We have a ton of South Alabama newborns scheduled. The biggest question we have from new parents is: "What do I bring to my Newborn Session?"  Leaving the house for the first time with that perfect little angel is a real wake up call for your packing skills. The first time, if feels like you are moving. Seriously. You think....What do I need, well obviously I need everything....diapers, diaper stuff, clothes, more clothes, extra blankets, extra pacifiers, bottles, extra bottles...breathe. Stop.  Just breathe. Daphne Ellenburg's Newborn homework will really save the day.

Every portrait session at Ellenburg Photography includes homework and a bring list. So no matter what we do for you, you will get a list of suggested things to bring and suggested things to do. We've been doing this for quite a while, so you can trust us. And for newborns, no one is better than South Alabama Photographer, Daphne Ellenburg. If you are nervous, Daphne will assure you that everyone is nervous. But the proof is in our homework. If you do the homework, you will have a great session. If you miss a few, but do the items listed in BOLD, you will have a great session. 

Our checklist includes things that you should have in your diaper bag, it has a list of things to pack the day before - so you don't have to think about it. Our list will ask you to bring one special item for your new baby to be photographed with and one special outfit. 

Baby Elizabeth (shown above) was given a strand of pearls by her father on the day she was born. This was the perfect thing to bring along for this family's "special item." Other great specials things could be: A family quilt, A sonogram photo or other special photograph, New fun shoes, a headband or crown - if it is special to you, Daphne Ellenburg will make it part of your shoot. 

For your special outfit, many new parents bring the coming home outfit from the hospital. After all, a lot of you parents are spending sometimes hundreds of dollars on that one outfit, it's the perfect add in to your session. Other things that are great to bring is vintage clothing from your childhood - some grandparents saved a ton of sweet delicate baby clothes. Ask them if they have any that you could bring along. Can you imaging having a photo of you and your baby in the exact same outfit? So fun. If you have the first photo, bring it along and Ellenburg Photography can try to match the style.

The next most important part of your homework, is to plan to be photographed with your child. We poll all of our new parents at the consults and ask them if they have a photograph of their Mom with them as a newborn? Less than 5% can say yes to anything more than just a snapshot. We will create a gorgeous portrait of you and your new baby that will reflect all the joy you feel in your heart back to you like a mirror. We will also photograph your first family portrait. The homework comes with a suggested wardrobe guide to make it easy.

The homework includes things to eat and not eat if you are breastfeeding. It includes a sleep schedule and a suggested feeding schedule. It includes a list of things to bring.

The LIST is a lifesaver. When you do your homework, you make the most of your time in the studio and get really stunning portraits of that beautiful new baby.

Did you know that Daphne Ellenburg stocks custom wraps, head pieces and one of a kind outfits for newborn portraits? You have access to all her gorgeous treasures that she has been accumulating for over 15 years to use during your session. This alone takes so much pressure off our new parents. Relax and let Daphne Ellenburg create the beautiful portraits you've been dreaming of your whole life.

Daphne Ellenburg is award-winning Wedding, Newborn, and Baby Photographer. She is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography and a brand new Boudoir studio both located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants 2000 sq ft studio in the heart of Saraland, Alabama. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
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Love is in the air and Getting the BEST engagement portraits EVER is kind of a BIG deal. You are trying to create a portrait - not a portrait, THE PORTRAIT that is a beautiful reflection of your love. Not even a portrait, a mirror that you can gaze into and always feel the way to you do at this exact moment. So, lets get serious about it. Before stepping out of your home and into the hot South Alabama sunshine, know that the best (and the least stressed) future brides and grooms are the best planners for all occasions. The more ready you are for all that life throws at you, the more fun you are likely to have being prepared for all occasions. If you are not a big planner, don't worry. Daphne is here to help. I've created a wonderful check list to help you relax and enjoy your Engagement Portrait experience.

During your Engagement portrait shoot, you are going to cover a lot of ground. You will be in the studio and on location. With all that moving around, mixed with mother nature's sense of humor, anything can happen. Creating a Wardrobe Emergency Kit will save the day. And even better, if you pack it right, you can pull it out again for the wedding. DOUBLE WIN. A good wardrobe emergency kit will include things like:  Lint brush or roller, Sewing Kit, Stain wipes or Stain pen, Fashion Tape, Deodorant Removing Sponge, Earing Back, Instant Button, Nail File, Blister Pad, Hair Band, Shoe-Shine Sponge, Safety Pin, Rubber band, etc. What do you pack it in? Throw it in a Gallon Zip lock back and tuck it in the glove box. Now you're ready for almost anything. It may sound a little over the top, but imagine how relaxed you'll be knowing you are ready for anything.

Ladies, it's Summer on the gulf coast and we're not perspiring, we are melting. Bring a few things, like powder to keep you fresh as you adventure out in nature to create the most perfect portraits. Don't bring too much lipstick, because just like you and me - it will melt too. These portraits are FOREVER. Let me fix you up with our amazing Hair and Make up girl. And for a small fee, she will join us on your portrait adventure for touch ups. How awesome is that?

Daphne has tried, but we can not control the humidity in South Alabama for your Engagement Portraits, but we can help you fight back with a little hair spray. Bring a travel size or something bigger of your favorite hair spray along for the ride on engagement portrait day. Not only is it going to be great for your beautiful hair, but did you know that hair spray is also great for repelling the bugs that are literally everywhere in the deep south, or for lifting lint out of your clothes or for stopping static cling on your favorite dresses and skirts. That's right. Hair spray is magical super power that you can carry around. Don't forget the hair spray for your portrait adventure.

Sometimes locations take a little longer than expected to create your dream engagement portraits. Sometimes breakfast or lunch doesn't last nearly as long as it should. A snack or a cold drink can be just the thing to keep everyone motivated to keep going to all the dreamy places you've mapped out for your portrait adventure. Think proteins like nuts or trail mixes and water is always refreshing - and if it spills, no biggie - because it's only water.

At the engagement portrait session, it's all about the ring and the finger it's on. Hands will be photographed. It's inevitable. A good manicure will go along way to giving your portraits a crisp polished look. Dudes, I'm talking to you too. A good nailbrush will take care of you in less than five and you will look just as good as your beautiful lady.

Engagement portrait day is full of love and magic and little baby unicorns - but don't let the glitter blind you to the purpose of these portraits. You NEED 3 things from this day. You need that perfect mirror portrait. You need something dazzling for the save the date cards. And you need something for Mom and Dad to put in your little home town newspaper to announce that their baby girl is tying the knot. It's a BIG deal. Talk with your photographer to make sure they know exactly what you want so they can go after the shot for you. And a really good photographer, like the ones at South Alabama's Ellenburg Photography, can create the perfect save the date for you. Just one more thing you can cross off your list.

Engagement portraits are always uniquely all about YOU both as a couple. Are you known for wearing funky hats or sunglasses or skateboarding? Bring along some props. Plan with your photographer to incorporate them into your session. Do you share a pet turtle? Or do you share a fur baby? Bring him or her along! or Have someone bring him or her to join you during the photoshoot. Is one of you bringing children into the relationship? Are you not only getting married, but becoming a NEW family? Consider incorporating them into your session. Children love LOVE as much as you do. It's exciting when everyone is exciting about the BIG DAY. Share your joy with the people you love the most.

Engagement and Wedding Photographers in Mobile, Alabama.

Serving Saraland, Satsuma, Axis, Atmore, Mobile, Daphne, Fairhope and the Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida Gulf Coast.

If you are looking for the most creative, and most skilled engagement and wedding photographer in South Alabama, look no further than Saraland Alabama Wedding Photographer, Daphne Ellenburg. Ellenburg Photography is the Alabama photography studio for you. Daphne Ellenburg strives to create compelling images for the discerning South Alabama Brides and Grooms, and we understand the intricacies to working through the city on your big engagement or wedding day. Whether it’s battling all the weird South Alabama road construction or navigating around the throngs of tourists in Downtown Mobile Alabama, I promise to document your South Alabama engagement and wedding with grace and skill. Get to know Ellenburg Photography. Daphne Ellenburg will exceed your expectations.

Daphne Ellenburg is award-winning Wedding, Newborn, and Baby Photographer. She is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants 2000 sq ft studio in the heart of Saraland, Alabama. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
We love to read your comments.

The biggest question we get from our Senior Moms and Dads is - "Daphne, when should we schedule our Senior Portraits?" The answer is NOW. We shoot more Senior portraits in February, March and April than any other month.

It's finally YOUR year! You've been waiting for it your whole life. Senior Year. You look great. You feel great. And you are minutes away from taking over the world.  One problem, this year is moving way too FAST. Spend an hour or two with us and let us slow it down and create the amazing memories you will want to relive over and over again.

Don't settle for average senior portraits when YOU are anything but Average. Go BIG. It's Senior Year. 

Daphne Ellenburg is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants NEW 2000 sq ft studio. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
We love to read your comments. 

How will I ever decide on a Wedding Photographer?

If you are in the throws of planning a wedding or just getting started, you've heard this come out of at least twenty people's mouth, "After the cake is cut, the flowers are wilted and the last gift card has been sent; all you have is your new spouse and the wedding portraits from your photographer. Without saying it, finding the right photographer to document every moment you've been planning since you were a little girl is a bit of pressure. Maybe more than you were ready for.

There are now over 150,000 wedding photographers in the United States alone and you are searching for the one that will document your day from start to finish in the way you've always dreamed of. And YOU thought finding your soul mate was hard!?!

Sadly some of the things you see and read that sound like amazing selling points, are really Big Giant red flags. Here are a few tips to help you wade through the sea of wedding photographers on your way to happily ever after.

Math it out Sister. With only 52 weeks in a year, this studio is churning out nine or ten weddings a week? And that's with no holidays off or vacation. Experience is a MUST but this is one very busy studio. Studios that boast BIG annual numbers are every where. Ask about turn around. Average studios with far less weddings per year have a minimum of 6-8 weeks on return delivery. Ask about turn around for proofs, digitals and albums. Everyone is going to ask you for these things starting on the day after the wedding, knowing what's ahead makes life less stressful. Studios THIS busy often hire out teams of photographers to cover over booking. You photograph all ten Saturday weddings personally. Make sure you know who will be holding the camera on your big day.

Not in all cases, but in some cases BIG gorgeous venues have a "Pay to Play" set up with their preferred vendor lists. Simply put, when you book in, that sales rep gets a bonus from your photographer or your caterer or your new florist. Do the research. Do they ONLY photograph here at this particular venue? Check the reviews and get some word of mouth answers from past clients and guests. Everyone always has references. Reach out to them along with your online research. Every now and then they send you to a real gem. So always be on the lookout.

In college, a good friend of mine planned her wedding on a shoe string budget. Most brides budget BIG for the wedding dress, but not her. She cut back here and put the money she saved onto her photography budget.  She said, "A good photographer can make my bargain dress look it was made for princess, and bad photographer can make Vera Wang look like a thrift store find." It's all about perspective. Ask anyone who is butt-hurt over their wedding photography, it's not a bargain if you hate your portraits. If your favorite photographer is running a 10% off Black Friday sale or a BOOK NOW and get a free engagement session. Jump on it. That's a great deal. A half price sale should raise some eyebrows. A good photographer is using great gear, professional printers, is carrying insurance and is paying taxes. If the sale is that good, find out where they are cutting corners. The profit to stay in business has to come from somewhere. Make sure it's not coming from your big day.

A great portfolio is the best reason to book your photographer. Loving someone's work is a big first step. After you stop drooling over their Pinterest boards, contact them and set up a meeting.  The next step is making sure you gel together. After all, you will probably spend more time with your wedding photographer on your BIG day than with your own MOM, so it's important to really like someone before you invite them in on the biggest day of your life.

What if you have a cousin who just graduated art school? or a Uncle who just got a new amazing camera? or best friend who is also an amateur wild life photographer? And they just offered to shoot YOUR BIG DAY for FREE! This may sound like a money saving lottery win, but if it goes wrong you risk a bad blood situation. Just because your friend can take photos of hummingbirds, doesn't mean they can light a pitch black wedding venue. What if you don't LOVE the photos? What if your art school cousin takes amazing photos but has a crumby back up system and loses all your photos? What if your Uncle takes a break to have shots with his brother at the bar during the cake cutting? Big picture: When you are hiring a Wedding Photographer for your BIG day, hire a Wedding Photographer.

Don't be overwhelmed with all the details of planning your wedding. Keep your chin up and the bar high. When you meet your wedding photographer, you will just KNOW that he or she is the one. Congratulations and good luck with your planning!

To learn more about the gulf coast wedding photography services offered by Ellenburg Photography, click the link below.

Daphne Ellenburg is award-winning Newborn and Baby Photographer. She is the owner of a bustling Portrait photography business called Ellenburg Photography located in Southern Alabama. Daphne has a supportive family and a fancy-pants 2000 sq ft studio in the heart of Saraland, Alabama. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Apple. She also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Daphne is a proud member of PPA, WPPI, and the local chamber. Catch up with her at EllenburgPhotography.com or email her at daphne@ellenburgphotography.com. 
We love to read your comments.

Growing a baby is a truly magical time in your life. Daphne Ellenburg’s beautiful maternity photos capture both the beauty and exciting emotions of this special time. Pregnancy is a life-changing experience, and these priceless memories are captured as the art of your gorgeous life with Daphne’s beautiful maternity photography.
With many years of experience, Alabama photographer Daphne Ellenburg specializes in fine art studio photography and lifestyle Maternity Photography. Daphne has gained a great reputation as an esteemed Gulf Coast Maternity Photographer. Her maternity photography celebrates your voluptuous curves and natural glow of your pregnancy.

Celebrate your amazing new baby with Maternity Portraits at Ellenburg Photography. 

The portraits created at Ellenburg Photography are infused with the excitement and anticipation of pregnancy. Maternity Photography clients love her attention to detail. Daphne's Pregnancy Photography focuses on the shape, the shadows, and unmatched emotions of pregnancy. Most importantly, her portraits capture the joy of motherhood, and the special bond between parents and child, along with the special bond between soon to be new parents. Gulf Coast Maternity Photographer, Daphne Ellenburg does her sessions in our Saraland Alabama, or on location.  Each setting offers its own unique lighting and mood. Each session also allows new Mom's to enjoy our gorgeous collection of maternity gowns for your portrait session.

A new baby coming into a home is no doubt going to receive a lot of love. Daphne Ellenburg always try to include photographs that focus on the strong bond between Mom and Dad, because bringing a new child into the world with someone you love is, without a doubt, love in its purest form. As a maternity photographer in Saraland, showing that great love back to you in amazing portraiture - now that is our ultimate goal.

Your Maternity Portrait session is generally scheduled around 32 – 38 weeks.

Ellenburg Photography views your maternity session as the beginning of a beautiful new relationship. She looks forward to capturing not only your maternity photography, but also your newborn photography, baby photography and family photography to be treasured for years to come.

Pregnancy Photography in South Alabama is a beautiful thing. South Alabama Women on our beautiful gulf coast love their baby from the moment they know that he or she is growing inside of them. There is nothing like it in the world, and it is a memory that will be cherished forever. The problem is that many times a woman does not feel beautiful during pregnancy. A professional maternity photographer knows the right angles to shoot, and will provide you with beautiful, tasteful and flattering maternity portraits that will be a treasured keepsake for all your life. We capture time in photos, this is a time that you can now hold onto forever in beautiful portraiture.
Maternity photography is truly art when it is at its very best. Professional South Alabama Photographer, Daphne Ellenburg knows how to manipulate the studio lighting to get the best affect for you to feel the most beautiful in your portraits.

A pregnancy photographer based in South Alabama focuses on the female and her natural essence, and allowing the true personality and beauty of each mom-to-be to come through in every portrait. Highlights and shadows and surrounding details all come together to create an amazing masterpiece, thanks to the skill and talent of Saraland Alabama maternity photographer, Daphne Ellenburg. The final images will reflect breathtaking silhouettes and beautiful voluptuous curvy lines unique to the woman herself and she is transformed into a work of photographic art – maternity photography – that is flawless and timeless.

Daphne loves making Pregnant women feel beautiful both inside and out during her Maternity Portrait Sessions. 

Among the most accomplished and renowned pregnancy artists of the area, South Alabama maternity photographer, Daphne Ellenburg, loves making pregnant women feel beautiful inside and out. The maternity photography works that she creates are by far among the best in the region. Specially trained in the field of pregnancy photography, Daphne Ellenburg – a Gulf Coast maternity photographer presents you with image quality that is both beautiful and exceptional. Ellenburg Photography is creative and really knows how to capture the truly natural beauty of a woman and her pregnancy. These are pieces of your history that can be passed down through several generations, and will be adored by everyone who sees them, thanks to the skill of maternity photographer Daphne Ellenburg, located in Saraland, Alabama.

Whether you are having timeless family heirlooms created, or you are wanting something done of a more private nature, maternity photographer, Daphne Ellenburg will give you photos that you’ll love. The true beauty that shows through your portraits is beyond description. You actually have to see for yourself, and even then it is hard to believe that Daphne was able to reflect this great love back to you in portraiture. Even if you had no intention of sharing your maternity photography, you will want these classic beauties to be seen, at least by close friends and relatives.

Ellenburg Photography will create Pregnancy Portraits that you will love.

Ellenburg Photography’s maternity photography is beautifully taken, lighting is perfect to flatter the silhouette and then the editing process takes the actual finished product to extraordinary new heights. You will see your maternity photography and have a whole new appreciation for both the art, and for your body during this pregnancy. You will finally see how truly beautiful that you and that pregnancy can be. Trust the experts at Ellenburg Photography to photography you during your pregnancy.