This session wasn’t supposed to be a film.
I arrived at the D Family’s home in San Francisco for a newborn photo session — the same thing we’d done together since their first baby. I’ve known this family for years. I know their home, their light, their rhythms. And I’d been looking forward to meeting their new little one. So when I walked in and found mama in bed, three-day-old baby boy sleeping on her chest, the house still and quiet in that way that only exists in those very first days — I put down my usual process and said, “Can we also film this session?”
She said yes without hesitation.
That’s what years of trust makes possible. No lengthy onboarding, no formal planning call. Just two people who know each other well enough to recognize a moment worth preserving differently. As a San Francisco newborn photographer who also makes family films, I don’t make this call often. But when the room tells you something, you listen.
What followed was one of my favorite things I’ve ever made.
Before we go any further, I want you to watch this. It’s two minutes long. Find a quiet moment, turn the sound on, and just let be.
That’s three days old. That’s what this season actually feels like: slow and hazy and completely consuming. And then, quietly, the rest of the family found their way into the room.
While the World Was Still
Mid-morning light was coming through the bedroom windows when I started filming. Mama was in bed, baby boy on her chest, both of them in that soft haze that defines the first few days of life. He was three days old and completely, perfectly still — chest rising and falling, tiny fingers curled, the world outside entirely irrelevant.
As a newborn photographer, I’ve been in a lot of quiet rooms. But there’s something about filming that changes how you see. When you’re watching for breath, for the flutter of a hand, for the way a mother instinctively tightens her hold even in sleep — you notice everything. I filmed his umbilical cord, still healing, a quiet reminder of just how new he was. His toes. The curve of his ear. The weight of him against her.
Some moments don’t need to be posed. They just need to be witnessed.
And Then Big Sister Came In
Dad and big sister had been in the other room, giving mama and baby their moment. But eventually, as it always does, the rest of the family found their way in.
She’d already met him at the hospital. She knew he existed, knew he was hers in some way she was still working out. But climbing into that bed, getting close enough to really look at him — that was its own kind of discovery. Curious. Excited. Still figuring out exactly where she fit in this new version of her family. (A feeling, honestly, that most of us can relate to.)
I stayed quiet and let it unfold. That’s the job.
Dad’s Turn
There’s something about watching a father with a brand new baby that gets me every time. He was quiet with him. Gentle in that careful, deliberate way that new dads are — like they’re still learning the weight of this person they already love completely. No words needed. Just a man and his son, three days into knowing each other.
I stayed out of it and let the camera do the listening.
Breakfast at the Table
And then we ended where most family mornings actually live: the kitchen table. Baby in arms, big sister doing what big sisters do, breakfast happening in that tender, slightly chaotic way that becomes the soundtrack of early parenthood. Nobody was performing. Nobody was posing. They were just being a family of four for one of the first times.
This is what I came for. Not the perfect light or the perfectly still baby — but this. The full picture of what their life looked and felt like on day three. The ordinary morning that, years from now, they won’t quite remember but will always be able to come back to.
What I Was Really Filming
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: photos freeze a moment. But film captures what it felt like to live it.
The D Family will look back at these images and remember. But when they watch this film — really watch it, gathered around a screen someday when their kids are grown — they’ll feel it. The weight of those first days. The haze of no sleep and pure love and complete disorientation. The specific tenderness of a family finding its new shape.
That’s what I was filming. Not just a baby. Not just a morning. But what it felt to be them in one of the most pivotal seasons of their lives — before the fog lifted and the routine set in and the memory of these early days quietly slipped away. This is why film exists.
And it’s why, if you’re expecting a baby or you’re three days into the most beautifully exhausting experience of your life, I’d gently ask you to consider it. You don’t have to choose between photos and film — a Newborn & Milestone Film Session includes both. A cinematic film of this season and photographs to hang on your wall.
If you want to see what a full first year looks like on film, Lucy’s story is where to start. And if you’re still in the research phase of finding the right person to document your family, this guide covers everything you need to know before booking a newborn session.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Portrait Film session? A Portrait Film is a short, cinematic film (about 2 minutes) that captures a specific moment or milestone in your family’s life. It’s perfect for newborns, and it’s exactly what the D Family’s session became. Sessions run up to 2 hours and include 10+ edited photos alongside the film. You walk away with both.
Do I have to choose between photos and video for my newborn session? You don’t have to choose, but it’s worth understanding the difference. A Portrait Film session is video-first. The film is the main event, and you’ll walk away with 10+ candid, edited photos (often more) taken alongside it. If you’re looking for a larger gallery of portraits, a newborn photo session is the better fit. Many families do both over time, and honestly, they complement each other beautifully.
How do I book a newborn film session in San Francisco? Reach out through the contact page and we’ll start with a conversation. I want to make sure we’re a good fit before anything else. You can also explore all newborn photography and film options here.
How far in advance should I book? As early as your second trimester if possible. Newborn sessions book out quickly, and having a tentative date in place before baby arrives means one less thing to think about when you’re in the thick of it.
Let’s Document This Season
If you’re expecting a baby somewhere in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, or Alameda and something about this post stopped you in your tracks — that’s worth paying attention to. These sessions are limited each year because each one deserves my full attention.
