Niki Strbian Valokuvaus Blog » Newborns http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog lapsikuvaus, vauvakuvaus, perhekuvaus, hauska, muistikuvat Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:16:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 How I almost ended up dancing instead of photographing a newborn girl – Niki Strbian Vastasyntyneenkuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/how-i-almost-ended-up-dancing-instead-of-photographing-a-newborn-girl-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/how-i-almost-ended-up-dancing-instead-of-photographing-a-newborn-girl-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/#comments Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:16:52 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=1386 I went to photograph a newborn girl in the center of Helsinki. There was no place to park the car on the street where my customers lived, so I called them and asked the husband to come and please help me carry all the stuff. It’s crazy actually, the smaller baby, the more stuff a photographer carries with. The other day I was bugging my hubby to buy a van soon so I could fit all props and stuff for a newborn shoot. :)

Anyways, I took all the stuff out of the car and displayed it neatly on the side-walk for everyone to see… heh. Customer-husband is a professional hockey player, so I was expecting someone of professional hockey player’s looks. Ah, there he is, I sighed with relief. “Jani?” I asked. He said: “Yeah, that’s me.” So I show him all the boxes and the beanbag and bags with blankets and I tell him: “This is my stuff, can you help me?” “Sure, no problem.”

So each of us grabs something and off he leads me to Tavastia night club. I am thinking – what a weird access to someone’s home, hmm, well to everyone’s taste, right? And then he asks:

“What are you doing here again?”

And I, the good-natured always-must-be-funny Niki, answered the same line what I usually tell all my newborn customers when they see all the stuff: “I am moving in with you.”

He didn’t even blink.

He is a little dense, but then again he is a professional hockey player (no offence, just prejudices ;) ), I thought and continued: “I am here to photograph your daughter, didn’t your wife tell you?”

“No, my daughter is in the daycare,” a swift answer came.

IT WAS A WRONG GUY AGAIN. So tell me what are the chances that at the exact minute when someone is supposed to turn up, a doppleganger comes and even has the same name? It’s a little weird, don’t you think… :D Whoever is playing these jokes on me, stop now! :)

Anyways, I asked him nicely to carry all my stuff out of the dance club again, thank you very much. And surely, my real customer showed up 2 mins later and he was looking like a professional hockey player and he was very nice and kind and not, not in one bit, dense. ;) Here is a photo of your beautiful daughter. Your gallery will be ready this week, thank you for being patient. :)

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/how-i-almost-ended-up-dancing-instead-of-photographing-a-newborn-girl-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/feed/ 4 Absolutely sweet little girl (sneak peek) – Niki Strbian Vastasyntyneenkuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/absolutely-sweet-little-girl-sneak-peek-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/absolutely-sweet-little-girl-sneak-peek-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:46:44 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=1317 Just a quick look before holidays, more when I am back! She was the sweetest little thing :)

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/absolutely-sweet-little-girl-sneak-peek-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/feed/ 6 Why is every baby an art – Niki Strbian Vastasyntyneenkuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/why-is-every-baby-an-art-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/why-is-every-baby-an-art-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:05:32 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=1193 Leo Tolstoy is best known for his literary works, of which I was utterly bored by his masterpiece Anna Karenina and though I have never read War and Peace, my dear husband loves it so much he can quote long passages from memory, so I have a good grasp of the book’s many fine details. But besides his world-known novels, Tolstoy also wrote a number of essays on art, history and religion. Recently I have stumbled upon excerpts of his essay “What is art?”, originally published in 1896. Now, let me show you, why every baby is an art. Here is a proof from Tolstoy’s essay … and I dared to include a few more. :)

#1 In order correctly to define art, it is necessary, first of all, to cease to consider it as a means to pleasure and to consider it as one of the conditions of human life. Viewing it in this way we cannot fail to observe that art is one of the means of intercourse between man and man woman.

While Wikipedia claims that the definition and evaluation of art has become especially problematic since the early 20th century, we all know that art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way to affect the senses or emotions.

#2 (emotions) My favorite quote about babies is from the book “Our babies, ourselves” by Meredith Small: “Babies emit cuteness so adults emit love.”

#3 (senses) Babies smells good, their skin is smooth and perfect, they make funny noises (even when crying), they look adorable and they probably taste good, but I have never tried that… ;) (oh and sometimes babies look like miniature old men, too)

Various people have been answering the question “What is art?” and these are some of the answers (apply them freely to babies):

#4 Art has the facility to actually enrich and empower your life and make you happy.

#5 Art is anything that requires a maker; it cannot make itself, said Aristotle.

#6 Art is the opposite of war.

If you want to have your own newborn miracle photographed outdoors, book me quickly, before the heat wave (and summer) is over. There is not much time left, so call 0400-358990 or send email to niki@nikistrbian.com today. And, of course, I want to hear your own proof that every baby is an art! :)

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/why-is-every-baby-an-art-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/feed/ 7 The most sleepy newborn boy – Niki Strbian Vastasyntyneenkuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/the-most-sleepy-newborn-boy-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/the-most-sleepy-newborn-boy-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/#comments Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:50:25 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=1018 Last Wednesday I was sitting on a pier of our lake, playing happily with kids and chatting away with our visitors from Slovakia, who to our great sadness flew back today in the morning. My phone rang and only happy star constellation helped me overhear it in all the noise (kids, dogs and wind – a killer combination). There was a lovely female voice asking to photograph their newborn son, who was already 16 days old. Hurry, I answered, we must hurry! Newborn babies loose that newborn characteristics look all too quickly. So we hurried and set up the shoot for the very next day. This was the fastest inquiry -> session time ever. :) I drove to Hyvinkää and met the happy couple and their tiny gentleman on a sunny Thursday morning in the appartment that one can only describe as “photogenic”.

The little baby boy slept throughout the entire time and he had a super clean and smooth skin, even for a newborn baby. The sun shone and I really, really, really very much enjoyed this session.

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/the-most-sleepy-newborn-boy-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/feed/ 5 BELOVED – celebrate your relationship – Niki Strbian Beloved Photography http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/beloved-celebrate-your-relationship-niki-strbian-beloved-photography/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/beloved-celebrate-your-relationship-niki-strbian-beloved-photography/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:11:58 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=885 A gigantic photography event. A huge auditorium. A delicate man. A vision. Jesh de Rox and his Experiential Photography.

I am a member of a few photography forums, dedicated to portrait photography and children portraiture. Jesh’s lecture has been discussed there more than once and people raved about it. I am the type who doesn’t go to see a movie if everyone raves about it. I am the type who doesn’t believe in mass happiness. (Yet I am a potterologist and avatarlogist. Go figure!) I missed the lecture anyway. One evening, after having a rather difficult day with my little angels (sometimes it happens even in the best of families), I was editing photos and thought to myself that I will give it a try. I listened to the recording of the lecture and it

CHANGED. MY. LIFE.

My life as a photographer. My life as a person. As a human being.

I knew instantly that I wanted to become a part of this movement. BELOVED movement. And one day a package arrived. The BELOVED field guide. Which changed my life still more. Ok, I know you want to know now what this photography voodoo is about. :) Bear with me a little longer.

Imagine that you decide to have your photos taken. Any given occasion will do. You got engaged. Married. Secretly married. Your wife is pregnant. You have a newborn baby. You have a family. You celebrate your wedding’s 50th anniversary. Any occasion will do. Even one as simple as: “it’s a beautiful day”. So what is it that you want to have captured?

Poses.

OR

Feelings. Laughter. Deep gazes into each other’s eyes. Hugs. And … do we dare … kisses.

I bet it’s the second one. And it damn well should be! BELOVED photography will empower just that. Through a number of small tasks (for a lack of a better word), you will experience real feelings in front of the camera. You will BE LOVED. And if you let me, I will capture the feelings in a timeless manner. Resulting in a true celebration of your relationship.

Oh common. Say it out loud! This is unheard of in Finland. This will never work with the Finnish nature. Finnish culture. Finnish personalities.

Really? Try me! Book your Beloved session now. (It’s also a perfect gift.)

Oh and not that it’s the most important thing. But I am officially qualified for the Experiential Photography. You can also find me listed as a photographer of the Beloved movement. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Your Beloved photographer,  Niki

PSHHH: The first three Beloved sessions will receive a special gift from me. :)

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/beloved-celebrate-your-relationship-niki-strbian-beloved-photography/feed/ 13 Fairy tale about how little packages of joy make you forget all the misery – Niki Strbian Vastasyntyneenkuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/fairy-tale-about-how-little-packages-of-joy-make-you-forget-all-the-misery-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/fairy-tale-about-how-little-packages-of-joy-make-you-forget-all-the-misery-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/#comments Sun, 30 May 2010 20:48:14 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=842 A newborn baby is a true miracle maker. They make you functional for hours, around the clock, and even at 4am because of their sweet scent and a little cry you produce all the shhh sounds and kissing and rocking and singing… As said before, babies emit cuteness, so adults emit love. And it was same with this tiny gentleman. I knew he was actually not going to be so tiny, since he postponed his grande arrival to the last possible moment (2+ weeks over the due date). But he is tiny compared to the normally sized gentlemen, isn’t he? ;)

Anyways, despite the difficulties his beautiful mom withstood during the birth, when the family arrived home, her thoughts were: “I want more children!” And that’s because this little bub is so stinking cute. :) But he slept well the night before and therefore didn’t have almost any interest in sleeping during my entire visit. But as it is, he fell asleep the minute I closed the door. I believe we still got some lovely shots, even of the older and slightly more hairy other child in the family.

May I introduce you to the hairy older brother, Vadim. A true aristocrat, greeted my camera with a little bow.

No baby is complete without a loving family.

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/fairy-tale-about-how-little-packages-of-joy-make-you-forget-all-the-misery-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/feed/ 4 Adorable newborn girl – Niki Strbian Vastasyntyneenkuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/adorable-newborn-girl-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/adorable-newborn-girl-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/#comments Sun, 30 May 2010 08:04:00 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=831 One day I was cooking and suddenly a phone rang. A cultivated voice asked whether I would have time to photograph their newborn girl. She is already 2 weeks old, but very tiny, the honey-smelling voice said. My heart started sining: “Newborn girl! Newborn girl!” Of course, I answered, we set a date and I continued cooking. And singing: “A newborn girl! A newborn GIRL!” You don’t understand my sudden maddness, do you. ;) Well, you would if you were a newborn photographer who was in the past few months hired only to photograph newborn boys. Make no mistake, I love photographing any newborns, boys or girls (or puppies), but boys look a bit weird in cute headbands and hats, and I own a box full of those … Despite this girl’s father, who wanted something unusual, not necessarily sweet, I could not have resisted and used few of the cutie props anyways. Oops. Sorry! The baby-girl slept through the entire session (mostly because of total lack of sleep the night before, a little bit because of the space heater and maybe a tiny little bit because of the baby magic I can do :) ) and was the sweetest little thing. And her parents love her so… And each other. So, there you go: a bunch of photos full of unusual amount of happiness and love. Enjoy them, more coming soon :)

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/adorable-newborn-girl-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/feed/ 6 Joy of the world – Niki Strbian Vastasyntyneenkuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/joy-o-the-world-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/joy-o-the-world-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:15:28 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=567 What a joy to hold a newborn baby – the scent, the silkness of his skin. Whoever held one in their arms will never forget the pure happiness it brings to one’s heart. At least until the screaming starts :) But even then the screaming is more just a lovely song, the strenght and the pitch coming only later. I consider it priviledge to enter families within days after the birth and document the newborn look that never lasts long.

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/joy-o-the-world-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/feed/ 1 You are what you wear (?) – Niki Strbian Valokuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/you-are-what-you-wear-niki-strbian-valokuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/you-are-what-you-wear-niki-strbian-valokuvaus/#comments Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:58:31 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=557

You are what you wear. A little cliche? Perhaps. But when it comes to portrait photography, clothing plays a huge role in the success of the finished product.

Before we get going, let’s be clear on what your clothing does NOT need to be:

  1. BRAND NEW … I’m completely down with your favorite pair of ripped jeans, retro band T’s, and worn converse shoes – as long as you know how to rock them in your own fabulous tyle.
  2. FANCY-SCHMANCY AND UBER EXPENSIVE … Unless it’s your thing (and if it’s REALLY your thing, then by all means baby, bring on the bling)! If you’re not normally a dress-up kind of person, don’t feel like you have to be one for your session.
  3. MATCHING … No need to focus on matching everything from the color of your fuchsia headbands to the stripes in your socks. In fact, I beg of you, please, PLEASE don’t!  If your heart is set on everyone in white button downs and khaki pants, I’m probably not your girl!
  4. STRESSFUL … No need to worry about each and every item, or fret about the suitability of each accessory. This is supposed to be fun! If you’re unsure – call me, and together, we’ll make sure you look fabulous.  I promise!

~~~~~

I want you to be happy, thrilled, over the moon about your images, and I know that this is much more likely if we take the time and work together to help you choose clothing that fits these few simple rules:

FEELS GOOD.

During your shoot you could be sitting on a pile on the grass having a tickle battle, jumping off a tree trunk, standing on chairs, or throwing your kiddos in the air. Wear clothing that lets you do all that (and more) comfortably. As for the kids? Uncomfortable kids have a tendency to look…well…uncomfortable, and are often cranky to boot. Happy kids make for happy pictures.

Bottom Line: Don’t choose outfits that make any of you feel constrained, stiff, itchy, scratchy, like you’re dressed up for Halloween, or that leaves you with a nagging worry that a button might pop if you bend the wrong way.  Trust me!

LOOKS GOOD.

This can be tricky. Looking good is totally subjective, right? If you’re not a fashionista in real life, you might want to pull in some extra help from a straight-talking friend or your trusty photographer (that would be me) who knows about such things and has plans in place to help! Sometimes last years of-the-moment dress has already become hopelessly untrendy. Sometimes the current fashions just don’t look or feel like you. Sometimes outfits that look good in the mirror might not be ideally suited for photography. If you’re really looking for extra help, I can but you in touch with some incredible folks who make people look good for a living!

Bottom Line: If you don’t feel fabulous-fierce-take-on-the-world gorgeous in your outfit, you’re not going to love, love, love the end result…and I’m all about you love, love, loving the result!

MAKES SENSE.

Here’s where we put it all together.  It’s not just enough that everyone looks good and feels good – you’ve got to look and fee good together AND the outfits should fit with your location and the desired mood for your portraits. Gulp. That seems like a lot, doesn’t it? (QUICK – revisit #4 in the top list, and remember, don’t stress) Before you even begin figuring out your wardrobe, we’ll have an in depth consultation to narrow down what you really want for your pictures, shoose the perfect locations and make sure you have an understanding about how that all comes together in the finished photograph. I’m with you every step of the way.

Bottom Line: It’s easier than it seems. Think twic about having Emma in a lace prom dress if you can’t get Tommy out of his Spiderman cape and favorite Star Wars pajama top. If we’re going to be running around in a park, you’ll likely not decide to wear your starched Sunday best. Hate the way stripes and plaids look together but Dad has his favorite striped polo ready to go? Well then, best steer mom away from her beloved family tartan. Easy-peasy! Unless mom is really attached to that tartan…but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

~~~~~

If you’re still not certain, and you can’t decide between the yellow wrap dress with your red heels or your dark skinny jeans and purples belted shirt -I’ve got good news. You don’t have to decided. Bring LOTS of option. Heck, throw your whole wardrobe into the back of the car. When we get to the session we’ll wing it with fabulous results. Trust me!

Now…take a deep breath…close your eyes…and imagine how blow-everyone-away-fabulous-Next-Top-Model you’re all going to look in those pictures! Can you see it yet?  I totally can! You look INCREDIBLE!

Posted with permission from Jeanette LeBlanc

And since no post on a photographer’s blog is complete without an image, how about this one? Sometimes less is more… :D

]]> http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/you-are-what-you-wear-niki-strbian-valokuvaus/feed/ 0 So little, so much joy – Niki Strbian Vastasyntyneenkuvaus http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/so-little-so-much-joy-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/ http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/so-little-so-much-joy-niki-strbian-vastasyntyneenkuvaus/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:36:55 +0000 admin http://www.nikistrbian.com/blog/?p=396 An attentive reader will remember, you have met the gorgeous mamma. Now they got a little, precious bundle of joy – a small boy, so perfect, so tiny. But he made clear who is the boss of the house even at the fragile age of 10 days. No following the schedule of the big guys – he enjoyed our presence, love and loads of milk for two hours before falling asleep. And when he did, he slept peacefully through the entire photoshoot. Thank you, little angel, for brightening up my Loppiainen morning :) I hope your parents will equally enjoy this preview of many more sweet images we captured.

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