If you know me, you know that I love all things baby. So after a sweet mama contacted me about doing a NICU session for her little girl, I really found a heart and passion for families with babies in the NICU.  NICU sessions are closer to my heart now, than ever before. My own sweet girl, Nora Caroline, spent some time in the NICU after she was born in 2016 and it was the most grueling few days of my life.

The ups and downs parents face with a baby in NICU is a fight I hope I have never have to face again. These parents need love and support. And while I can't physically help them, I CAN LOVE them. And so I do that, I love them the best way I know how, and that is by giving them 100% complimentary portrait sessions that includes private galleries and a digital download of their images. They don't get the chance to have a "normal" experience of bringing a baby home as a newborn, doing newborn portraits, or any of that. This journey is very very different, and is one that deserves to be remembered. 

Some important info on these sessions. Please read all the way through. 

1) I am just one person and am not affiliated with any other type of organization or hospital. I gift these from my own heart and use my free time to do these sessions. I come to the hospital as a guest of the family. 

2) These sessions are for babies who are born prior to 34 weeks or babies must have been or will be admitted to NICU for at least 4 weeks. Please do not wait until the day before your baby is discharged to schedule your session. Due to my busy schedule, I can only do NICU sessions on weekdays. 

3) I do not bring anything with me except my camera. I do not pose the baby in any way. These are lifestyle portraits done in the hospital. If mom or dad have a special blanket they would like to use or outfit or hat, that is fine, but definitely not required. 

4) I DO NOT handle babies. I might move a hand or a foot, but that is all. This is solely for liability reasons. Most babies are hooked up to several monitors and I am not medically trained to maneuver them. 

5) I do not use flash photography in the NICU. So having as much available light is kind of wonderful for me. 

6) Sessions will last anywhere from 15-45 min. depending on the situations. The turnaround time for images is 2-3 weeks. I select and professionally edit the best images and will upload them to a private gallery for you to view and download. You will also have the option to share that gallery via email, facebook, etc. 

7) Parents must sign a model release for the child. These photos might be blogged or posted online. I do not include personal information (last name, hospital, etc), only first name. I will only use on a media website (facebook) with parents permission, in which mom/dad would be tagged in the photos. 

8) Due to time and distance from my home, the only NICUs I am available to provide these sessions at are : Grandview, UAB, Children's Hospital of Birmingham, Brookwood Medical Center, St. Vincents, & DCH. 

Please know that I make every effort to fill requests for NICU sessions however I cannot guarantee I will always be available. Please contact me as soon as possible at GoodwinImages2013@gmail.com. Especially if your baby is VERY early because once they get big and strong, you will want those "I can't believe my baby was ever that tiny" images. 

THANK YOU!