Rachel Durham Photography
Hi, Thank you so much for stopping by and for your interest in Rachel Durham Photography. I've been a family photographer in Lambertville, MI (near Toledo, Ohio) since 2013; and I specialize in timeless and classic portraits of newborns and children.
I studied art and photography in the late 90s at BGSU, before attending Graduate School for Art History at Case Western. I taught Art History in Cleveland and Bowling Green for about 10 years, but I decided to go back to my first love, photography, and I'm enjoying every single minute of it.
You can expect a laid back and fun experience when getting your photographs taken by me. It would be an honor for me to photograph your loved ones.
My Education as a Newborn Photographer and Newborn Safety
I absolutely cannot stress enough how important it is to choose a newborn photographer who has been trained in newborn safety and posing. I have attended in person workshops with Rachel Vanoven and Sandra Hill (in addition to a number of online courses). Both of these newborn photographers are internationally known for their photography and also their knowledge in newborn safety. Complex baby poses are very popular; and although I've been trained to do these poses, I stick with what I do best and what I feel is most comfortable for baby. All of these babies are in their natural, womb positions. If you are interested in this style, please contact me, I'd love to photograph your little one.
I've also been educated in newborn physiology, reflexes and settling. Even the amount of heat that is used in the studio is important. Newborn studios are heated, and it's important to know at what temperature is safe for newborns and what cues to look for and to also make sure baby stays hydrated.
Many of my photographs are composites and completed in photoshop. Anytime you see a baby on their side and in the wooden bed, or in a "hanging basket" that is created in photoshop. I also feel that this is important. I am proficient in photoshop, creating composite images, and this goes along with newborn safety. Baby is never hanging in a basket or alone on their side in the bed prop.
I have also taken online classes with many newborn photographers and have studied swaddling techniques and more and more newborn safety. If you have any questions about any of this education, please feel free to contact me at any time. I love to chat about all that I've learned.
My education is on-going. I'm always taking classes and learning to improve my photography.
