60th birthday.
I arrived at 7:30am and when I stepped inside the house the ritual was already on its way. The room was full with mostly men and colorful saris. Lots of chanting and flowers everywhere. It was absolutely facinating. After a few hours everyone took a break for a yummy breakfast but only shortly because the ritual had to go on. In total I was there well over 6 hours, chanting non stop plus a fire in the middle of the room that made all the fire alarms go off. It was seriously an incredible experience.
If you are planning a Hindu celebration in the Greater Cincinnati area, please contact me as I would love to photograph your event.
I was lucky enough to photograph this little lady’s birth and her newborn pictures! She and her big siblings came to my studio in Newtown. Since her name is Poppy, I knew I had to photograph her with the below backdrop. It was just too perfect!
She wasn’t the sleepiest of newborns, but we did manage to photograph her in a few other props and backdrops.
Her older sibs got to take a few pictures by themselves and with her. Sibling pictures with so many little ones is a beast so to get these gems I feel extremely proud AND lucky!
If you are looking for a Cincinnati Newborn Photographer, please contact me at sonja.mcgill@yahoo.com or 513.300.9578. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
I have been photographing this family since their oldest was a newborn. I look forward every year seeing their smiling faces again.
Fun Fact: I have a photo of this family on my website when they only had one child. Can you find it?
If you are looking for a family photographer, I would love to help you. Please contact me at sonja.mcgill@yahoo.com and let’s schedule your session.
What happened? December 19th I woke up, grabbed my cell phone and checked my FB. I couldn’t log in, which isn’t unusual because sometimes I am logged in with my husbands account and it takes me a few tries to get my passwords right. Who can remember a billion passwords to a billion different websites? Anyways, after two tries I put my phone down and decided it was just to early and I am not thinking right. Later that morning, I checked again and I couldn’t log in again. I searched through my emails to see if FB sent me a notice. Maybe I violated some of their rules, but what would could that be… a thousand questions are running through my head. I finally find an email in my spam folder. “Someone tried to log in to your account at 2:28am”. The emails gave me a link to change my password. I clicked that link and I got a notice that the link has expired. This can’t be true. I tried again! Same thing, this link has expired! I look closer and I notice that the hacker changed my email address to his (let’s just pretend its a he, ok?) address. I can only see the first letter and the last for “security reasons”. I try a few more times and eventually I get a message to take a photo of my ID and send a new email address that I haven’t used before. I do that. 4 weeks go by! 4 long weeks! I wake up one morning and get an email saying that someone hacked my account and here is a link to fix everything. I click the link. And guess what? IT EXPIRED! I try again. Same message. I go to my FB app and don’t see my account anymore. I log in to my husbands and try to find my account and it is gone. Just gone. 13 + years of memories gone. I start panicking, crying and yes swearing but there is nothing I can do. I tried to contact FB again and just get the same responds as before, upload your ID and wait. After some research on the WWW I come to the realization that once a hacker deletes your account there is nothing you can do! It is gone.
I forgot to mention but while I waited for FB to review my account, the hackers charged FB ads to my PayPal. I did get refunded for those.
So what does this mean? My pictures and memories are gone. I loved looking back every day what we did that day in previous years. My friends are “gone”. And my biz page Sonja B Photography is gone as well. Over 2300 followers gone. All my photography gone. Well, if you click on the link, it is still there but since my personal account vanished in thin air I no longer have access to this page. Again I tried contacting FB but there is nothing they can do, nor do they care.
How can you help? Please hop over to my new page The real Sonja B and like my page. Invite your friends to like my page. Even share this post and beg people to like my page…. I was just kidding about the begging but you could. Just sayin’. And if you are a friend on FB, look me up and sent me a friend request. I am now Sonja McGill instead of Sonja Bennett McGill. If you are a client and want to be FB send me a friend request!
What have I learned? I learned about two way authentication. Which I have set up for my new FB Page. Sometimes we must learn the hard way.
I always love when this family comes to visit me at my studio on Spring Grove Ave. With twin boys and a baby girl just a little over a year later, I do see them quiet a bit!
Ava was the perfect little sleeper for me and did a great job in front of the camera. And no worries we did grab a few pictures of all three big brothers!
Welcome to the family Ava! Can’t wait to see you soon again and watch you grow.
To book your newborn photography session please contact me at sonja.mcgill@yahoo.com. I do newborn photography in your home or in my studio near downtown Cincinnati.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Where: Fort Thomas Florists and Greenhouses
When: April 14th 11-2
What: Mini Sessions with gorgeous flowers in a greenhouse and with live baby ducks
How much: $125 for 1 child, $150 for siblings and $175 for families, each session is 10 minutes long and you will receive a minimum of 10 digital images
Available Sessions: 11, 11:10, 11:20, 11:40, 11:50, 12, 12:10, 12:20, 12:30, 12:40, 12:50, 1, 1:10, 1:20, 1:30, 1:40, 1:50
How to sign up: Email me at sonja.mcgill@yahoo.com and let me know which type of session you are interest in and what time, I will confirm with you and send you a link to pay the non refundable deposit of $50.
We all know that location is everything… in photography this is no different. The location sets the tone of your session. Do you want a session in an urban setting, your cozy home, a favorite park or the place you and your husband first met?
Over the years I have photographed at many, many different locations. I do have favorites and not so favorites. I love finding new locations or when clients suggest a new place. I love photographing in your home (if the natural light is right) or in a place that has special meaning to you and your family.
But as much as location is important, I can also make a patch of green by the side of the road look great IF the lighting is right!
But for now, I am going to list a bunch of locations for you to choose from. Please keep in mind this is just a suggestion… there are tons of other places and I actually love if you find your own special place.
Ault Park
this is a great spot and has so many photo opportunities, the only draw back is that because it is so popular it attracts a lot of photographers.
Washington Park + OTR
Washington Park has so much to offer and makes a perfect backdrop for your photos. You have Music Hall, the fountains, the pavilion, lots and lots of photo ops in OTR and afterwards we can let your kids play on the playground.
Your Home or Backyard
As long as you have good natural light in your home (or even just a few rooms), your home is my absolute favorite location. Kids seem to be much more relaxed and have so much fun showing me their rooms and special toys. The whole session can sometimes feel like a play date… haha
Devou Park
I found this grassy, and secluded little patch of grass in Devou Park. This spot makes it perfect if you are looking for that high grass look in your photographs.
Smale Park
This location is a lot of fun, but sometimes to much fun and can distract kids with all the playground equipment. Lots of people, but the park is also big enough to move out of the way. All around a great park to photograph and in the heart of Cincinnati.
Johnson Hill
Johnson Hill is located in Anderson Twsp., on the east side of Cincinnati. Its a beautiful, very quiet park and the sun sets perfectly behind the trees.
Covington
Covington is great, as it has lots of different options in just one block radius. You have cobblestone roads, little alley ways, iron fences, flowers and the Cincinnati skyline.
My Studio
My studio is located at 2530 Spring Grove Ave, near Union Terminal. It has tons of natural light, backdrops, props and a really cool warehouse feeling.
Your favorite park, creek, meadow etc…
This family invited me to come hang out at their favorite creek. We took the kids for a short hike and bush whacked our way to the creek. It was so much fun and we got tons of natural smiles.
I hope this list helps you a bit… just let me know what you are looking for, where you live and how far you are willing to travel… and I will help you find the perfect location for our session.
