Wrapping our babies and going for walks is what we do (did?) in Ottawa…

She pulled the gorgeous handwoven Shearwater wrap out of her bag and elegantly put it over her daughter’s shoulders. One swift lift up and over her back and the beautiful art of tying her child to her back began. Wrapping our babies - though it does sometimes become a social event so we can all admire the art of it - is really about the connection with our children.

I’m writing this post years after these photos were taken - but I can literally smell her wrap - the Shearwaters had their own scent - likely from the oils or something that the weaver had nearby while she wove these gorgeous pieces of art. The afternoon was very cold and there was a breeze moving in winter - it was very clear that it would snow later that night.

Through conversation and walking around one of my favourite gardens in Ottawa - these photos came to be.

Babywearing Photos will bring you right back to the hours of cuddles and walking…

The crispness of winter was coming, the leaves had mostly fallen and the goldenrod had gone to seed. It was time for tuques on babies’ heads and cozy long walks in the outdoors. If you are reading this post - perhaps you are someone who used to carry your kids and now those days have faded - I’m there too.

These photos though - prove what I’ve said all along (when this photography business was called Breathe In Photography) - the babywearing photos you invest in now will FOREVER bring you right back to these moments. You’ll feel the weight of your baby on your back, you’ll remember their “cooing” stage and their “da da la da ma pa” stage and the hours of cute conversations with toddlers stage.

As a mom of three who is now nearing the end of babywearing - take the photos! Have a professional capture them for you if you want …either way - make sure you have photos of these fleeting days. These aren’t even photos of me - and I’m brought right back to how much love I experienced with my babies and toddlers taking long babywearing walks.

Babywearing Photos will remind you of just how magical these wraps and carriers are…

Ok. That “parenting toolbox” you’ve heard about. It’s a thing - and these wraps and carriers truly are a tool. No need for fancy and handwoven - any carrier will be magical. When my children were having a hard day - feeling out of sort - up they went into the wraps. When I was at my patience’s end - I’d grab a carrier, slot them in there and go for a walk.

The movement, the change of pace, the new scenery and the cuddles - all of it led to feeling so much more connected and often led to a long-needed nap for the baby or toddler. Sometimes it’s just a few minutes and it’s enough. Really - for those of you who are reading this (somehow you landed here) - consider babywearing if you haven’t already. And then consider a baby-wearing photo session so you can feel this magic in 10 years when your baby is heading off to her first soccer tournament.

Babywearing Photography makes beautiful wall art for your home…

Seriously - come on over to my house and you’ll see many printed canvases from our babywearing days. The kids love looking at them and so do I!

The different weaves, patterns, colours make for beautiful art and your beautiful children in them makes for beautiful memories to be shared when people comment on them.

When you choose to create babywearing images with me - we will go to your favourite spots if possible and spend time capturing all kinds of scenes, angles and views - I always have wall art and photo albums in my mind when taking photos.

I want you to feel how it felt to carry your baby when you look back at these photos.

Babywearing Photos create community and bring people together.

The number of conversations I’ve had with other parents about carrying our children is huge - and those conversations led to walks - which lead to meet-ups which lead to friends that I still have 10 years later. We used to share and trade wraps, borrow and sell back and forth - and those parents are STILL in my life today.

We supported each other through hard times, partner losses, sicknesses, new babies, house moves, and new jobs…most importantly though we created a community for our children and ourselves. Those wraps have some wisdom and I’m grateful.

So what do I mean about the photos creating community? Well - I used to run “Group Babywearing Sessions” - and as the photographer, I LOVED them so much. A group of parents would arrive (3-5 parents and their babies) and we would walk around a chosen space like the Arboretum or Landsdowne Park and I would capture images as we went.

This is something that I am offering again because I KNOW now how important those parenting-in-the-early-days-friendships are - you will have images as a group - but everyone will also have individual images too.

Babywearing Group Photography Sessions are a GREAT way to spend an afternoon - wrap it up (see what I did there?) with a meal and lattes and you’ve had an amazing day!

Are you considering a baby-wearing photography session?

I offer photos and film, group or individual and I’m always ready to capture the love and connection between parents and children.

Learn more about babywearing photo sessions here.

How to prepare for a great babywearing photography session.

Love handwoven wraps? More photos of local woven wrap artist Va Va Valoom.