Four Bees Photography » Toronto birth photographer

Welcome Home Rafael

CarrieD — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:20:44 +0000

Seriously, I’m starting to wonder how other birth photographers, doulas, midwives, ect… don’t all have 10 kids!
Every time I get to cuddle a newborn, it literally makes me ache.

And my youngest is only 11 months!

Laurie contacted me about doing a “First Blush” session for her son’s arrival.

As with all things in life (especially birth), other things came up that nixed that session.

Instead we opted to do a “Welcome Home” session, which is quickly becoming one of my favourite types of baby sessions.
Mom and Dad settle in for some one on one time with baby, and as they bask in that “babymoon” glow, I photograph the new family in all their splendour.

There’s nothing like seeing a father look at his partner and baby with just pure love and adoration, and Mike wasn’t shy in showing his affection for his new little family.

Laurie and Mike, thanks for inviting me into this little slice of your life!

Documenting new life: GTA Birth Photography

CarrieD — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:27:01 +0000

Calm. I didn’t think birth could be so calm.

Doula gently stroking mama’s skin.

Dad whispering words of encouragement to the mother of his second child.

Midwives smiling as they greeted this new life.

Birth photographer loving every second.

Awesome.

Congratulations little family.

The doula seen in the slideshow is Kristi Clement from Helping Hands Doula.

Birthday magic– GTA Birth Photography

CarrieD — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:44:29 +0000

The day you are born– that is your birthday. Your parents took you in their arms and held you. They cradled your tiny head, counted your fingers and toes. They kissed your soft hair.

Birthdays when they are real, live, right as it happens birthdays are pure magic. They are what birth photography is all about

I was lucky enough to be here for this little girl’s birthday.

After a relatively short but intense labour, baby C was ushered into mama’s arms.

Do you remember looking into your baby’s eyes the first time. This mama might not remember this moment, but now she has it captured, forever.

“Thank you Carrie for being there and being so great I can’t wait to see more pics…I am more than positive they are going to be awesome.
As much as I knew you were there, I didn’t (which is great when you hate having your picture taken). You’re awesome! Thanks again.”

S. Labelle

Priceless portraits

CarrieD — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 03:43:30 +0000

When I gave birth for the first time, I thought I would “try my best” to breastfeed. My son fully cooperated and I fell in love with the ease and comfort of nurturing my child naturally.
What I couldn’t have anticipated was how passionate I would become about breastfeeding and about supporting mothers who choose to breastfeed.
There’s a generational gap when it comes to breastfeeding. Most of my mother’s generation didn’t do it. They thought it wasn’t as good as artificial breast milk.
Although we’re coming around to the reality, as a society, that human milk is for human babies, many of us grew up seeing babies fed with bottles.
I consider myself very fortunate that I never encountered any difficulties with breastfeeding, having heard many stories of mothers who encountered struggles often caused by misinformation by well-meaning family members or even medical professionals.
This is why breastfeeding is a pillar of my photography business. It is worth celebrating whether it’s two days, two weeks, two months, two years or beyond.
Breastfeeding portraits capture this time, that like every other stage of childhood is fleeting.

P.S. this beautiful mama is NOT me, but she is my first breastfeeding portrait client. Every time I look at the photos from her session, I am struck by how gorgeous she and her baby are together.

Baby’s first photo shoot.

CarrieD — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:32:34 +0000

With my first baby, I was so overwhelmed by the prospect of first-time motherhood that I missed out on this precious period of time where babies are still sleepy and poseable. The idea of doing anything other than eating, sleeping and taking care of baby seemed unlikely, if not impossible. The most incredible photos are captured at this time. Babies between birth and 12 days old are soft, squishy and generally don’t flinch at the sound of a camera shutter. They’re still pretty curled up too when they’re that new.
Now if even I, with all the equipment and the skills to do it without leaving home can forget to do it, then we certainly can’t expect all you new moms out there to remember. Book your newborn session ahead of time. That way, not only will you make sure the photographer of your choice is available, but you’ll make sure that you don’t miss out simply because you were so caught up in watching their eyelashes uncurl.

Miss Ella makes her debut

CarrieD — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:55:55 +0000

Miss Ella was supposed to be my first “birth” baby. Her mom had wanted me to photograph her birth,but she decided to take her sweet time arriving. Instead, she arrived fashionably late (three days after her mom went into labour). Mama was a trooper, but in the end, it was a hospital birth and birth photography was the last thing on mama’s mind.
Nonetheless, I got to photograph her shortly after her arrival in mama’s cozy home, in all her plump, squishy gorgeousness. I just wanted to munch on her cheeks and stroke her silky thick black hair all day.